Mississippi State SAR

Mississippi Search and Rescue

Who leads searches in Mississippi, 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: MEMA 24-hour line 1-800-222-6362 (MEMA main office 601-933-6362). ESF-9 annex lists SWP Operations Officers (601) 933-6876, 6877, 6878 or (800) 222-6362 and Operations Section Watch Officer (601) 933-6671 or (800) 222-6362. How a state request works ↓

Requesting state help in Mississippi

No Mississippi statute assigns search and rescue by name. Under the state's 2024 ESF-9 Search and Rescue annex, each county Sheriff's Office is responsible for missing-person searches in its county, and local incident commanders keep command.

  1. State 24-hour contactMEMA 24-hour line 1-800-222-6362 (MEMA main office 601-933-6362). ESF-9 annex lists SWP Operations Officers (601) 933-6876, 6877, 6878 or (800) 222-6362 and Operations Section Watch Officer (601) 933-6671 or (800) 222-6362.
  2. Requesting state resourcesIf local resources are overwhelmed, local officials send the request through the county emergency operations center (county EMA) to the MEMA State EOC, which assigns it to the ESF-9 coordinators. MEMA 24-hour line: 1-800-222-6362; State Warning Point operations officers 601-933-6876, 6877 or 6878.

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

Key numbers

Only figures with a published source.

82counties

U.S. Census Bureau boundaries.

U.S. Census Bureau ↗

18Discipline directories

BluePrintSAR resource pages for Mississippi (below).

How search and rescue is requested in Mississippi

  1. Step 1In an emergency call 911. The county Sheriff's Office is responsible for missing-person searches in its county and the local incident commander keeps command.
  2. Step 2The sheriff uses local resources, volunteer SAR groups and neighboring counties through mutual aid.
  3. Step 3If local resources are overwhelmed, local officials send the request through the county emergency operations center (county EMA) to the MEMA State EOC, which assigns it to the ESF-9 coordinators. MEMA 24-hour line: 1-800-222-6362; State Warning Point operations officers 601-933-6876, 6877 or 6878.
  4. Step 4MEMA can help coordinate searches with the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC), other law enforcement and public and private SAR groups when local officials ask. If state resources run out, MEMA may request EMAC or FEMA help.
  5. Step 5Support agencies in the annex include the Mississippi National Guard, Civil Air Patrol (Mississippi Wing) and Department of Marine Resources.

Law and authority

Miss. Code Ann. 33-15-1 et seq. (Emergency Management Law)

Establishes MEMA (33-15-7), the state comprehensive emergency management plan (33-15-14), local emergency management (33-15-17) and mutual aid (33-15-19). The section list shows no search and rescue provision.

Read the source ↗

Miss. Code Ann. 33-15-21 (Immunity)

The state, its subdivisions and their agents, employees and representatives are not liable for emergency management activities, except for willful misconduct; workers' compensation rights are preserved. The word volunteer is not used.

Read the source ↗

State plans and guidelines

Official plans, annexes and program documents for Mississippi.

Resources by discipline

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

Listed in BluePrintSAR directories for Mississippi

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 (USCG / State)

State SAR air support is called up through the MEMA State Emergency Operations Center; Highway Patrol helicopters, Guard hoist platforms and Civil Air Patrol fly searches.

How to request

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

Standards and policy

The 2024 state ESF-9 plan sets no aviation-specific qualification standards; it requires agencies to train deployed personnel and keep records. Civil Air Patrol follows national CAP standards.

Canine (K9)

No state certification: county sheriffs invite volunteer or sheriff K9 teams, and the Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks K9 unit supports lost-person searches.

How to request

In Mississippi, the local sheriff or police department runs the search and invites canine teams, which deploy only at a government agency's request.

Standards and policy

There is no Mississippi standard or state certification for SAR dogs; standards are set by each team or sheriff's unit. The state ESF-9 annex does not set a canine test.

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 Mississippi

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. Mississippi is in the NCRC South Central 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 a cited source.

How to request

In Mississippi, 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 district and 4 sectors covering Mississippi, plus stations, air units, cutters and volunteer units. All checked against official sources.

How to request

In Mississippi, 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 and volunteer radio systems and groups. All checked against official sources.

How to request

In Mississippi, 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

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

How to request

In Mississippi, 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: Miss. Code 97-47-7 and 31-7-67. 4 agency drone programs and teams listed, each checked against a published source in November 2026.

How to request

In Mississippi, 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.

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 Mississippi

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

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests it through MEMA. 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.

Mantracking

Sheriff and state units

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

Who provides it in Mississippi

The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit lists a visual tracking team. The state ESF-9 plan says the Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Special Response Team and the Highway Patrol Special Operations Group assist other agencies with tracking and lost or missing persons.

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 Mississippi

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators lists Mississippi Dept of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks as Mississippi’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).

Sheriff / Law Enforcement

No Mississippi statute assigns search and rescue by name.

How to request

In an emergency call 911. The county Sheriff's Office is responsible for missing-person searches in its county and the local incident commander keeps command.

Standards and policy

None found for ground SAR volunteers; USAR and fire academy certifications exist

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 Mississippi

Mississippi 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 Mississippi

Mississippi’s USAR task forces, run with the Office of Homeland Security, provide water and underwater technical rescue; requests for a state team go through MEMA’s State Emergency Operations Center.

How to request

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

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

State program

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

Who provides it in Mississippi

No Mountain Rescue Association member team is based in Mississippi (MRA team lists). Mississippi’s USAR task forces, run with the Office of Homeland Security, provide technical rescue including high-angle and trench rescue.

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 MEMA.

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 Force)

Mississippi’s state US&R task forces, with how to request them.

How to request

In Mississippi, 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 Mississippi

National forests and grasslands in Mississippi on the Forest Service’s list: Bienville National Forest; De Soto National Forest; Delta National Forest; Holly Springs National Forest; Homochitto National Forest; Tombigbee National Forest. The National Park Service lists 10 park sites in Mississippi.

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

None listed

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 Mississippi

No Mississippi UTV or ATV search unit is listed here.

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.

82-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 82 phone numbers verified (2026-10) 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
Adams CountyAdams County Sheriff’s Office(601) 442-2752
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Alcorn CountyAlcorn County Sheriff’s Office(662) 286-5521
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Amite CountyAmite County Sheriff’s Office(601) 657-8057
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Attala CountyAttala County Sheriff’s Office(662) 289-5556
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Benton CountyBenton County Sheriff’s Office(662) 224-8941
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Bolivar CountyBolivar County Sheriff’s Office(662) 843-5378
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Calhoun CountyCalhoun County Sheriff’s Office(662) 412-5000
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Carroll CountyCarroll County Sheriff’s Office(662) 237-9238
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Chickasaw CountyChickasaw County Sheriff’s Office(662) 456-2339
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Choctaw CountyChoctaw County Sheriff’s Office(662) 285-6129
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Claiborne CountyClaiborne County Sheriff’s Office(601) 437-5161
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Clarke CountyClarke County Sheriff’s Office(601) 776-5252
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Clay CountyClay County Sheriff’s Office(662) 494-2896
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Coahoma CountyCoahoma County Sheriff’s Office(662) 624-3081
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Copiah CountyCopiah County Sheriff’s Office(601) 894-3011
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Covington CountyCovington County Sheriff’s Office(601) 765-8281
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
DeSoto CountyDeSoto County Sheriff’s Office(662) 469-8500
sheriff’s office line (county directory) · Verified
Forrest CountyForrest County Sheriff’s Office(601) 544-7800
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Franklin CountyFranklin County Sheriff’s Office(601) 384-2323
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
George CountyGeorge County Sheriff’s Office(601) 947-4811
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Greene CountyGreene County Sheriff’s Office(601) 394-2341
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Grenada CountyGrenada County Sheriff’s Office(662) 227-2877
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Hancock CountyHancock County Sheriff’s Office(228) 466-6900
sheriff’s office line (county directory) · Verified
Harrison CountyHarrison County Sheriff’s Office(228) 865-7060
non-emergency line · Verified
Hinds CountyHinds County Sheriff’s Office(601) 974-2900
sheriff’s office non-emergency line (Mississippi State Government Telephone Directory) · Verified
Holmes CountyHolmes County Sheriff’s Office(662) 834-1511
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Humphreys CountyHumphreys County Sheriff’s Office(662) 247-2551
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Issaquena CountyIssaquena County Sheriff’s Office(662) 873-2781
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Itawamba CountyItawamba County Sheriff’s Office(662) 862-3401
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Jackson CountyJackson County Sheriff’s Office(228) 769-3024
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Jasper CountyJasper County Sheriff’s Office(601) 764-2588
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Jefferson CountyJefferson County Sheriff’s Office(601) 786-3403
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Jefferson Davis CountyJefferson Davis County Sheriff’s Office(601) 792-5169
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Jones CountyJones County Sheriff’s Office(601) 425-3147
24-hour sheriff’s office line · Verified
Kemper CountyKemper County Sheriff’s Office(601) 743-4880
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Lafayette CountyLafayette County Sheriff’s Office(662) 234-6421
sheriff’s office line (county elected officials page) · Verified
Lamar CountyLamar County Sheriff’s Office(601) 794-1005
sheriff’s office line (county website) · Verified
Lauderdale CountyLauderdale County Sheriff’s Office(601) 482-9806
sheriff’s office line (24-hour 601-482-9801) · Verified
Lawrence CountyLawrence County Sheriff’s Office(601) 587-2961
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Leake CountyLeake County Sheriff’s Office(601) 267-7361
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Lee CountyLee County Sheriff’s Office(662) 680-5784
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Leflore CountyLeflore County Sheriff’s Office(662) 453-5141
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Lincoln CountyLincoln County Sheriff’s Office(601) 833-5231
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Lowndes CountyLowndes County Sheriff’s Office(662) 328-6788
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Madison CountyMadison County Sheriff’s Office(601) 855-0728
sheriff’s office non-emergency line (Mississippi State Government Telephone Directory) · Verified
Marion CountyMarion County Sheriff’s Office(601) 736-5051
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Marshall CountyMarshall County Sheriff’s Office(662) 252-1311
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Monroe CountyMonroe County Sheriff’s Office(662) 369-2468
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Montgomery CountyMontgomery County Sheriff’s Office(662) 283-3343
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Neshoba CountyNeshoba County Sheriff’s Office(601) 656-1414
sheriff’s office line (county website) · Verified
Newton CountyNewton County Sheriff’s Office(601) 635-4401
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Noxubee CountyNoxubee County Sheriff’s Office(662) 726-5133
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Oktibbeha CountyOktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office(662) 323-2421
sheriff’s department line (county directory) · Verified
Panola CountyPanola County Sheriff’s Office(662) 563-6230
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Pearl River CountyPearl River County Sheriff’s Office(601) 403-2340
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Perry CountyPerry County Sheriff’s Office(601) 964-8461
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Pike CountyPike County Sheriff’s Office(601) 783-6767
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Pontotoc CountyPontotoc County Sheriff’s Office(662) 489-3915
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Prentiss CountyPrentiss County Sheriff’s Office(662) 728-6232
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Quitman CountyQuitman County Sheriff’s Office(662) 326-3131
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Rankin CountyRankin County Sheriff’s Office(601) 825-1480
sheriff’s office non-emergency line (Mississippi State Government Telephone Directory) · Verified
Scott CountyScott County Sheriff’s Office(601) 469-1511
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Sharkey CountySharkey County Sheriff’s Office(662) 873-4321
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Simpson CountySimpson County Sheriff’s Office(601) 847-2155
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Smith CountySmith County Sheriff’s Office(601) 782-4531
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Stone CountyStone County Sheriff’s Office(601) 928-3191
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Sunflower CountySunflower County Sheriff’s Office(662) 887-2121
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Tallahatchie CountyTallahatchie County Sheriff’s Office(662) 647-3700
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Tate CountyTate County Sheriff’s Office(662) 562-4434
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Tippah CountyTippah County Sheriff’s Office(662) 837-9336
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Tishomingo CountyTishomingo County Sheriff’s Office(662) 423-7000
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Tunica CountyTunica County Sheriff’s Office(662) 363-1411
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Union CountyUnion County Sheriff’s Office(662) 534-1941
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Walthall CountyWalthall County Sheriff’s Office(601) 876-3481
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Warren CountyWarren County Sheriff’s Office(601) 636-1761
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Washington CountyWashington County Sheriff’s Office(662) 334-4523
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Wayne CountyWayne County Sheriff’s Office(601) 735-3801
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Webster CountyWebster County Sheriff’s Office(662) 258-7701
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Wilkinson CountyWilkinson County Sheriff’s Office(601) 888-3511
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Winston CountyWinston County Sheriff’s Office(662) 773-5881
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Yalobusha CountyYalobusha County Sheriff’s Office(662) 473-3602
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified
Yazoo CountyYazoo County Sheriff’s Office(662) 746-5611
sheriff’s office line (Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association directory) · Verified