What is Search and Rescue?

Oregon Search and Rescue Mandate

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Oregon is a state in which residents and visitors from around the world enjoy a wide variety of outdoor recreation. Camping, hiking, swimming and skiing are just a few of the activities Oregon is known for. However, these activities may also result in the need to find people who become lost or injured. Oregon Search and Rescue (SAR) covers a broad spectrum that includes lost hikers to injured skiers or potential drownings, and much more. Its main purpose is to promote and assist SAR capabilities and resources in the State of Oregon with the underlying principle of saving lives. To serve this purpose, the state liaisons with the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association Search and Rescue Advisory Council (SARAC) who represent their 36 County SAR Coordinators.

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SAR is an all volunteer division of Josephine County Sheriff’s Office. Oregon state SAR Mandate is an unfunded mandate. SAR volunteers provide a valuable service to our county. In addition to search and rescue operations, SAR provides wildfire evacuation, roadblocks to protected areas, evidence searches, crime scene security, body recovery, services for public events like Boatnik, and public education at safety fairs and in our schools.

SAR consists of specialty teams such as ground team, ropes team, drone team, K-9 team, dive team, incident command and communications, and maintenance team.

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Funding for Josephine County Search and Rescue is provided through generous donations from our community and through grants awarded to FOS. All funds are processed through our registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, FOS.