From FEMA: At the request of the Japanese government, the U.S. Agency for International Development is deploying two Urban Search and Rescue teams to assist in search-and-rescue efforts in Japan after the earthquake and tsunami.

California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) and Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1) are deploying due to their direct agreement with USAID. The teams consist of 70 multi-faceted, cross-trained personnel who serve in six major functional areas: search, rescue, medical, hazmat, logistics and planning. In addition, they are supported by canines that are specially trained and qualified to be able to conduct physical search and heavy-rescue operations in damaged or collapsed reinforced concrete buildings.