Pennsylvania Search and Rescue: Who Leads & How to Request

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Pennsylvania Search and Rescue

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

Emergency: call 911. State contact: DCNR Recreation Section (program questions) 717-783-7941 · PEMA main line 717-651-2001. If you can’t reach someone right away, call 911. How a state request works ↓

Requesting state help in Pennsylvania

On state forest and state park land, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is the primary SAR coordinator and may hand parts of the work to cooperating SAR organizations while staying responsible.

State contactDCNR Recreation Section (program questions) 717-783-7941 · PEMA main line 717-651-2001. If you can’t reach someone right away, call 911.
Requesting state resourcesFor a person lost or hurt on state forest or state park land, contact the state park office or state forest district office for that location (or 911 if you cannot reach them quickly). DCNR leads and may delegate to cooperating SAR organizations.

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

Key numbers

Only figures with a published source.

67counties

U.S. Census Bureau boundaries.

U.S. Census Bureau ↗

18Discipline directories

BluePrintSAR resource pages for Pennsylvania (below).

How search and rescue is requested in Pennsylvania

Step 1In an emergency call 911.
Step 2For a person lost or hurt on state forest or state park land, contact the state park office or state forest district office for that location (or 911 if you cannot reach them quickly). DCNR leads and may delegate to cooperating SAR organizations.
Step 3Elsewhere, the local police agency (or State Police) handling the report calls in volunteer SAR teams, many of them PSARC members, and the county emergency management coordinator for more resources.
Step 4For state help (equipment, personnel, aerial search and rescue), the county emergency management coordinator contacts PEMA's 24/7 Commonwealth Watch and Warning Center (PEMA main line 717-651-2001), then submits a mission request on the PEMA site. PEMA assigns a mission request number and routes it to responding agencies.

Law and authority

Act 18 of 1995 (law creating DCNR)

Per the DCNR SAR FAQ, DCNR must provide for the safety of visitors on state forest and state park lands. The FAQ states the Act has no references to SAR outside DCNR lands and that state laws regarding SAR do not exist.

Read the source ↗

35 Pa.C.S. § 7101 et seq. (Emergency Management Services Code)

General emergency management law under which PEMA and county emergency management agencies operate. It contains no SAR-specific, volunteer-coverage or cost provision.

State plans and guidelines

Official plans, annexes and program documents for Pennsylvania.

Commonwealth Emergency Operations Plan ↗ — PEMA state emergency operations plan.
2026 executive order, modernizing emergency management in Pennsylvania ↗ — Governor’s 2026 executive order on emergency management.

Resources by discipline

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

Listed in BluePrintSAR directories for Pennsylvania

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.

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Aviation (PSP / ANG)

State Police helicopters for searches, and PA-HART Guard hoist teams requested by county emergency managers through PEMA.

How to request

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

Standards and policy

PA-HART rescue technicians must hold CPR/AED, EMT-Basic, Swiftwater Rescue Technician (NFPA 1670/1006), hazardous materials operations and NIMS ICS 100, 200 and 700 before selection, then pass swim, fitness, dunker-escape and helicopter evaluations under the 2017 joint SOG manual. Guard crews fly UH-60 Black Hawks with hoists; no recurrent training cycle for personnel is published, though equipment inspections are set (monthly or every 30 days for rescue devices).

Pennsylvania Aviation (PSP / ANG) directory

Canine (K9)

No state SAR dog license; teams certify to their own group standards or national work-dog bodies

How to request

In Pennsylvania, the police agency handling the search requests canine teams, which respond only to agencies.

Standards and policy

There is no state-wide SAR dog certification. DCNR certifies human Field Team Members and Leaders (tested at the PSARC SAR-EX event) and says to contact its Recreation Section for canine questions. Teams use their own standards (AMRG) or outside bodies such as NAPWDA and INBTI.

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

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. Pennsylvania 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.

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

Cell Phone Forensics

Kelsey Smith Act law: yes (signed October 22, 2014). 4 agencies and resources listed. All checked against a cited source.

How to request

In Pennsylvania, 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.

Pennsylvania Cell Phone Forensics directory

Coast Guard

Coast Guard districts and 4 sectors covering Pennsylvania, plus 11 stations, local and volunteer units. All checked against a cited source.

How to request

In Pennsylvania, 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.

Pennsylvania Coast Guard directory

Communication

National SAR and interoperability channels from the NIFOG, plus 4 state, local and volunteer radio systems and groups. All checked against official sources.

How to request

In Pennsylvania, 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.

Pennsylvania Communication directory

Dive & Underwater

6 public safety and volunteer dive teams listed. All checked against a cited source.

How to request

In Pennsylvania, 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.

Pennsylvania Dive & Underwater directory

Drone / UAS

No Pennsylvania statute specifically governs government drone use; FAA rules and agency policy apply. 4 agency and volunteer drone teams listed, each checked against a published source.

How to request

In Pennsylvania, 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.

Pennsylvania Drone / UAS directory

Police / State Police / Law Enforcement

How to request

In an emergency call 911.

Standards and policy

Voluntary DCNR Field Team Member and Field Team Leader certification

Pennsylvania Police / State Police / Law Enforcement directory

Mantracking

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

Who provides it in Pennsylvania

Trackers are requested through the agency running the search. This page does not list specific Pennsylvania tracking teams.

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.

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators lists Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission as Pennsylvania’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).

Pennsylvania Marine / Fish & Boat Commission directory Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission ↗ NASBLA Pennsylvania boating contacts ↗ State boating laws (USCG Boating Safety) ↗

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 Pennsylvania

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

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests it through PEMA. 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.

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

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 Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania State Parks & DCNR Forestry directory Pennsylvania State Parks (official) ↗ State park directory (America’s State Parks) ↗

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 Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency credentials and types swiftwater rescue teams as special response teams.

How to request

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

Standards and policy

PEMA swiftwater team typing and credentialing (see PEMA's swiftwater credentials FAQ). FEMA typing: Swiftwater/Flood SAR Team (8-508-1020).

Pennsylvania Swiftwater directory PEMA swiftwater team credentials FAQ ↗ FEMA Swiftwater/Flood SAR Team definition ↗

Technical Mountain Rescue

MRA teams listed

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

Who provides it in Pennsylvania

Mountain Rescue Association member teams based in Pennsylvania: Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group. Associate members: Blue Knob Ski Patrol.

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 PEMA.

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.

Pennsylvania Technical Rescue Units directory MRA Appalachian Region teams ↗ FEMA Mountain SAR Team definition ↗

USAR (FEMA / PA Strike Team 1)

1 state or regional US&R team and 1 FEMA task force listed, with how to request them.

How to request

In Pennsylvania, 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.

Pennsylvania USAR (FEMA / PA Strike Team 1) directory

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 Pennsylvania

National forests and grasslands in Pennsylvania on the Forest Service’s list: Allegheny National Forest. The National Park Service lists 26 park sites in Pennsylvania.

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.

Pennsylvania National Forests (Allegheny NF) directory NPS sites in Pennsylvania ↗ Forest Service units by state ↗ USDA testimony on sheriff SAR agreements ↗ 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 Pennsylvania

Off-road vehicle support is requested through the agency running the search. This page does not list specific Pennsylvania UTV or ATV units.

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.

Pennsylvania UTV & ATV / Snowmobiles directory FEMA Land SAR Team definition ↗

67-county directory

Each county and its sheriff’s office. Who leads a search varies by state; see the top of this page. In Pennsylvania, sheriffs mainly serve the courts; local police (or the State Police where there is no local force) take missing-person reports, and the county emergency management coordinator requests state help from PEMA. In an emergency, call 911. For an emergency, call 911.

All 67 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.

Jurisdiction	Agency	Phone
Adams County	Adams County Sheriff’s Office	(717) 337-9828 sheriff’s office general line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Allegheny County	Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office	(412) 350-4700 sheriff’s office line (Allegheny County Sheriff website) · Verified
Armstrong County	Armstrong County Sheriff’s Office	(724) 548-3265 sheriff’s office line (State Rep. Bashline 2026 Armstrong resident guide) · Verified
Beaver County	Beaver County Sheriff’s Office	(724) 770-4600 sheriff’s office general line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Bedford County	Bedford County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 623-2910 sheriff’s office line · Verified
Berks County	Berks County Sheriff’s Office	(610) 478-6240 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page; matches PA 211) · Verified
Blair County	Blair County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 693-3100 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Bradford County	Bradford County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 265-1701 sheriff’s office line (county directory) · Verified
Bucks County	Bucks County Sheriff’s Office	(215) 348-6124 sheriff’s office line, Justice Center (county directory) · Verified
Butler County	Butler County Sheriff’s Office	(724) 284-5245 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Cambria County	Cambria County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 472-1691 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Cameron County	Cameron County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 486-2315 sheriff’s department line (PA 211 directory) · Verified
Carbon County	Carbon County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 325-2821 sheriff’s office line · Verified
Centre County	Centre County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 355-6803 sheriff’s office line (county directory) · Verified
Chester County	Chester County Sheriff’s Office	(610) 344-6850 sheriff’s office line · Verified
Clarion County	Clarion County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 226-7611 sheriff’s office line (State Rep. Bashline 2026 Clarion resident guide) · Verified
Clearfield County	Clearfield County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 765-2641 ext. 5015 sheriff’s office line (county directory) · Verified
Clinton County	Clinton County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 893-4070 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Columbia County	Columbia County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 389-5622 sheriff’s office line (PA 211 directory) · Verified
Crawford County	Crawford County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 333-7411 sheriff’s office line (county departments directory) · Verified
Cumberland County	Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office	(717) 240-6390 sheriff’s office line (county staff directory) · Verified
Dauphin County	Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office	(717) 780-6590 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Delaware County	Delaware County Sheriff’s Office	(610) 891-4296 sheriff’s main office line (county sheriff phone guide) · Verified
Elk County	Elk County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 776-5353 sheriff’s office line (PA 211 directory) · Verified
Erie County	Erie County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 451-6007 sheriff’s office line (listed for warrant verification) · Verified
Fayette County	Fayette County Sheriff’s Office	(724) 430-1295 sheriff’s office line (county directory) · Verified
Forest County	Forest County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 755-3541 sheriff’s office line · Verified
Franklin County	Franklin County Sheriff’s Office	(717) 261-3848 sheriff’s office main line (PA 211 directory) · Verified
Fulton County	Fulton County Sheriff’s Office	(717) 485-4221 sheriff’s office line · Verified
Greene County	Greene County Sheriff’s Office	(724) 852-5218 sheriff’s office line (county personnel directory) · Verified
Huntingdon County	Huntingdon County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 643-0880 sheriff’s office line · Verified
Indiana County	Indiana County Sheriff’s Office	(724) 465-3930 sheriff’s office line (county courthouse phone directory) · Verified
Jefferson County	Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 849-1613 sheriff’s department main line (PA 211 directory) · Verified
Juniata County	Juniata County Sheriff’s Office	(717) 436-2213 sheriff’s office line (county directory) · Verified
Lackawanna County	Lackawanna County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 963-6719 sheriff’s office main line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Lancaster County	Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office	(717) 299-8200 sheriff’s main office line (county sheriff contact page) · Verified
Lawrence County	Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office	(724) 652-5121 sheriff’s office line (county departments directory) · Verified
Lebanon County	Lebanon County Sheriff’s Office	(717) 228-4410 sheriff’s office main line (PA 211 directory) · Verified
Lehigh County	Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office	(610) 782-3175 sheriff’s office line · Verified
Luzerne County	Luzerne County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 820-6363 sheriff’s department line (county directory) · Verified
Lycoming County	Lycoming County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 327-2280 sheriff’s office line (county contact page) · Verified
McKean County	McKean County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 887-3454 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Mercer County	Mercer County Sheriff’s Office	(724) 662-6135 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Mifflin County	Mifflin County Sheriff’s Office	(717) 242-1105 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Monroe County	Monroe County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 517-3312 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff contacts page) · Verified
Montgomery County	Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office	(610) 278-3000 county main line shown on the Sheriff’s Office page (no direct sheriff line published) · Verified
Montour County	Montour County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 271-3012 sheriff’s office main line (PA 211 directory) · Verified
Northampton County	Northampton County Sheriff’s Office	(610) 829-6501 sheriff’s department line · Verified
Northumberland County	Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 988-4155 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Perry County	Perry County Sheriff’s Office	(717) 582-5123 sheriff’s office line · Verified
Philadelphia County	Philadelphia County Sheriff’s Office	(215) 686-3530 sheriff’s office line (Philadelphia Sheriff website) · Verified
Pike County	Pike County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 296-6459 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Potter County	Potter County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 274-9350 sheriff’s office line (Tioga County law enforcement agency list) · Verified
Schuylkill County	Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 628-1440 sheriff’s office line (PA 211 directory) · Verified
Snyder County	Snyder County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 837-4208 sheriff’s office main line (PA 211 directory) · Verified
Somerset County	Somerset County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 445-1502 sheriff’s office line · Verified
Sullivan County	Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 946-7361 sheriff’s office line (Northern Tier RPDC 2024 county directory) · Verified
Susquehanna County	Susquehanna County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 278-4600 county courthouse line listed for the sheriff (Northern Tier RPDC 2024 county directory) · Verified
Tioga County	Tioga County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 724-3491 sheriff’s office line (Tioga County law enforcement agency list) · Verified
Union County	Union County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 524-8731 sheriff’s office voice line (PA 211 directory) · Verified
Venango County	Venango County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 432-9565 sheriff’s office line (PA 211 directory) · Verified
Warren County	Warren County Sheriff’s Office	(814) 723-7553 sheriff’s office main line (county directory) · Verified
Washington County	Washington County Sheriff’s Office	(724) 228-6840 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Wayne County	Wayne County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 253-5970 ext. 4251 sheriff’s office line (county directory) · Verified
Westmoreland County	Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office	(724) 830-3457 sheriff’s office line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Wyoming County	Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office	(570) 836-3200 sheriff’s office main line (PA 211; matches Northern Tier RPDC 2024 directory) · Verified
York County	York County Sheriff’s Office	(717) 771-9601 sheriff’s office line (911 center non-emergency 717-840-2971) · Verified

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Pennsylvania State SAR