What happens if you get lost?

Thinking about getting out for a hike? Did you know that you have an amazing team of people to rescue you should you be lost? Most people think the array of trained emergency responders all work for King County. But 16 of the people are sheriff deputies and the other 600 are volunteers. So that is how Search and Rescue (SARS) saves the county about $8 million per year.

King County Search and Rescue Association (KCSARA) is a coalition of nine separate nonprofit search and rescue organizations focused on serving the public. These nine units provide a variety of specialized skills in addition to a shared foundation of search and rescue training. The units are prepared to respond to people in distress in wilderness areas, to search for vulnerable missing persons in town, or to aid neighbors in times of disaster.

These units are called out for 150 to 200 missions per year with volunteers spending over 49,000 hours on mission rescues and training each year. The advanced training, expertise, and dedication of the volunteers ensures the county is able to provide essential search and rescue emergency services. The volunteers pay for their own equipment, gas, clothing, and other needs as well as taking time away from jobs and family. KCSARA and its member units are 501 c (3) nonprofit groups. Visit KCSARA’s website, at kingcountysar.org to learn more about each member unit. (Plus you can contribute with a tax-deductible donation to support their work.)

The county has now acquired a new patrol helicopter. They had Army surplus helicopters for many years and used other helicopters for parts to keep the aircraft flying safely. I worked on funding their first helicopter hoist lift and was in the helicopter when it was used for the first time. During a bad flood in Duvall years ago, I went out to see what the damage level was and learned there was no place in this flooded area to land. The pilot told me that if they had a hoist lift, they could rescue people from their roofs. Hence, the budget allocation was made.

KCSARA is a great force multiplier for the county as it works side by side with law enforcement providing volunteers to conduct public outreach and rescue services. These units are mostly known for mountain and wilderness rescues but they do so much more within your community such as finding missing persons and searching for evidence, assisting with recoveries, and preparing for disasters. The units include:

The Regional Special Vehicles Unit (RSVU) has specialized vehicles to search in difficult to assess areas.

Pacific Northwest Trackers Association (PNWT) employs visual tracking skills in searches for lost people and critical items of evidence. They also teach these skills.

Ski Patrol Rescue Team (SPART) provides emergency medical/trauma care in wilderness areas and have specialized training for avalanche incidents.

Northwest Horseback Search and Rescue (NWHSAR) looks for lost, injured, or missing people and transports equipment, medical supplies, and communication equipment.

King County Search Dogs (KCSD) is the largest K9 search unit in WA state. They train their dogs to national standards in air scent to locate people or evidence (and they far exceed the standards).

King County Incident Support Team (IST) serves as the command center team. They do the planning, logistics, administration, and communications for incident management.

King County 4×4 Search and Rescue (KC 4X4 SAR). Their technically-equipped four-wheel drive vehicles deliver people and equipment over rough or snow-covered roads. They also do traffic control and radio relay.

King County Explorer Search and Rescue (ESAR) is the ground search and rescue unit, the largest of the units. The members have advanced technical training, and a group of nationally and state-certified EMTs (Emergency medical technicians). The program includes youth ages 14-20.

Seattle Mountain Rescue (SMR) mountain climbers are dedicated to back-country rescues as well as providing mountain safety education.

Together, they are mission ready. Search and Rescue works in the open space areas as well as inside city limits.

Some tips: If you do need help, don’t wait to call as time is precious and can be an essential element in a rescue. Cellphones do not always work in the wilderness areas, and always let someone know where you are headed.

If you are interested in being a volunteer you can search https://kingcountysar.org/join-us.

Kathy Lambert is a former member of the King County Council who represented the Snoqualmie Valley. Send comments to editor@valleyrecord.com.