Florida State SAR

Florida Search and Rescue

Who leads searches in Florida, how agencies request state help, and the resources behind them. Verified items link to their source. Reviewed November 2026.

Emergency: call 911. State 24-hour contact: 24-hour State Watch Office (800) 320-0519 or (850) 815-4001. How a state request works ↓

Requesting state help in Florida

No Florida statute assigns search and rescue to a specific agency, and the sheriff's duties in Fla. Stat. § 30.15 do not mention it. In practice the sheriff or city police lead missing-person searches and fire-rescue handles technical rescue.

  1. State 24-hour contact24-hour State Watch Office (800) 320-0519 or (850) 815-4001.
  2. Requesting state resourcesFor state help, the local agency fills out Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement Form B and sends it to the county emergency manager, who forwards it to the State Emergency Operations Center. Requests can also go through the Regional SERP Coordinator or the 24-hour State Watch Office (800-320-0519 or 850-815-4001).

Want to write the request out before you call? Use the request builder. Official agency: FDEM ↗.

Key numbers

Only figures with a published source.

67counties

U.S. Census Bureau boundaries.

U.S. Census Bureau ↗

18Discipline directories

BluePrintSAR resource pages for Florida (below).

How search and rescue is requested in Florida

  1. Step 1In an emergency call 911. The sheriff or city police lead missing person searches; fire-rescue handles technical rescue.
  2. Step 2Local agencies call in nearby resources and volunteer teams directly, or use Florida Mutual Aid Act agreements for other law enforcement agencies.
  3. Step 3For state help, the local agency fills out Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement Form B and sends it to the county emergency manager, who forwards it to the State Emergency Operations Center. Requests can also go through the Regional SERP Coordinator or the 24-hour State Watch Office (800-320-0519 or 850-815-4001).
  4. Step 4ESF 9 (State Fire Marshal) assigns state US&R task forces and other rescue resources; FWC can add officers, aircraft, ATVs and boats.
  5. Step 5Civil Air Patrol provides aircraft for SAR. Beyond state resources, help comes through EMAC or FEMA.

Law and authority

Fla. Stat. § 30.15, Sheriffs: powers, duties and obligations

Sheriffs are conservators of the peace in their counties and perform other duties imposed by law. Search and rescue is not named.

Read the source ↗

Florida Mutual Aid Act, Fla. Stat. §§ 23.12–23.127

Law enforcement agencies may sign voluntary cooperation and requested operational assistance agreements. Officers working in another jurisdiction keep their powers, immunities and benefits. Unless the agreement says otherwise, the agency sending help pays its own employees, equipment losses and travel.

Read the source ↗

Fla. Stat. ch. 252, State Emergency Management Act, and the Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement

Basis for the state emergency management system and the Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement used to move fire and rescue resources between jurisdictions (as described in the SERP).

Read the source ↗

Fla. Stat. § 110.504, Volunteer benefits

Volunteers for state agencies are covered by workers' compensation (ch. 440) and state liability protection (§ 768.28).

Read the source ↗

Fla. Stat. § 768.13, Good Samaritan Act

Anyone who gives emergency care free of charge and in good faith is immune from civil liability if they act as a reasonably prudent person would.

Read the source ↗

State plans and guidelines

Official plans, annexes and program documents for Florida.

Resources by discipline

What each resource does, how it is requested in Florida, and the standards that apply.

Listed in BluePrintSAR directories for Florida

Loading counts…

Counts are directory category listings, not unique organizations, personnel or available assets. Informational canine placeholders are excluded. Organizations can appear in several categories; canine specialty subtotals can overlap.

Aviation (Sheriff / FWC / State)

Florida SAR aviation is mostly county: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and several sheriff offices fly hoist helicopters, backed by Coast Guard air stations and Civil Air Patrol.

How to request

In Florida, aircraft are requested by the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

There is no single Florida standard for SAR aircrews. Individual units set their own rules; CAP follows CAP national regulations and Coast Guard crews follow Coast Guard training.

Canine (K9)

Florida has no state SAR dog certification; sheriffs, fire departments, FEMA task forces and volunteer teams certify their own dogs

How to request

In Florida, the local sheriff's office or police department runs the search and requests canine teams.

Standards and policy

Florida does not issue or require a state SAR dog certification. Fire-based urban search and rescue canine teams are evaluated to the FEMA Canine Search Team certification evaluation (required for deployment on a task force, per Jacksonville Fire and Rescue). Volunteer and law enforcement K9 teams use national bodies such as NAPWDA workshops or standards set by the team or sheriff.

Cave & Mine Rescue

Volunteer specialists

Specialists for rescues in caves and mines, where rope work, tight passages and communications make ordinary rescue methods hard.

Who provides it in Florida

Cave rescuers serve on local rescue squads and cave rescue groups. The National Cave Rescue Commission (part of the National Speleological Society) trains them and tracks cave rescue resources and specialized equipment. Florida is in the NCRC Southeastern Region. Accidents at working mines fall under the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

How to request

Call 911. The agency with jurisdiction requests cave rescuers and can reach the NCRC regional coordinator listed on the NCRC staff page. Report an accident at a working mine to MSHA at 1-800-746-1553.

Standards and policy

NCRC national cave rescue curriculum: Orientation to Cave Rescue, Level 1 Team Member and Level 2 Team Leader.

Cell Phone Forensics

Kelsey Smith Act law: none found. 5 agencies and resources listed. All checked against official sources.

How to request

In Florida, only the law enforcement agency running the search can ask a carrier for a phone's location.

Standards and policy

There is no single national certification for cell phone analysis in searches; agencies and labs set their own training requirements.

Coast Guard

Coast Guard districts and 5 sectors covering Florida, plus 18 small boat stations, 2 air stations, 2 cutters and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. All checked against official sources.

How to request

In Florida, call 911 or VHF-FM Channel 16 for a maritime emergency.

Standards and policy

Coast Guard and Auxiliary crews qualify under Coast Guard training programs; local marine units follow the standards their agency sets.

Communication

National SAR and interoperability channels from the NIFOG, plus 3 state, local and volunteer radio systems and groups. All checked against official sources.

How to request

In Florida, the agency running the search sets the radio plan.

Standards and policy

Communications unit leaders (COML) and technicians (COMT) train through CISA courses and state credentialing; volunteers hold FCC amateur licenses.

Dive & Underwater

5 agency dive teams listed, each checked against an official program page or a news report.

How to request

In Florida, start with the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

Public safety dive teams commonly train to NFPA 1006 (technical rescue personnel qualifications), which covers dive rescue; each team’s sponsoring agency sets its own certification requirements.

Drone / UAS

State drone law: Fla. Stat. 934.50. 3 drone teams listed (Collier and Lee County sheriff’s offices and the Civil Air Patrol Florida Wing), each checked against a current published source.

How to request

In Florida, drone teams are requested by the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

Part 107 pilots complete FAA recurrent training every 24 months; agency programs set their own proficiency standards.

Sheriff / Law Enforcement

No Florida statute assigns search and rescue to a specific agency; the sheriff or city police lead missing-person searches.

How to request

In an emergency call 911. The sheriff or city police lead missing person searches; fire-rescue handles technical rescue.

Standards and policy

No statewide certification for wilderness or ground SAR volunteers. Voluntary state certification exists for fire service technical rescue (FLUSAR Rescue Specialist).

Mantracking

Trackers who find and follow a missing person’s footprints and other sign on the ground.

Who provides it in Florida

BluePrintSAR lists no tracking team for Florida. The sheriff’s office or police department running the search requests trackers; see the directory below.

How to request

The agency running the search requests trackers, usually alongside ground search teams; see who leads searches above.

Standards and policy

ASTM F2852, Standard Practice for Training a Land Search Tracker, sets minimum training for trackers supporting a land search. FEMA’s Land SAR Team typing (8-508-1173) references ASTM F2209 for land search team members.

Marine & Boating Law Enforcement

State boating agency

Officers and boats on lakes, rivers and coastal waters who respond to boating emergencies and support water searches.

Who provides it in Florida

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators lists Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission as Florida’s boating law agency (boating safety, enforcement and registration).

How to request

Call 911 for a water emergency; the agency with jurisdiction requests marine units through dispatch. On coastal waters and the Great Lakes, the U.S. Coast Guard coordinates maritime search and rescue.

Standards and policy

State boating laws. NASBLA promotes uniform state boating laws and their enforcement (U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division).

National Guard

Governor-activated

Military helicopters and personnel for hoist rescue, aerial search and ground support when civilian resources can’t do the job.

Who provides it in Florida

The Florida National Guard (Army and Air), activated in state status by the Governor.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests it through FDEM. NWCG’s helicopter extraction list directs 911 and dispatch centers to coordinate requests for military, Coast Guard and National Guard aircraft through the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) at 800-851-3051.

Standards and policy

State active duty under the Governor’s authority; Guard aircraft used for SAR are coordinated with the rescue coordination center.

State Parks

State agency

The state park system, whose staff know park terrain and trails and support searches on park land.

Who provides it in Florida

Florida State Parks. The National Association of State Park Directors lists this as the official park-system website.

How to request

For an emergency in a park, call 911. Park staff support the agency with jurisdiction; see who leads searches at the top of this page.

Standards and policy

Park rules and staff authority are set by the state park agency; see its website.

Swiftwater & Flood Rescue

State program

Teams that search for and rescue people and animals in swiftwater and floods, from shore and by boat.

Who provides it in Florida

The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office fields Urban Search and Rescue teams and Swift Water Teams for the State Emergency Response Team (23 US&R teams and 10 swift water teams were deployed for Hurricane Milton); FWC officers also perform high-water rescues.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests water rescue through 911 dispatch. State teams are tasked through the State Emergency Response Team, led by FDEM.

Standards and policy

FEMA’s NIMS resource typing defines a Swiftwater/Flood Search and Rescue Team (8-508-1020), which provides shore-based and boat-based water rescue, basic life support and animal rescue.

Technical Mountain Rescue

Teams for steep, high-angle and alpine terrain that use rope systems to reach and evacuate people.

Who provides it in Florida

No Mountain Rescue Association member team is based in Florida (MRA team lists). Technical rescue in Florida comes from fire-rescue agencies and the State Fire Marshal’s US&R task forces; see the directory.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests the team, usually through 911 dispatch; see who leads searches above. Help from outside the area is requested through FDEM.

Standards and policy

FEMA’s NIMS resource typing defines a Mountain Search and Rescue Team (8-508-1171) for low mountain, mountain and alpine environments. The MRA lists member teams by region with their membership status.

USAR (FEMA / State Task Forces)

6 state or regional US&R teams and 2 FEMA task forces listed, with how to request them.

How to request

In Florida, US&R teams are requested by the agency in charge of the incident, through the state emergency management agency when local resources run short.

Standards and policy

FEMA task forces train to FEMA and NFPA standards; state and regional teams follow the standards their sponsor sets.

Federal lands (Forest Service and National Park Service)

Federal land manager

Federal land agencies whose staff support searches on national forests, grasslands and parks.

Who provides it in Florida

National forests and grasslands in Florida on the Forest Service’s list: Apalachicola National Forest; Ocala National Forest; Osceola National Forest. The National Park Service lists 11 park sites in Florida.

How to request

Searches on national forest land are led by the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction (in most states, the county sheriff), with the Forest Service supporting under cooperative agreements. In a national park, call 911 or the park’s emergency line; the NPS will make reasonable efforts to search for lost persons, using its own staff or partner SAR organizations under formal agreements.

Standards and policy

NPS Management Policies 2006, §8.2.5.3: SAR runs under the Incident Command System and visitors are not charged for it.

UTV & ATV Units

Off-road vehicles, including UTVs, ATVs and e-bikes, that move searchers and equipment and carry out injured people over rough trails.

Who provides it in Florida

BluePrintSAR lists no UTV or ATV unit for Florida; see the directory below.

How to request

The agency running the search requests vehicle units; see who leads searches above.

Standards and policy

FEMA’s Land SAR Team typing (8-508-1173) includes ground vehicles for support, transportation and evacuation in land and wilderness searches.

67-county directory

Each county and its sheriff’s office. Who leads a search varies by state; see the top of this page. For an emergency, call 911.

All 67 published contact numbers match the FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory dated October 28, 2026, checked November 2026. Each “Verified” link opens the relevant PDF page. These are sheriff’s office contact numbers; for an emergency, call 911.

JurisdictionAgencyPhone
Alachua CountyAlachua County Sheriff’s Office(352) 367-4021
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Baker CountyBaker County Sheriff’s Office(904) 259-2231
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Bay CountyBay County Sheriff’s Office(850) 747-4700
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Bradford CountyBradford County Sheriff’s Office(904) 966-2276
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Brevard CountyBrevard County Sheriff’s Office(321) 264-5201
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Broward CountyBroward County Sheriff’s Office(954) 831-8901
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Calhoun CountyCalhoun County Sheriff’s Office(850) 674-5049
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Charlotte CountyCharlotte County Sheriff’s Office(941) 575-5211
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Citrus CountyCitrus County Sheriff’s Office(352) 726-4488
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Clay CountyClay County Sheriff’s Office(904) 284-7575
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Collier CountyCollier County Sheriff’s Office(239) 252-0555
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Columbia CountyColumbia County Sheriff’s Office(386) 752-9212
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
DeSoto CountyDeSoto County Sheriff’s Office(863) 993-4700
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Dixie CountyDixie County Sheriff’s Office(352) 498-1220
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Duval CountyJacksonville Sheriff’s Office(904) 630-2120
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Escambia CountyEscambia County Sheriff’s Office(850) 436-9630
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Flagler CountyFlagler County Sheriff’s Office(386) 437-4116
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Franklin CountyFranklin County Sheriff’s Office(850) 670-8519
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Gadsden CountyGadsden County Sheriff’s Office(850) 627-9233
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Gilchrist CountyGilchrist County Sheriff’s Office(352) 463-3410
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Glades CountyGlades County Sheriff’s Office(863) 946-1600
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Gulf CountyGulf County Sheriff’s Office(850) 227-1115
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Hamilton CountyHamilton County Sheriff’s Office(386) 792-2004
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Hardee CountyHardee County Sheriff’s Office(863) 773-0304
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Hendry CountyHendry County Sheriff’s Office(863) 674-4060
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Hernando CountyHernando County Sheriff’s Office(352) 754-6830
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Highlands CountyHighlands County Sheriff’s Office(863) 402-7200
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Hillsborough CountyHillsborough County Sheriff’s Office(813) 247-8000
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Holmes CountyHolmes County Sheriff’s Office(850) 547-4421
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Indian River CountyIndian River County Sheriff’s Office(772) 569-6700
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Jackson CountyJackson County Sheriff’s Office(850) 482-9624
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Jefferson CountyJefferson County Sheriff’s Office(850) 997-2523
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Lafayette CountyLafayette County Sheriff’s Office(386) 294-1222
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Lake CountyLake County Sheriff’s Office(352) 343-9500
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Lee CountyLee County Sheriff’s Office(239) 477-1000
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Leon CountyLeon County Sheriff’s Office(850) 606-3345
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Levy CountyLevy County Sheriff’s Office(352) 486-5111
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Liberty CountyLiberty County Sheriff’s Office(850) 643-2235
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Madison CountyMadison County Sheriff’s Office(850) 973-4151
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Manatee CountyManatee County Sheriff’s Office(941) 747-3011 ext. 2222
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Marion CountyMarion County Sheriff’s Office(352) 732-8181
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Martin CountyMartin County Sheriff’s Office(772) 220-7024
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Miami-Dade CountyMiami-Dade Sheriff’s Office(305) 471-3518
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Monroe CountyMonroe County Sheriff’s Office(305) 292-7001
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Nassau CountyNassau County Sheriff’s Office(904) 225-0331
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Okaloosa CountyOkaloosa County Sheriff’s Office(850) 651-7410
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Okeechobee CountyOkeechobee County Sheriff’s Office(863) 763-3117
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Orange CountyOrange County Sheriff’s Office(407) 254-7000
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Osceola CountyOsceola County Sheriff’s Office(407) 348-1100
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Palm Beach CountyPalm Beach County Sheriff’s Office(561) 688-3000
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Pasco CountyPasco County Sheriff’s Office(727) 847-5878
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Pinellas CountyPinellas County Sheriff’s Office(727) 582-6201
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Polk CountyPolk County Sheriff’s Office(863) 298-6200
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Putnam CountyPutnam County Sheriff’s Office(386) 329-0800
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Santa Rosa CountySanta Rosa County Sheriff’s Office(850) 983-1100
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Sarasota CountySarasota County Sheriff’s Office(941) 861-5800
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Seminole CountySeminole County Sheriff’s Office(407) 665-6600
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
St. Johns CountySt. Johns County Sheriff’s Office(904) 810-6601
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
St. Lucie CountySt. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office(772) 462-7300
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Sumter CountySumter County Sheriff’s Office(352) 569-1600
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Suwannee CountySuwannee County Sheriff’s Office(386) 362-3443
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Taylor CountyTaylor County Sheriff’s Office(850) 584-4225
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Union CountyUnion County Sheriff’s Office(386) 496-2501
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Volusia CountyVolusia County Sheriff’s Office(386) 736-5961
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Wakulla CountyWakulla County Sheriff’s Office(850) 745-7100
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Walton CountyWalton County Sheriff’s Office(850) 892-8186
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified
Washington CountyWashington County Sheriff’s Office(850) 638-6111
published contact number (FDLE Sheriff’s Office Directory, Oct 2026) · Verified