FEMA's Ohio Task Force 1 US&R

What FEMA's Ohio Task Force 1 US&R does

Ohio Task Force 1 (OH-TF1) is a government-operated Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) task force first organized in 1996 as one of 28 federal teams within FEMA's national US&R System. Within Ohio, the organization operates as a state asset under the direction of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA). OH-TF1 provides specialized emergency response services for structural collapses, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and other disasters, drawing on more than 200 multi-disciplinary experts from fire departments, hospitals, and state agencies across Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Indiana who deploy through inter-agency agreements. The team commits to assembling and deploying over 50 tons of equipment within four hours of activation and to remaining self-sufficient for 72 hours so as not to burden local resources already under stress.

Name

FEMA's Ohio Task Force 1 US&R

Legal name

Ohio Task Force 1

Website

https://ohtf1.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ohio Task Force 1 (OH-TF1) is a FEMA-affiliated Urban Search and Rescue task force of 200+ multi-disciplinary experts providing specialized disaster response for structural collapses, hurricanes, and other emergencies, activated federally or by Ohio EMA at no cost.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Response Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination (HLAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Urban search rescue
• Emergency response services
• Disaster response teams
• FEMA task force
• Heavy equipment rigging

Headquarters

HQ city

Vandalia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Emergency Response Funding: Ohio Task Force 1 operates as a government-funded emergency response asset. The team is one of 28 federal teams within FEMA's national Urban Search and Rescue System and operates as a state asset under OEMA direction. Funding comes from federal and state emergency management budgets to maintain readiness, training, equipment cache, and deployment operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ohio Task Force 1 (OH-TF1) is one of 28 federal Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams within FEMA's national system, providing specialized multi-disciplinary emergency response during state and national disasters. The team deploys 200+ experts with over 50 tons of specialized equipment within four hours of activation and maintains 72-hour self-sufficient operations. Core capabilities include physical search and rescue, K-9 search, technical rescue, hazardous materials detection, emergency medical care, planning, and logistics.

Product overview

Ohio Task Force 1 (OH-TF1) is a FEMA Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) task force operating as one of 28 federal teams within the national US&R System. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of emergency response services including Search Teams (K-9 and Technical Search), Rescue Teams (structural collapse, rope, confined space, trench, swift water), Haz-Mat Teams, Medical Teams, Planning, and Logistics. OH-TF1 deploys with over 50 tons of equipment within 4 hours and maintains self-sufficiency for 72 hours. The team also offers specialized training services as a National Center of Excellence for Heavy Equipment Rigging Specialist (HERS) certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Urban Search and Rescue Response Comprehensive urban search and rescue service providing physical search and rescue operations in damaged or collapsed structures, emergency medical care for entrapped victims, reconnaissance and damage assessments, structural and hazard evaluations, and stabilization including shoring and cribbing. Delivered to federal and state emergency management authorities during declared disasters.
• K-9 Search Services FEMA-certified canine search teams (one dog plus one handler per team) trained for live scent finds or human remains detection (cadaver). Enables rapid initial search of structures with enhanced speed and safety for rescuers.
• Heavy Equipment Rigging Specialist (HERS) Training

Quantifiable outcome

• Deploy 50+ tons of equipment within 4 hours of activation call
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canada's Task Force System and CAN Task Force 6coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Joint large-scale deployment exercise at Muscatatuck Training Grounds in 2019, integrating members of Canada's Task Force System and CAN Task Force 6. This international collaboration enhances interoperability and shared learning across North American US&R response systems.
• Miami Valley Fire Education Association (MVFEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization on the Ohio Task Force 1 Leadership page. MVFEA is a regional fire service education organization in the Miami Valley area of Ohio.
• Participating Agencies Network (60+ Fire Departments, EMS, Hospitals, and Agencies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of over 60 participating agencies including fire departments from Anchorage Middletown Fire and EMS, Anderson Township Fire Department, Cincinnati Fire Department, Columbus Fire Department, Dayton Fire Department, Toledo Fire/Rescue, Ohio State University Emergency Medicine, Pittsburgh Fire Department, and numerous others from Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. These agencies allow employees to deploy with the team through inter-agency agreements, protecting their positions during activations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Texas Task Force 1: One of the 28 federal FEMA US&R task forces and one of the most active nationally, providing structurally identical urban search and rescue, K-9, technical rescue, and hazmat capabilities with a comparable multi-disciplinary, inter-agency volunteer membership model.
• New Mexico Task Force 1: One of the 28 federal FEMA US&R task forces, operating with the same structural collapse, K-9, hazmat, and medical capabilities. Directly comparable as a peer task force within the same national system.
• Florida Task Force 1: A FEMA US&R task force operating under the same federal system, headquartered in South Florida with heavy hurricane response demand. Directly comparable in mission, capabilities, and inter-agency membership model.
• Virginia Task Force 1: Another FEMA US&R task force operating under the same federal framework with identical structure, capabilities, and deployment channels. Directly comparable in scale, scope, and operational philosophy to OH-TF1.
• Los Angeles County Fire Department US&R (CA-TF1): A FEMA US&R task force housed within LA County Fire Department, offering identical structural collapse, K-9, swift water, and heavy equipment rigging capabilities. Directly comparable as a peer FEMA US&R team, with similar disaster-response history including Northridge earthquake legacy.

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross: The largest U.S. humanitarian disaster relief organization, focused on shelter, mass care, and family reunification rather than US&R. Comparable as a parallel federally-supported disaster response entity, operating under different statutory authority.
• FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency): The federal parent/sponsor of the entire National US&R System under which OH-TF1 operates. Comparable as the framework owner; not a direct peer but the governing authority that funds, certifies, and activates OH-TF1.

Emerging players

• Witt O'Brien's (a Tetra Tech company): Private-sector emergency management firm that provides FEMA-facing disaster response, logistics, and recovery services. Comparable as an adjacent competitor for US&R-adjacent federal contracts, though it does not maintain standing US&R task forces.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FEMA's Ohio Task Force 1 US&R