AKSAR speak with straight tongue, but the scenario varies with the community and the environmental setting. Most of my SAR experience has been in Tucson, AZ, where we had very wild country impinging on the city limits, but an urban community that (eventually) developed reasonably effective SAR resources.

We soon learned that the quicker the response, the sooner and more successful the end was likely to be. Thirty years ago, we could easily put a minimum of twenty to thirty people in the field (not just sitting at base camp)and from what I have seen on periodic visits to my old stomping ground, the situation is even better today.

Then a typical ops began with a call to the effect that "Johnny was overdue, please help." Often Johnny was located within an hour or two. I came to think of dawn the next morning as the "Golden Hour" when the victim would start moving, increasing the chances of contact. Our efforts were enhanced by the unstinting support of the helicopters available from the highway patrol and the Air Force.

Lacking a quick resolution, the county sheriff got very good at effecting the transition into the larger scale effort with the proverbial "cast of thousands."

I am describing a near ideal situation that grew out of a large urban community with lots of resources,taking many years and a lot of head banging and assorted hassles. I am sure that the vastness of Alaska imposes many different constraints.

Which leads to the question - How well does it go in your area? Needless to say, I am a firm believer in using volunteer SAR resources. If well trained and coordinated, it is a good deal for the victim and for the taxpayer, as well