Mounted search and rescue

["Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>]

I'm not sure how discussion got diverted to SAR funding related to NIMS 
compliance, since funding specific to SAR isn't currently on the federal 
funding radar. While that situation has potential to change due to recent 
activities at the national level, currently SAR funding isn't likely to 
occur unless locally the authorities choose to dedicate some of their 
federal / grant funding for SAR. However, those authorities do need to be 
NIMS compliant going forward to be eligible for that funding. And any SAR 
team wanting a piece of the federal funding from the local authorities will 
need to demonstrate NIMS compliance with appropriate documentation.

Assuming local authorities want to be eligible for substantial federal 
funding ...
One clear nationwide NIMS requirement for first responder authorities is the 
implementation of ICS at every incident, expanding to NIMS as needed. SAR is 
an incident, and therefore falls into the category of needing to use ICS / 
NIMS. SAR Management must be using ICS / NIMS. All recognized SAR resources 
must know how to function in the command system.

Local (or state) authorities presumably impose certain requirements on their 
recognized SAR resources, including volunteers. "Meet X requirements or we 
won't / can't call you." If the local requirement is to meet national 
standards for SAR, there is already a reference in ASTM F2209 regarding 
being familiar with the command system. For some folks, how the local SAR 
command system works will change if they haven't been using ICS.

Either existing or going forward, local requirements for SAR will include 
knowing (and using) at least the basics of ICS and NIMS simply because ICS / 
NIMS must be used at every incident. While there may / may not be any 
SAR-related funding involved, all SAR responders will need to have that 
training simply to remain on the call-out list. Even if SAR Management is 
primarily volunteer, they will still need to work with local authorities 
using ICS / NIMS for that incident.

To confirm having the basic training / knowledge, the simplest method is to 
go online, study, test, and put a copy of your FEMA certificate in your 
personnel folder. Or, find someone who understands ICS and NIMS to teach a 
class, then send the students online to test on 
http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/crslist.asp

The current minimum for generic SAR personnel is IS 100, IS 700. Supervisors 
/ team leaders should add IS 200. In 2006 management will need to add ICS 
300 and/or  400, which are available as classroom training.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare Co SAR - Hasty Team ICP Team
www.ceoates.com/sar
Tulare-Kings CERT
www.tk-cert.org