The wide geography of the US, and the variety of state and federal land administration, has resulted in a patchwork of Search and Rescue organizations. Many are being overwhelmed.

America's Search and Rescue Is in a State of Emergency
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SAR operations in the United States are a patchwork. Depending on where you are when bad luck strikes, you might be saved by a commando squad with a chopper on speed dial, carried out quickly by a talented group like the Volcano Rescue Team, or forced to wait for hours, even days, until well-meaning volunteers with limited resources reach you in the backcountry. Historically, this was a reasonable approach, with the level of rescue services available in a given area generally matching the demand. These days, though, demographic and cultural shifts have led more people into the wild, putting emergency operations in some places under enormous stress. Which is why it’s time to reevaluate our approach to SAR before things get worse.
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"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more."
-Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz