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Maryland State SAR

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Maryland Search and Rescue

Who leads searches in Maryland, how agencies request state help, and the resources behind them. Each item links to its source. Reviewed November 2026.

Emergency: call 911. State contact: MDEM (410) 517-3600 or toll free 877-636-2872 (business hours, Mon–Fri 8–5); the Maryland Joint Operations Center is staffed continuously. How a state request works ↓

Requesting state help in Maryland

No Maryland statute names one agency to lead search and rescue. The State Response Operations Plan (2014) names the Maryland State Police and the Natural Resources Police (NRP) as primary agencies for Emergency Support Function 9, Search and Rescue, and NRP lists maritime and land-based search and rescue as part of its mission.

  1. State contactMDEM (410) 517-3600 or toll free 877-636-2872 (business hours, Mon–Fri 8–5). Emergencies: 911.
  2. Requesting state resourcesWhen local resources are not enough, the local emergency manager or agency asks MDEM for state help through the Maryland Joint Operations Center, which is staffed continuously.

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

Key numbers

Only figures with a published source.

24counties

U.S. Census Bureau boundaries.

U.S. Census Bureau ↗

18Discipline directories

BluePrintSAR resource pages for Maryland (below).

How search and rescue is requested in Maryland

  1. Step 1In an emergency call 911. The local police, sheriff or fire department takes the report and starts the response; Maryland State Police barracks and NRP also respond to missing person and outdoor incidents.
  2. Step 2The agency in charge uses local resources and mutual aid, and calls in volunteer teams (for example, Maryland State Police reported dogs from Chesapeake Search Dogs in an April 2022 Carroll County search).
  3. Step 3For state resources beyond local capacity, the local emergency manager or agency contacts MDEM through the Maryland Joint Operations Center, staffed round the clock; MDEM's published lines, (410) 517-3600 and 877-636-2872, are staffed during business hours; in an emergency call 911.
  4. Step 4MSP Aviation Command and the Maryland National Guard can support air search.

Law and authority

Md. Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings 5-603 (Good Samaritan immunity)

Gives immunity to listed responders, including fire, ambulance and rescue squad members who meet requirements. Search and rescue teams are not named in the statute.

Read the source ↗

State plans and guidelines

Official plans, annexes and program documents for Maryland.

  • Natural Resources Police mission statement ↗ — NRP's stated purpose includes providing maritime and land-based search and rescue operations. This is an agency mission statement, not a statute number.
  • State of Maryland Response Operations Plan (2014) ↗ — Mass Search and Rescue capability: deploy land-based mobile field force within 4 hours and aviation SAR within 1 hour of a request, request specialized volunteer/local/federal resources, and process missing person reports within 72 hours.

Resources by discipline

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

Listed in BluePrintSAR directories for Maryland

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 (MSP / USCG)

Maryland State Police Aviation Command flies 10 hoist-equipped AW-139 helicopters from seven sections; NRP aviation, Maryland Guard Black Hawks with MD-HART rescue technicians, Civil Air Patrol and county police units add capacity.

How to request

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

Standards and policy

Each Maryland State Police AW-139 carries a rescue hoist. Guard crews follow Army aviation standards and Civil Air Patrol follows national CAP standards.

Maryland Aviation (MSP / USCG) directory

Canine (K9)

No state SAR dog certification; volunteer teams listed by MDEM are requested by law enforcement, with NASAR certification reported for Chesapeake Search Dogs.

How to request

In Maryland, the police or sheriff's agency that takes the missing-person report runs the case and requests canine teams.

Standards and policy

Maryland has no state standard for SAR dog certification. Chesapeake Search Dogs is reported to certify its dogs through NASAR (Baltimore Magazine, 2023). Each other team sets its own standards.

Maryland Canine (K9) directory

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 Maryland

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. Maryland is in the NCRC Eastern 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.

Maryland Cave & Mine Rescue directory NCRC about ↗ NCRC regional coordinators ↗ MSHA emergency contact ↗

Cell Phone Forensics

No Kelsey Smith Act in Maryland: bills were introduced in 2022, 2023 and 2024 but not enacted. 4 agencies and resources listed, each checked against an official source.

How to request

In Maryland, 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.

Maryland Cell Phone Forensics directory

Coast Guard

Coast Guard East District and Sector Maryland-National Capital Region cover Maryland, with 7 boat stations, Air Station Atlantic City and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Sector command center (24 hours): 1-800-418-7314.

How to request

In Maryland, 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.

Maryland Coast Guard directory

Communication

National SAR and interoperability channels from the NIFOG, the Maryland FiRST statewide 700 MHz public safety radio system and the ARRL Maryland-DC section (ARES).

How to request

In Maryland, 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.

Maryland Communication directory

Dive & Underwater

8 public safety dive and water rescue teams listed, each checked against a cited source in November 2026.

How to request

In Maryland, 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.

Maryland Dive & Underwater directory

Drone / UAS

No Maryland statute specifically governs government drone use; FAA rules and agency policy apply. 7 agency drone programs listed, each checked against a published source in November 2026.

How to request

In Maryland, 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.

Maryland Drone / UAS directory

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 Maryland

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

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests it through MDEM. 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.

Maryland National Guard directory Maryland National Guard (official) ↗ State Guard websites (National Guard Bureau) ↗ MDEM ↗ Helicopter extraction source list (NWCG PMS 512) ↗

Mantracking

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

Who provides it in Maryland

There is no dedicated mantracking team based in Maryland; 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.

Maryland Mantracking directory ASTM F2852 (tracker training) ↗ FEMA Land SAR Team definition ↗

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 Maryland

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators lists Maryland DNR, Natural Resources Police as Maryland’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).

Maryland Marine / Natural Resources Police directory Maryland DNR, Natural Resources Police ↗ NASBLA Maryland boating contacts ↗ State boating laws (USCG Boating Safety) ↗

Sheriff / Police / Law Enforcement

No Maryland statute names one agency to lead search and rescue.

How to request

In an emergency call 911. The local police, sheriff or fire department takes the report and starts the response; Maryland State Police barracks and NRP also respond to missing person and outdoor incidents.

Standards and policy

None found; no statewide SAR member certification located

Maryland Sheriff / Police / Law Enforcement directory

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 Maryland

Maryland 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.

Maryland State Parks & DNR directory Maryland State Parks (official) ↗ State park directory (America’s State Parks) ↗

Swiftwater & Flood Rescue

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

Who provides it in Maryland

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service runs a Swift Water Rescue Team on the Potomac, Charles County's volunteer dive rescue team trains in swiftwater rescue, and MD-HART rescue technicians fly hoist water rescues with the Maryland Army National Guard; see the Dive & Underwater and Aviation directories.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests water rescue through 911 dispatch. When local teams are exceeded, help is requested through MDEM.

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.

Maryland Swiftwater directory FEMA Swiftwater/Flood SAR Team definition ↗ MDEM ↗

Technical Mountain Rescue

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

Who provides it in Maryland

No Mountain Rescue Association member team is based in Maryland (MRA team lists).

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 MDEM.

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.

Maryland Technical Mountain Rescue directory MRA teams by region ↗ FEMA Mountain SAR Team definition ↗

USAR (FEMA / State Task Force)

One FEMA task force is based here (MD-TF1).

How to request

In Maryland, 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.

Maryland USAR (FEMA / State Task Force) directory

Federal lands (National Park Service)

Federal land manager

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

Who provides it in Maryland

Maryland has no national forest or grassland on the Forest Service’s list. The National Park Service lists 27 park sites in Maryland.

How to request

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.

Maryland National Parks / Federal directory NPS sites in Maryland ↗ NPS SAR policy excerpt ↗

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 Maryland

Maryland State Police and NRP ATV units searched in an April 2022 Carroll County missing-person case (MSP news release); 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.

Maryland UTV & ATV Units directory FEMA Land SAR Team definition ↗

24-county directory

Each county and its sheriff’s office. Who leads a search varies by state; see the top of this page. In Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and Baltimore City, the county or city police, not the sheriff, take missing-person reports: Montgomery (301) 279-8000, Howard (410) 313-2200, Baltimore County (410) 887-2214, Prince George’s (301) 352-1200 (non-emergency dispatch). In an emergency, call 911.

All 24 phone numbers verified (2026-11) against the agency’s own site, a government directory, or a sheriffs’ association or IACP directory; each “Verified” link shows the source. For an emergency, call 911.

JurisdictionAgencyPhone
Allegany CountyAllegany County Sheriff’s Office(301) 777-1585
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Anne Arundel CountyAnne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office(410) 222-1570
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
City of BaltimoreBaltimore City Sheriff’s Office(410) 396-1155
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Baltimore CountyBaltimore County Sheriff’s Office(410) 887-3151
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Calvert CountyCalvert County Sheriff’s Office(410) 535-2800
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Caroline CountyCaroline County Sheriff’s Office(410) 479-2515
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Carroll CountyCarroll County Sheriff’s Office(410) 386-2900
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Cecil CountyCecil County Sheriff’s Office(410) 996-5500
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Charles CountyCharles County Sheriff’s Office(301) 609-6400
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Dorchester CountyDorchester County Sheriff’s Office(410) 228-4141
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Frederick CountyFrederick County Sheriff’s Office(301) 600-1046
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Garrett CountyGarrett County Sheriff’s Office(301) 334-1911
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Harford CountyHarford County Sheriff’s Office(410) 838-6600
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Howard CountyHoward County Sheriff’s Office(410) 313-2150
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Kent CountyKent County Sheriff’s Office(410) 778-2279
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Montgomery CountyMontgomery County Sheriff’s Office(240) 777-7000
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Prince George's CountyPrince George's County Sheriff’s Office(301) 780-8600
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Queen Anne's CountyQueen Anne's County Sheriff’s Office(410) 758-0770
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Somerset CountySomerset County Sheriff’s Office(410) 651-9225
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
St. Mary's CountySt. Mary's County Sheriff’s Office(301) 475-8008
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Talbot CountyTalbot County Sheriff’s Office(410) 822-1020
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Washington CountyWashington County Sheriff’s Office(240) 313-2859
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Wicomico CountyWicomico County Sheriff’s Office(410) 548-4891
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
Worcester CountyWorcester County Sheriff’s Office(410) 632-1111
sheriff’s office line (Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions agency list) · Verified
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