Is your organization NIMS compliant? The development of a nationwide credentialing system is a fundamental component of NIMS. A national credentialing system can document minimum professional qualifications, certifications, training and education requirements that define baseline criteria expected of emergency response professionals and volunteers for deployment as mutual aid to disasters. While such a system is meant to verify the identity and qualifications of emergency responders, it does not provide automatic access to an incident site. The credentialing system can help prevent unauthorized, i.e., self-dispatched or unqualified personnel, access to an incident site. To support this credentialing initiative, the Center will use working groups to identify positions that should be credentialed and the minimum qualification, certification, training and education requirements for each position.

Area Search Type I Airscent- Capable of searching large areas in wilderness terrain.  Capable of searching large areas of approximately 120 acres (or equivalent) search for multiple victims, and search smaller areas at night, approximately 40 acres (or equivalent.) Click here to dowload Airscent Task Book

Trailing Wilderness, suburban/rural or urban environments. Type I Trailing- Capable of trailing individuals specific scent in wilderness terrain, suburban/rural or urban settings; aged 12 + hours; 1 mile or longer; in applicable terrain, scent contamination, surface substrate. Type II Trailing- Capable of trailing individual specific scent in wilderness terrain, suburban/rural or urban settings; aged 4-6 hours; 1 mile or longer; in applicable terrain, scent contamination, surface substrate. Type III Trailing- Capable of trailing individual specific scent in wilderness terrain, suburban/rural or urban settings; aged 1.5 – 2 hours; 1 mile or longer; in applicable terrain, scent contamination, surface substrate. Click here to dowload Trailing Task Book

Human Remains Detection Buried remains, natural debris fields, and wilderness areas. Type I HRD- Search for and detect human remains in natural debris fields (200’x 200’), wilderness areas (200’x 200’) as well as remains buried in the soil (75’x75’.) Capable of self-sustaining for 24 hours and 12 hour search operations. Click Here to Dowload HRD Task Book

Disaster SARDUS accepts all current FEMA certified Canine Search Specialists Type I Disaster- Search 6,000- 15,000 square feet area of partially or completely collapsed structures and locate live human scent. Requires the search animal to perform to those standards outside the direct supervision and guidance of the handler, and to successfully search more difficult rescue simulation courses. Type II Disaster- Search 3,500- 5,000 square feet area of partially or completely collapsed structures and locate live human scent. Requires the search animal to perform to specific standards under the handler's direct supervision and guidance. Click here to dowload FEMA Canine Specialist Guidlines

Water and Avalanche Search- standards are in progress