Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) is the capacity to rescue victims from major structural collapse or other entrapments.

The catastrophic earthquakes that hit northern and southern California in1989 and 1994, the 1995 Kobe Japan earthquake and the Oklahoma City bombing demonstrated the need for specially trained urban search and rescue (USAR) resources to respond to incidents of structural collapse caused by earthquakes, terrorism and other natural or man-made events.

Such incidents exceed the standard emergency management capabilities of the affected community. To address these incidents, lightly equipped teams to self-contained, fully mobile Heavy USAR teams have been formed.

The Urban Search and Rescue team involves locating, rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces. The USAR Team is considered a multi-hazard discipline. A team may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters, including, but not limited to earthquakes, hurricanes, storms, tornadoes, floods, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities, and hazardous material releases.