Urban Search and Rescue Markings
Urban search and rescue markings littered homes after major disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina. The spray paint has been long removed or covered, but the legacy remains. To many, what they mean is a mystery- but it doesn’t have to be that way. We’ll give you a quick crash course on USAR markings and why they are important.
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What are Urban Search and Rescue Markings?
These markings are sprayed on the side of residences searched by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) responders or other search and rescue agencies.
There are two main types of search and rescue markings. Their use is split up by geography, with the FEMA markings being used in the US. INSARAG markings are used in the rest of the NATO nations.
FEMA Search and Rescue Marking
FEMA USAR markings, also known as X-marks, are spray-painted beside the main entry point of homes during and after search and rescue operations.
The markings meaning is broken down as follows:
- Single Slash: This means that FEMA responders have gone inside and that a building search is in progress. This helps reduce duplication of search efforts and lets other responders know where their teams are searching.
- X with Writing in Quadrants: This means that a search has been completed.
- Left Quadrant: Search team’s identifier “tag”, usually a short acronym or military number.
- Top Quadrant: Time and date search team left the building.
- Right Quadrant: List of hazards present (if any)
- Bottom Quadrant: Number of survivors and bodies found. Usually noted in that order: 0/0 for no survivors and no corpses.
- X with a Box around it: This means “Do Not Enter”, usually because it is dangerous.
Here is a photo essay with many examples from Hurricane Katrina: Katrina + 5: An X-Code Exhibition.
INSARAG Search and Rescue Marking
INSARAG instructions for marking:
- To start an INSARAG marking, you make a 1-meter square box (roughly 3’ by 3’) with spray paint near the front door or entry point.
- If the building is safe to enter, mark inside the box with “GO”, otherwise “NO GO.”
- Write the team name and start time below that inside the box.
- Write the finish time of the inspection inside the box.
- Hazard information goes above the box and missing persons (if known) below the box.
- Live victims removed go left of the box and dead victims go to the right.
- When the search and inspection are complete, put a circle around all the information.
- When the team is certain there are no more victims, place a horizontal line through the circle and box.
Expedient Search and Rescue Marking
Besides sanctions markings, you’ll also find search and rescue markings from other agencies that are meant to just get to the point. These markings usually give information about one topic: victims.
They are simple enough to draw: they all start with a large “V” if a victim is present alive, or dead.
After that, you draw a horizontal line through the V if the victim is deceased.
Lastly, mark the V with a large X if the victim leaves or is removed.
Why It Helps to Know Them
If you are out and about after a disaster, you can easily see what is going on in buildings that have been searched. Seeing a single slash on a building could also let you know that a search party is near; whether you are looking to encounter them or not. You can visit friends’ homes nearby and be able to tell if they were searched, what time, by who, and how many survivors and dead were found. That is a good amount of information for a little graffiti on the wall! That brings us to the second useful ability to know the FEMA markings.
Not only can you read the markings, but if a situation gets bad, you can write a marking. A large X with a box around it on the side of your house tells search parties, the military, and others who know the markings that it is not safe to enter your house. Paired with light and noise discipline, this could be a great deterrent to intruders in an SHTF scenario.
Since your house may not look particularly dangerous, tagging the FEMA X and filling in some info may be the better choice. It may be more believable that your house was searched and passed over already rather than just too dangerous to enter. A foolproof tag that most National Guard units would use is simply your state abbreviation in the left quadrant. Keeping a can or two of spray paint in your disaster kit may be a good idea.
The Final Word
While all of this is good knowledge, I hope you never have to use it. The probabilities are slim that you encounter a disaster where these are used, but there is a chance knowing urban search and rescue markings could help. Check out our Threat List for more likely scenarios, and make sure you are prepared for those as well.
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Keep exploring, stay prepared, and be safe.
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Here’s one you might not have considered…the Super Volcano known as Yellowstone. Forget New Madrid, that’s localized mud-spewers.
The thing has a history of a major, caldera reconfiguring super-eruption every 630K years and it’s 10,000 years overdue right now. Think ash hundreds of miles into the atmosphere, hitching a ride on the jet streams and eventually falling to earth on a global pattern. Think ‘volcanic winter’. Think ‘inhaling volcanic ash and having it turn to cement in your lungs. I’ll leave you with these oh, so cheerful thoughts and let you look into it on your own.
The U.S. Geological Survey, University of Utah and National Park Service scientists with the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory maintain that they “see no evidence that another such cataclysmic eruption will occur at Yellowstone in the foreseeable future. Recurrence intervals of these events are neither regular nor predictable.” This conclusion was reiterated in December 2013 in the aftermath of the publication of a study by University of Utah scientists finding that the “size of the magma body beneath Yellowstone is significantly larger than had been thought.” The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory issued a statement on its website stating,
Although fascinating, the new findings do not imply increased geologic hazards at Yellowstone, and certainly do not increase the chances of a ‘supereruption’ in the near future. Contrary to some media reports, Yellowstone is not ‘overdue’ for a supereruption. Other reports were hyperbolic.
Sean,
This is one excellent article and I would love to get your permission to reprint it (with full accreditation and a link to your site) in my Dying Time Newsletter. I am also requesting permission to reprint the article that was linked to this one titled “6 Ways To Avoid Being Herded Into a FEMA Camp.
Ray, glad you found it useful. Feel free to reprint both with accreditation.
Great information, and something worth considering.
However, it just occured to me that if one were to use either the FEMA or INSARAG markings as a preemptive action on a dwelling, in the hope that it would reduce the chance that someone might come in and help themselves to your SHTF preparations, that person should also consider tagging dwellings to both sides as well. Otherwise, someone that recognizes these markings and what they mean might also be smart enough to wonder why this one particular dwelling was marked as having been searched, while others on either side are clear of similar markings. That person might also conclude this to be very odd, and result in them deciding to check it out.
Hopefully, that person will not be of the murdering, cutthroat variety of people. But, it could go either way.
When one considers that these days there are more candidates for the Darwin Award than ever before, most people will be too stupid and ignorant to be able to figure out something like this. Unfortunately, it will only take one intelligent, murdering cutthroat to undo everything that you have done in the way of SHTF preparations. Not all can be counted on as being “Darwin Award” stupid, and the necessary precautions need to be taken.
This type of lie can cost lives and hinder rescue efforts.
Please reconsider before falsifying markings as it can hinder search efforts. If someone is in need and has to seek shelter in your home after you have left. We (Search and Rescue) need to know the truth about wether your home has been searched or not. A disaster is no time to be selfish.
If it means I won’t be forced into some fema internment camp with my civil rights stripped away. you bet your ass I’m gonna use it. Oh and don’t even think it wouldn’t happen for those who go to one. Look at how the refugees in the super dome were treated and you’d see it was just a few steps up from being in prison and none of them were allowed exit. I will either seek shelter under my own terms or shelter in place if the danger level is negligible.
This crap you’re spewing about it hindering the efforts to find the injured is just that; a load of crap. If there were any injured, there would either be 1) no one to make the markings, or 2) those who were sound in body would find help and leave a note while they’re gone. It has proper f*** all to do with being selfish. Hoarding supplies from those who need it is selfish. Doing what you can to not be forced into somewhere that would be best to stay away from is self preservation. But you’re a cog in the machine so you have to say these things.
This is all I have to say.
Whoever you are!! If you don’t stock up on supplies that’s on you to go without!! Went thru Katrina and had stocked up a lot!! And did hand out bread and water but will never do it again!!! Those same came once again and broke in to steal clothes!! Have made up my mind to shoot first then ask questions!! Every American has the same opportunities to stockpile! Only air & opportunity stops you! So to hell on you!!!!
YOU GO ANN. make peace with your GOD you will soon meet him. is my mantra.
Wouldn’t “someone in need and (sought) shelter in your home after you have left…”, mean that should Funneling Emergency Money to Aliens have searched, and cleared my home after I had left, then FEMA would be the ones “hindering search efforts”?
Inquiring minds want to know!
What are the markings in red, above the yellow “X”, and what are the documents attached to either side?
Answers: in this photo the red marks are an earlier s&r visit, on Sep 2nd, by a Texas helper, and No Entry was done.
After Katrina/ Rita the first purpose of markings was as intended— disaster mortician service of collecting corpses. That’s a pretty clear health benefit, even for many independent, prepared people. Most NOLa homes were boarded tight, so NE was most common. S& R skipped such by logic that tight closure done from outside indicates empty home.
Your, FEMA X is wrong! The top quadrant, is time in! The bottom quadrant is time out. The left quadrant is who you are! Further more the right quadrant is all hazards, including people,pets,damage to structure etc.
The reason for the time in and out, is thus!
If you go in and put your mark and time in the correct quadrants, but do not come out! The next person arriving; then knows you have not got out of the dwelling/constructed building! Thus, there may be a very serious hazard!
Also if Search and rescue where using this system. They would not leave a living person inside a hazardous structure!! (A cadaver is a potential hazard, think potential disease). Within the FEMA system thier is an option for other information. Which can be written inside a square or rectangle!!
I’m sure there will be lots of “mistakes” made by people who are not as expert in the field as you are post SHTF.
I’m grateful for the info myself but living in Canaduh, I’m not even sure they use the same system. Chances are they do.
I’m rural with la few close neighbors and it’s the neighbors who are the greatest threat to me. None are prepared and they cling to “normal” as if it was their salvation.
I can’t fix that condition, nor can I help them and nor do I want to. The ideology here is, “You made your bed, now sleep in it”, and I’ve been told so myself the times I had the gall to complain about anything.
I’m more likely to post a large sign begging for food and water as I declare that all are sick and dying here.
I’m sure my guard dog (soon to be dogs) will be viewed as a tasty meal by the non-viable. We’ll keep her inside and no one will get through the door with her on the other side.
The land is already posted “Beware Of Dog”, not that it works, the idiots insist on entering the property and being bitten as they try to pet a dog that is making like it will eat them.
Good luck.
SO MANY people are NOT PREPARED for anything !! Subject – thieves – more cars/trucks are stolen now than ever before. Why don’t people fortify their car ?! A steering wheel lock with a tire lock on one tire, a battery disable solenoid, a remote fuel shut off solenoid. Hiding the keys somewhere in the house.
Why aren’t people installing door reinforcements, hi grade door lock assy’s, Armor plate glass windows or like cheap me, having a glass company install plastic security sheeting over all the first floor glass to make it very hard to break out.
As they told us repeatedly in the Boy Scouts – BE PREPARED !
Thanks so much for the info.
Extremely useful information.
Thank you
Heads up everyone- Tech is in place and used for Cyber Surveillance by Brain wave monitoring.
People need to become familiar with Signals/ Signals jamming equipment, defeating Radiological monitoring.
An Issue people will not touch.