Tentative Host by NASA Ames DART at Moffett Field, CA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), has scheduled a Structures Specialist certification course (StS1) to be held 25-31 Oct 2023, at the NASA Ames DART facility, Moffett Field, CA.  Note: this is a 6-day training course.  This very important training is offered to Task Force Structures Specialist (StS) candidates who have not previously taken StS1. The course is open to other non-engineer Task Force personnel for awareness training. Prerequisites for official certification as a FEMA StS include the following: must have a current Professional Engineer’s License (P.E.) and be practicing in some area of structural engineering.  Students must also meet the requirements of his/her Task Force for local training and other participations.  Students who are not a licensed P.E., but have been scheduled to sit for their Professional Engineer’s exam, may apply for this training with the support of their Task Force.

This course will consist of a series of case studies, lectures, field exercises, and presentations of past rescue incidents.  There will be tabletop exercises and written examinations throughout the course.  The StS Candidate will be introduced to StS “Forms,” monitoring equipment, and basic operational training for GPS and Total Station equipment used during deployments.  The StS will also be introduced to the personnel accountability system used in the FEMA National US&R Response System.