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Urban training is a little more organized, but again, not uniformly applied at the local level. Other federal agencies may have different expectations to get involved in a SAR incident, i.e. FEMA sets standards for federal responders on federal urban-SAR events (disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, etc.) and many states follow their lead when establishing standards for urban response. Some states have statewide wilderness SAR standards (Oregon, New Mexico, California come to mind) that must be met in order to be a part of an official state call-out (which includes those local incidents that eventually seek state support, reimbursement, etc.) I'm not aware if any of those states offer reciprocity across state lines so a New Mexico responder may have to recertify if they move to California and vice versa.Īt the federal level, it's another mixed bag. Here is a snapshot of the certification landscape: State Level SAR
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In short, search and rescue (SAR) is not for everyone. Plus, most SAR is conducted by volunteers without reimbursement and requires taking time off from a paying job or other commitment. The hours are long, the training is arduous and the discoveries - while rewarding - can stay with you for a long time, for better or worse. Searching for the lost and missing is a noble calling. Are you and Search and Rescue (SAR) the right fit?
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