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West Coast (Clallam County, Wa) 
SAR membership organizational problems
(Richard Hannibal)
How are they getting there???
(David R. Tate)
How do you keep members ?
(irv lichtenstein)
How do you keep them if you don't?
(David R. Tate)
east coast west coast north south
(irv lichtenstein )
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I am not going to speak for the whole west coast but in this county we have a a mixture of the above. We have about 30-40 missions per year 2-3 last more than 8 hours. We are the primary Search and Rescue resource for the county. Washington State law (RCW 38.52) assigns jurisdiction of SAR incidents to the Sheriff of the effected county. SAR is defined as: RCW 38.52.010 (7) "Search and rescue" means the acts of searching for, rescuing, or recovering by means of ground, marine, or air activity any person who becomes lost, injured, or is killed while outdoors or as a result of a natural or man-made disaster, including instances involving searches for downed aircraft when ground personnel are used. Nothing in this section shall affect appropriate activity by the department of transportation under chapter 47.68 RCW. In the rural counties search and rescue is done by volunteers with management provided by a SAR deputy or Coordinator usually this is not a full time assignment. I recently met a police officer from Tacoma who was part of their SAR team, he said they had about 10-15 paid people who did SAR again not a full time assignment. In our county we have a patrol Sgt. who is assigned the collateral duty of SAR coordinator. In Jefferson County which surrounds us the SAR Coordinator is a deputized volunteer, other counties have SAR coordinator teams ie no overtime allowed 8 hour shifts whatever happens happens. We have seven trucks most of them are devoted to a specific function in order of acquisition: Rescue 10 - Ford 4x4 pickup) - 4x4 Search and Response Rescue 11 - Type 11 Ambulance - Technical rescue equipment, basic Search gear medical etc.) Rescue 13 - Dodge 1 ton Van - Communication Van capable a talking to any agency within our operational zone (surrounding 4 counties) this is the one assigned to me Rescue 12 - Ford six pack - Wet, I mean, West end response Truck initial reponse gear for the west end we have about a 1 hour response time to the far end of the county. Rescue 9 - Ford Type II ambulance - Dive Rescue/Base Support, Water rescue, inflatable boat, food, shelter Rescue 15 - Chevy 4x4 pickup - Clalam Bay response truck similar to Rescue 12 Rescue ?? - Chevy 4x4 pickup with military comm Box - New Comm van soon to be in service. We respond to all SAR incidents under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff. BTW these vehicle were all acquired by the SAR volunteers but are owned by the county for insurance purposes they provide fuel but we maintain them and upgrade as necesary. Jefferson just acquired a vehicle (a van) and have had a trailor for a long time, I don't know how the insure it etc. We have an annual budget of about $3000. The state will reimburse any loss by a sar member or volunteer group provided there was no negligence. The county is reimbursable for expenses involved in feeding or housing sar volunteers on a mission over 24 hours. and fuel for private vehicles is reimbursed on all out-of-county mission or if the mission lasts 24 hours or you drive more than 100 miles. Does this answer your questions? I probably lost track of yours while typing mine!!! let me know _ _ Yours, David Tate |
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