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About Us
US HERO is an outgrowth of an idea and an organization. What is now US HERO, started as local volunteer search & rescue team in the Austin, TX area, this was SAR Team 8. When the founders of SAR Team 8 saw the desire for other people to participate in our missions and the relative lack of an organization to do so, they founded US HERO. US HERO is a chartering organization that enables people to start up and operate volunteer emergency services units in different areas that all benefit from associating. All Response Units of US HERO agree to abide by a standard training and certification program, to operate with standardized operational protocols, and to wear a distinguishing uniform. Response Units can call on other US HERO units when they need help, which we call mutual assistance.
US HERO, Inc. and SAR Team 8, Inc. merged and are now known as US HERO, Inc. SAR Team 8 is now the designation of the South Austin Response Unit of US HERO. US HERO is a non-profit, charitable corporation without the support of tax dollars. Funding comes from membership dues, charity events, and grants. US HERO is a partner with local and regional disaster relief organizations and performs services for governmental agencies and private disaster organizations, such as Red Cross.
What We Are
US HERO units are Emergency Response Units, with some being volunteer fire departments dealing with Widland Fire. Our primary job is to conduct Search & Rescue (SAR) missions and respond to disasters by providing emergency relief and response under the Emergency Management System and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). All US-HERO personnel are qualified and operate according to the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) standards. We also help educate the public on emergency preparedness and hazard mitigation. US-HERO units also train and manage Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), which respond to natural and other disasters.
What We Are Not
- We are not a paramilitary or militia organization
- We are not law enforcement
- We are not an Emergency Medical Services provider
- We are not a government entity, although we perform work for governmental authorities
- We do not get paid to perform services, nor do we make a profit
Our Methods
US HERO is unique in respect to how we have chosen to interface with out local units. Because at the heart of the matter, we are a community-based, volunteer organization, we felt a top-down, military type management structure was inherently incompatible. Our method and structure is one of bottom - up, instead of top - down. Each of our units is run locally and democratically in terms of routine business. Each unit leader is elected on an annual basis and must meet all requirements for said position.
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