The search and rescue team of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) closed an eventful year. The unit, which is five years old this year, was instrumental last year in providing assistance after the earthquake in Turkey, rescuing several survivors from the rubble. Members are volunteers who mainly help with technical, water and storm damage relief tasks. Gábor Hegedűs, head of the search and rescue team, spoke to Radio Europe about the past years and future plans.
„Established in 2019, the Search and Rescue Team is an independent unit within the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid. They work closely with the disaster management, mainly in water and storm damage prevention, fire fighting and rescue tasks. The fifteen-strong active, mobile staff can be mobilised at almost any time,” informed Gábor Hegedűs.
The group's past year was marked by the life-saving assistance it provided at the site of the February earthquake in Turkey. The head of the search and rescue team said: the members volunteer their services, and the difficult conditions require not only professional skills but also considerable physical and mental stamina. They have to be ready to go into action at a moment's notice. The team leader also stressed the importance of regular training. They all have a firefighter's qualification, and they are also specially trained in the use of specialised equipment.
Gábor Hegedűs added that their ability to participate in rescue and damage repair tasks also depends on the supportive, tolerant attitude of their colleagues and bosses. When they have to help out after a massive storm damage, they put aside their current work, put on their green jackets and immediately go to rescue the victims. He said it was a nice gesture when one of their volunteer team members was not even put on leave by his boss, contributing to their service.
The technical assets of the search and rescue team are constantly expanding and evolving. Last year, thanks to an investment of HUF 30 million, they were able to acquire industrial drones equipped with cameras and thermal imaging cameras, which are useful in fires and make their work even more efficient.