SAR & Emergency Contacts
When and how to get help in the backcountry
Search and Rescue (SAR) in the United States is a patchwork of local, state, and federal agencies supplemented by volunteer organizations. Understanding how the system works — and how to activate it — can save critical time when it matters.
How SAR Works in the US
In most states, the county sheriff has legal authority over search and rescue operations. When someone is reported missing or calls for help, the sheriff's office coordinates the response, which may include volunteer SAR teams, state resources, the Civil Air Patrol, National Guard, and federal agencies depending on jurisdiction and severity.
SAR teams are overwhelmingly staffed by volunteers — people who train on their own time and respond when called. In most states, there is no charge to the person being rescued, though some states have cost-recovery laws for reckless behavior.
Support Your Local SAR Team
Most SAR members are unpaid volunteers who buy their own gear, give up weekends for training, and drop everything when someone needs help. If you spend time in the backcountry, there are straightforward ways to give back.
Donate. The Mountain Rescue Association supports over 90 teams across the country. State-level groups like the Colorado Search and Rescue Association channel funds directly to regional teams — Colorado also offers a CORSAR card for just a few dollars a year. Most local teams accept donations on their own websites too.
Volunteer. Teams are always looking for committed people, and you do not need prior experience — they provide training. The MRA maintains a directory of member teams by region that covers most of the country.
Find your local team. In most counties, SAR falls under the sheriff's office. Call your county sheriff and ask which teams operate in your area — they can connect you whether you want to donate or get involved.
When to Call for Help
Call for help when you or someone in your group has a life-threatening injury or illness, is lost with no ability to self-navigate, or is in a situation that is deteriorating and will not improve without outside intervention.
Call 911 first. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911 if you have cell service. Give your location (coordinates if possible), the nature of the emergency, the number of people involved, and any injuries. If you do not have cell service, use a satellite communicator (inReach, SPOT, or similar) to send an SOS.
How to Help SAR Help You
- Leave a trip plan with someone who will act on it if you are overdue
- Carry a satellite communicator with SOS capability
- Know your location at all times — coordinates are more useful than trail names
- Stay put once you have called for help unless your location is dangerous
- Make yourself visible (bright colors, signal mirror, whistle)
- Conserve battery on your communication devices
Directories
Use these directories to find SAR organizations, sheriff offices, and ranger stations in the area where you plan to travel. Having this information before a trip — not during an emergency — is part of being prepared.
SAR Organization Directory
Search and rescue teams and organizations listed by state and county.
Sheriff Contact Directory
County sheriff offices listed by state. The sheriff typically coordinates SAR operations.
Public Lands Directory
Ranger stations, field offices, visitor centers, and wildlife refuges on public lands.
Additional Resources
- National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) — the national organization for SAR professionals and volunteers.
- Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) — the umbrella org for mountain rescue teams across the US and Canada.