SAR Assets

The Virginia Search and Rescue Council (VASARCO) is composed of 21 multi-disciplined search and rescue (SAR) teams located throughout the State of Virginia with memorandums of understanding (MOU) to provide services to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM).

Although all the teams train and operate within the same standards and procedures, each of the teams bring a specialized mix of expertise to the mission environment. VASARCO team assets include: search management, ground searchers, live find and human remain detection K9’s, visual man-trackers, equine (horse), technical rescue, cave rescue, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and wide area disaster search. Additionally the Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol is an MOU team providing air assets as required.

VASARCO teams also work closely and frequently with other State and National public safety agencies.      

Interoperability

VASARCO's member search and rescue teams train to conduct operations in a coordinated and consistent manner across all State teams. By learning SAR techniques and protocols at the SAR Academy and reinforced through local team training and actual missions, SAR team members within Virginia operate seamlessly with other Virginia SAR teams.

Our operational protocols extend across State lines where we often support our neighbors in need of additional SAR assets. As an example, one of VASARCO's member teams was recently requested to provide assistance to an adjoining state's large-scale search for a missing girl. Our members contributed to the multi-day, multi-asset search, blending seamlessly into the existing operations.

Standards & Training

Since 1985 VASARCO and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), in conjunction with outside industry experts, have developed world class training and operating standards, some of which have been adopted by other teams throughout the United States. Although we are all volunteers, our team members come from diverse backgrounds. Many of our members are paid search, rescue, fire, medical and law enforcement professionals who bring a wealth of national and state level expertise and knowledge to our mission.

Besides monthly, and in some cases weekly, individual Group team training events, VDEM provides all members free access to their Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) Academy. Three times a year, in different locations throughout the State, VDEM offers 40 hour courses in all aspects of search and rescue operations, allowing members to gain State certification. These courses include Search Team Operations, Search Team Leadership, Management Team Operations, Management Team Leadership and Foundation for Awareness, Signcutting and Tracking. 

While ensuring strong cross trained SAR assets, VDEM also provides 16 hour classes for those who request our services. Local, state and national law enforcement agencies are our clients. Known as AHJ’s (Agencies Having Jurisdiction), these law enforcement agencies are the ones who request our services through VDEM when an individual goes missing or needs to be rescued. Outreach and training for these agencies on a regular basis is crucial to their understanding of what our capabilities are, how we work and when to call us.