From time to time the team is called to incidents that are complex in nature. These events include those that involve multiple rescue organisations or are large in scale, for example national flooding or a protracted search for a high risk missing person. In these situations we will deploy our incident support assets to ensue our rescue teams have what they need. These assets consist of the Incident Support Unit (ISU) and the Flood Incident Response Unit.
Incident Support Unit
The ISU (formally a standard Volkswagen Crafter) entered service with the Wyre Forest team in 2017. It's primary role is to provide a control hub for the team leaders to coordinate and plan searches using digital mapping software and a communications platform to relay messages to and from the teams on the ground.
The ISU also doubles as a crew carrier with room for 9 crew members and carries essential welfare equipment for those prolonged night time searches.
Flood Incident Response Unit
The Flood Incident Response Unit transports all of the additional equipment we require for a prolonged flooding deployment, including SARA 10 when deflated. As a declared assets for the DEFRA national flood response, we can be called anywhere in the UK for up to 4 days. This trailer provides the team with the capability to carry everything they need to be self sufficient for at least 24 hours and all of the equipment needed to keep us safe as we work to save others.