A Letter from the President

A man with Alzheimer's wanders away from home, a hunter or hiker is missing; a group of school children are stranded in a flood... Search and rescue is a lifesaving vocation. The ability to save a life is often dependent upon how quickly the person can be found and accessed. Exposure to the elements is the #1 killer for lost subjects. The missing person's survival may rest on timely response from well-equipped, well-trained search and rescue professionals.

This website is designed to provide its visitors with contact information for throughout seach & rescue (SAR) groups throughout New Jersey. The site also provides a significant amount of information regarding how to get involved in search & rescue and safety awareness.

The Search and Rescue Council of New Jersey consists of various volunteer search and rescue teams in the State of New Jersey and surrounding area. These teams offer different types of search resources including Search Management & Planning, Ground Searchers, and Canines (Air Scenting, Tracking/Trailing, Human Remain Detection).

Resources have been regionalized for efficacy in identifying local resources nearest to the incident. The Council recommends that each municipality/Public Safety Agency contact their appropriate SAR group and discuss their individual abilities and limitations.

The objective of the Council is to provide a comprehensive and methodological approach in responding to missing and overdue subjects. Our objectives are not to take over the incidents, but instead to provide the Incident Commander/Responsible Authority with suggestions on proper use of search & rescue resources and tactics.

Member Council teams have accreditation thru various nationally accredited organizations such as the National Association for Search and Rescue, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the New York department of Environmental Conservation.

Eric H. Martin
President