I am active in a SAR unit in Illinois, and I would agree with HIKERDON, most generally it is the local sheriff who is in charge. The key is to get into a good working relationship with the Sheriff. <br><br>With regards to equipment, it really depends on the type of search you are doing; we are called for a variety of searches anywhere from a door to door search for missing children to a more remote search in State parks. Most of the time members use a fanny pack to carry their equipment, Our STSAR "Special Tactics Search and Rescue" Team wears a multi-pocketed vest only. This reduction in equipment serves their need to be a Rapid Intervention Team. But I must tell you that this team is highly trained, and can work effectively with less equipment. <br><br>If you are interested I could email you with a more detailed equipment list. But this list may only serve the needs of a SAR team in our type of wilderness. I would most definitely change the contents if I were in HIKERDON's area of Arizona. <br><br>There are many web sites dedicated to SAR, I would suggest a GOOGLE search on "Search and Rescue". Our site is down for a brief time but the URL is www.co.vermilion.il.us/ema/VCSAR.htm <br><br>If you have any more questions email me at fisher_ted22@hotmail.com, I would be glad to help. <br><br>Thanks <br>Ted Fisher <br>VCSAR Coordinator<br>