The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for coordinating the federal government’s response to disasters, but it does not generally conduct local search and rescue (SAR) operations. Instead, SAR operations are primarily the responsibility of local and state authorities, such as fire departments, police departments, and emergency management agencies.
FEMA’s primary role in SAR is to provide support and resources to local and state authorities who are conducting SAR operations. This can include providing personnel, equipment, and funding to assist with SAR efforts. FEMA also provides training and guidance to local and state SAR teams to help them improve their capabilities and preparedness.
There are several reasons why FEMA does not perform local SAR operations:
Local knowledge and resources: Local authorities have the best knowledge of their communities and the resources available to them. This allows them to respond quickly and effectively to SAR incidents in their jurisdiction.
Jurisdictional responsibility: SAR is primarily a local responsibility and falls under the jurisdiction of state and local authorities. Federal agencies like FEMA typically only become involved in SAR operations when state and local resources have been exhausted or when a disaster has overwhelmed local and state capabilities.
Empowering Local Authorities: By providing support to local and state authorities, rather than taking over SAR operations, FEMA is empowering them to manage their own emergency response efforts.
Specialized skills: Many SAR operations require specialized skills and expertise, such as mountain rescue, urban search and rescue, and water rescue. Local and state authorities are more likely to have the specialized skills
