When the call came, there wasn't much time to think.

Within hours, seven Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue (BUSAR) volunteers left their jobs, packed their gear and said goodbye to their families before boarding flights to Venezuela, where two powerful earthquakes had devastated communities north of Caracas.

For BUSAR President Ryan Berry, those first few hours are among the hardest. "It's a hard conversation to have with your family," he says. "You're telling them you're leaving in 12 hours and heading into a disaster zone."

Knowing Pacific Blue Cross has arranged travel medical coverage helps make those conversations a little easier. "Being able to tell our families that we're covered if something happens—that Pacific Blue Cross has our back—is a really big deal," Berry adds. "It gives everyone peace of mind before we even get on the plane."

Once in Venezuela, the team joined local firefighters and international search-and-rescue crews working around the clock in one of the country's hardest-hit regions. Using search dogs, drones and specialized search equipment, BUSAR assessed more than 30 collapsed structures, helping search for survivors and support rescue efforts.

One site remains etched in Berry's memory. 

Local firefighters had spent days searching a collapsed building where they had initially heard several voices. After days without any response, they were preparing to move on.

BUSAR asked if they could send in their search dogs. 

Both dogs independently indicated that someone was still alive beneath the rubble. The team then deployed acoustic sensors capable of detecting the faintest vibrations. Everyone on site stopped moving while rescuers called into the debris, asking anyone trapped inside to tap three times.

The sensors picked up a response. BUSAR worked alongside the Venezuelan firefighters until a larger U.S. rescue team arrived with the heavy equipment needed to continue the operation.

Two days later, Berry received word that a young boy had been pulled from the rubble alive.

"Our team is small," he says. "We didn't have the resources to carry out that extrication ourselves. But our dogs finding him is the reason that site wasn't abandoned. That's the whole job, right there."

The deployment wasn't only about finding survivors. Berry says one of the hardest parts of the mission was meeting families who had spent days searching for loved ones with little more than buckets and their bare hands.

"Our dogs can distinguish between someone who's alive and someone who's not," he says. "Sometimes being able to give families certainty is just as important as finding survivors."

Although the work in Venezuela was physically demanding, simply getting there proved to be one of the team's greatest challenges. Flight cancellations, changing itineraries and limited cargo space meant specialized equipment had to be left behind before the team even arrived. Yet Berry says none of those obstacles compare to the commitment shown by the volunteers who make up BUSAR.

Made up entirely of volunteer firefighters, police officers and paramedics from across British Columbia, the team trains year-round while balancing careers and family life.

"We're fortunate to live where we do," Berry says. "Not everybody is. This is our chance to give back."

The experience gained on international deployments doesn't stay overseas. BUSAR brings those lessons home, sharing knowledge with fire departments and emergency responders across British Columbia to strengthen preparedness for future disasters here at home.

For Pacific Blue Cross, supporting BUSAR is about standing behind the people who step forward when others need them most. "Our support for BUSAR extends beyond a single deployment and isn't just about providing travel insurance," says Adrian Bois, Senior Vice President and Chief Individual Products Officer at Pacific Blue Cross. "It's about standing behind people who step forward when others are facing unimaginable circumstances. We know this team is ready to answer the call. We're honoured to play a small role in helping these volunteers do what they do best, today and in the future."

Berry says that support makes a difference long before the team reaches a disaster zone. 

"We would not be able to deploy internationally without that coverage," he says. "What Pacific Blue Cross does is vital to our team's success. It's a key part of how we operate."

As disasters continue to affect communities around the world, Pacific Blue Cross is proud to stand alongside BUSAR as the team answers future calls for help—both internationally and here at home. We thank Ryan Berry and the entire BUSAR team for their service and are grateful to welcome them home safely.

Related links:

Learn more about Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue (BUSAR)

Read about Pacific Blue Cross's support of BUSAR's Jamaica humanitarian mission

Explore how Pacific Blue Cross is building healthier communities