Mounted search and rescue

["irvin lichtenstein" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

Informality is great, until somebody gets hurt, you have to testify in court
about a search, or you have a car wreck on the way. Unfortunately today you
must be organized as a search organization so that you can obtain insurance
and so that the requesting organization can legally request mutual aid.
Otherwise you are a spontaneous volunteer, on your own and without any
support obligation from the requesting authority.

Your state, county, municipality may offer some coverage in the form of
workman's comp, liability coverage, in some states there is still sovereign
immunity. It also affects your training.
As an organized SAR group in PA you can use public parkland to train on
without much paperwork.
Usually a letter to the manager is all that you need. To  run an organized
ride (10 or more people) takes an activity application, proof of insurance,
and a wait for approval. The NPS wants a processing fee as well.

Then there is just getting there-- a bunch of people just showing up at a
police line will cause confusion at the least, and be turned back at the
worst. Persons with ID cards, vehicle identification, and the requisite
contact on scene to report to will get right through.

You need some sort of a letter from the requesting authority saying they
will request you and for what assignments. If they can they should state
that your organization will be employed by their agency during the
emergency. This extends their insurance coverage to you.

Irv Lichtenstein