[1] The mission of FL-TF1 is to respond to natural and man-made disasters to provide search and rescue as well as both medical and communications support.
[2] As with all FEMA Task Forces, FL-TF1 is trained in physical search and rescue in damaged or collapsed structures as well as in areas that have sustained significant flooding.
Additionally the task force specializes in providing medical care at the scene of a disaster for trapped victims.
In addition, FL-TF1 has nine FEMA certified canine teams, each composed of a handler and a search dog.
These 20+ teams that would later become the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces were chosen throughout the country based on geographic location with local public safety departments as sponsoring agencies.