I am currently active in SAR in Eastern North Carolina. Mostly surburban and rural searches. The longest we would normally be away from command post would be 6-8 hours. Most area searches are 2-4 hours and then sent out again to a different quadrant.<br><br>Technically speaking in the US either the Sheriff or the Coast Guard is offically in charge. They can and often do assign the task to some other local agency. The most common in our area is either Emergency Management or Local PD.<br><br>Our team uses Mantrackers and K9. Most of the members have completed either Fundamentals of SAR (FUNSAR) and/or SAR Tech II certifications offered by the National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR). They have a website where they sell books and offer training. <br><br>NASAR has a packing list which they recommend for a 72 hour pack. Most of our team members started with a 72 hour pack and quickly determined that we were carrying lots of gear for a two hour hike through peoples back yards. Most of us have trimmed down our packs to a military style vest with firestarting, water, signaling, flashlights, raingear, knife, compass, and other stuff. Our team recommends that new members reveiw the NASAR list and adapt as necessary.<br><br>Our team members are offered Mantracking courses. The K9 handlers train at least once a week but typically more often to keep their dogs up to speed. <br><br>We also use Thermal Imaging, Night Vision Goggles, GPS, and two way radios in combination with the Mantrackers and K9. We have a PC with the tographical maps for our state on CD. We have some software that allows us to enter a GPS coordinite into the software and it displays the point centered on the monitor with the topographical map all around. We can plot points, layout lines indicating search areas, and then print on the attached color printer. We then lamintate the map and give a dedicated 8"x11" map to each search team. <br><br>The GPS is put in continous record mode when we send out a team. When they return, we download the GPS to the PC and plot their actual track on top of the topographical map, and then print a copy for documentation purposes and turn over to command as part of the debriefing.<br><br>We are an all volunteer SAR team and have been around for about 12 years. We are also a technical rescue team. You can stop by our website at www.redsteam.com.<br><br>Search varies widely depending on your area of response and your training. SAR in the western US in wilderness areas is a different set of demands from surburban/rural on the east coast.<br>