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2021 SPECIAL SESSION II

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HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 772 Commending Virginia Task Force 2.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, August 5, 2021

 

WHEREAS, in July 2021, members of Virginia Task Force 2 deployed to the site of a catastrophic building collapse in Florida to assist with search and rescue efforts; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Task Force 2, based in Virginia Beach, is a unit of the National Urban Search and Rescue System, established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to quickly organize emergency services personnel into specialized disaster response teams in times of crisis; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Task Force 2 is composed of firefighters, technical rescue technicians, emergency medical services personnel, canine handlers, engineers, and physicians from various city and county departments throughout Hampton Roads; and

WHEREAS, on July 1, 2021, approximately 80 members of Virginia Task Force 2 traveled to Surfside, Florida, where a 12-story residential building had collapsed in the early morning of June 24, and additional members of the team deployed to Florida shortly afterward; and

WHEREAS, members of Virginia Task Force 2 divided into two teams and worked around the clock in 12-hour shifts in search and rescue and search and recovery operations, enduring high temperatures and difficult and dangerous working conditions, including high winds and rain from hurricane Elsa; and

WHEREAS, the disaster proved to be one of the deadliest structural collapses in the history of the nation, with at least 95 people killed; members of Virginia Task Force 2 recovered at least 25 victims and assisted with recovery operations of several others; and

WHEREAS, while a small team remained in Florida to work with a specialized unit, the majority of the unit returned to the Commonwealth on July 13; and

WHEREAS, the members of Virginia Task Force 2 demonstrated bravery, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to serving the public during the deployment; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Virginia Task Force 2 hereby be commended for its response to the building collapse in Surfside, Florida, in July 2021; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Virginia Task Force 2 as an expression of the House of Delegates’ admiration for the service and sacrifices of all of its members.