South Carolina Search and Rescue: Who Leads & How to Request

Checking active alerts in South Carolina…See active incidents →

South Carolina Search and Rescue

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

Emergency: call 911. State contact (business hours): SC State Fire / SC Emergency Response Task Force office (weekdays 8:30am–5pm): (803) 896-9800. No 24-hour state line published. How a state request works ↓

Requesting state help in South Carolina

No South Carolina statute names a single SAR lead. Day-to-day searches for missing people are run locally: the local emergency manager, fire/rescue chief or senior law enforcement official (usually the county sheriff) acts as search coordinator.

State contact (business hours)SC State Fire / SC Emergency Response Task Force office (weekdays 8:30am–5pm): (803) 896-9800. No 24-hour state line published.
Requesting state resourcesWhen local resources are not enough, ask through the county emergency management agency to the State Emergency Operations Center. The state supports local SAR through ESF-9 and alerts state agencies with SAR assets (SCDNR, SLED, National Guard, Forestry Commission, Civil Air Patrol).

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

Key numbers

Only figures with a published source.

46counties

U.S. Census Bureau boundaries.

U.S. Census Bureau ↗

18Discipline directories

BluePrintSAR resource pages for South Carolina (below).

How search and rescue is requested in South Carolina

Step 1In an emergency call 911. A missing person report goes to the local law enforcement agency, usually the county sheriff.
Step 2The local search coordinator (sheriff, emergency manager or fire/rescue chief) uses local resources and existing mutual aid agreements first; sheriffs can ask SLED and neighboring agencies directly for tracking teams, dogs and aircraft.
Step 3When local resources are not enough, ask through the county emergency management agency to the State Emergency Operations Center. The state supports local SAR through ESF-9 and alerts state agencies with SAR assets (SCDNR, SLED, National Guard, Forestry Commission, Civil Air Patrol).
Step 4Fire chiefs request SC Emergency Response Task Force or mobilization resources (urban search and rescue, helicopter aquatic rescue) under the Firefighter Mobilization plan once local mutual aid is exhausted.
Step 5Searches for missing aircraft are run with the US Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, which tasks Civil Air Patrol.

Law and authority

S.C. Code Title 23, Chapter 49 (Firefighter Mobilization Act of 2000)

Creates the statewide firefighter mobilization plan and the SC Emergency Response Task Force (urban search and rescue, technical rescue, hazmat) overseen by the Firefighter Mobilization Oversight Committee, chaired by the State Fire Marshal (§§ 23-49-20, 23-49-30; Task Force defined in § 23-49-110). Local fire chiefs may request resources after local mutual aid is used up; counties and cities must sign mutual aid agreements to take part.

Read the source ↗

S.C. Code § 42-7-65

Workers' compensation for volunteer firefighters, organized volunteer rescue squad members, volunteer deputy sheriffs and volunteer constables.

Read the source ↗

State plans and guidelines

Official plans, annexes and program documents for South Carolina.

South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan, ESF-9 Search and Rescue Annex (April 2026) ↗ — Names LLR Division of State Fire as coordinating agency and SCDNR, SLED, SCDOT, Forestry Commission, National Guard and Civil Air Patrol as primary agencies. The local emergency manager, fire/rescue chief or senior law enforcement official may be the local search coordinator; this can be handed to state ESF-9.

Resources by discipline

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

Listed in BluePrintSAR directories for South Carolina

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.

Show

Aviation (SC HART / USCG)

SC-HART pairs National Guard Black Hawks and SLED helicopters with Task Force 1 rescuers; Civil Air Patrol and the Coast Guard fill in

How to request

In South Carolina, aircraft are requested by the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

SC-HART says it trains year-round and gives no recurrency interval. Civil Air Patrol crews qualify under CAP national regulations and the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center tasks inland CAP missions. There is no state statute on aviation SAR standards.

South Carolina Aviation (SC HART / USCG) directory

Canine (K9)

SCSARDA volunteer teams certify through NAPWDA; SLED fields its own HRD K9; no state SAR dog license

How to request

In South Carolina, the sheriff or police department runs the search and requests volunteer canine teams.

Standards and policy

South Carolina has no state SAR dog certification. Volunteer teams in the South Carolina Search and Rescue Dog Association have earned North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA) certifications (for example area search in 2024); SLED's first HRD dog was also NAPWDA-certified.

South Carolina 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 South Carolina

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. South Carolina 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.

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

Cell Phone Forensics

Kelsey Smith Act law: none found. 4 agencies and resources listed. All checked against a cited source.

How to request

In South Carolina, 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.

South Carolina Cell Phone Forensics directory

Coast Guard

Coast Guard district and 1 sector covering South Carolina, plus 10 stations, local and volunteer units. All checked against a cited source.

How to request

In South Carolina, 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.

South Carolina 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 South Carolina, 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.

South Carolina Communication directory

Dive & Underwater

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

How to request

In South Carolina, 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.

South Carolina Dive & Underwater directory

Drone / UAS

No South Carolina statute specifically governs government drone use; FAA rules and agency policy apply. 3 agency and volunteer drone teams listed, each checked against a published source.

How to request

In South Carolina, 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.

South Carolina Drone / UAS directory

Sheriff / Law Enforcement

No South Carolina statute names a single SAR lead.

How to request

In an emergency call 911. A missing person report goes to the local law enforcement agency, usually the county sheriff.

Standards and policy

No state SAR member certification; teams and sheriffs set their own standards

South Carolina Sheriff / Law Enforcement directory

Mantracking

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

Who provides it in South Carolina

Trackers are requested through the agency running the search. This page does not list specific South Carolina 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.

South Carolina 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 South Carolina

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators lists South Carolina DNR, Division of Law Enforcement as South Carolina’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).

South Carolina Marine / SCDNR Law Enforcement directory South Carolina DNR, Division of Law Enforcement ↗ NASBLA South Carolina 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 South Carolina

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

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests it through SCEMD. 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.

South Carolina National Guard directory South Carolina National Guard (official) ↗ State Guard websites (National Guard Bureau) ↗ SCEMD ↗ 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 South Carolina

South Carolina 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.

South Carolina State Parks & SCDNR directory South Carolina 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 South Carolina

SC Firefighter Mobilization, run by State Fire, moves rescue resources across the state for any emergency. The SC Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team pairs SC Task Force 1 rescuers with SC Army National Guard UH-60 and LUH-72 crews.

How to request

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

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.

South Carolina Swiftwater directory SC Emergency Response Task Force (State Fire) ↗ FEMA Swiftwater/Flood SAR Team definition ↗

Technical Mountain Rescue

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

Who provides it in South Carolina

No Mountain Rescue Association member team is based in South Carolina (MRA team lists). Technical rope rescue is requested through the agency with jurisdiction.

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 SCEMD.

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.

South Carolina Technical Mountain & Structural Rescue directory MRA teams by region ↗ FEMA Mountain SAR Team definition ↗

USAR (FEMA / State Task Force)

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

How to request

In South Carolina, 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.

South Carolina USAR (FEMA / State Task Force) 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 South Carolina

National forests and grasslands in South Carolina on the Forest Service’s list: Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests. The National Park Service lists 8 park sites in South Carolina.

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.

South Carolina National Forests (USFS / NPS) directory NPS sites in South Carolina ↗ 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 South Carolina

Off-road vehicle support is requested through the agency running the search. This page does not list specific South Carolina 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.

South Carolina UTV & ATV Units directory FEMA Land SAR Team definition ↗

46-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 46 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
Abbeville County	Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office	(864) 446-6000 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Aiken County	Aiken County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 642-1761 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Allendale County	Allendale County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 584-7067 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Anderson County	Anderson County Sheriff’s Office	(864) 260-4400 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Bamberg County	Bamberg County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 245-3011 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Barnwell County	Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 541-1052 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Beaufort County	Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 255-3200 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Berkeley County	Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 719-4465 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Calhoun County	Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 874-2741 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Charleston County	Charleston County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 202-1700 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Cherokee County	Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office	(864) 489-4722 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Chester County	Chester County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 581-5131 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 623-2101 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Clarendon County	Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 435-4414 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Colleton County	Colleton County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 549-2211 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Darlington County	Darlington County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 398-4501 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Dillon County	Dillon County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 841-3721 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Dorchester County	Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 563-0259 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Edgefield County	Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 637-5337 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Fairfield County	Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 635-4141 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Florence County	Florence County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 665-2121 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Georgetown County	Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 546-5102 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Greenville County	Greenville County Sheriff’s Office	(864) 467-5280 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Greenwood County	Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office	(864) 942-8697 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Hampton County	Hampton County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 914-2200 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Horry County	Horry County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 915-5450 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Jasper County	Jasper County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 726-7777 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Kershaw County	Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 425-1512 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Lancaster County	Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 283-3388 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Laurens County	Laurens County Sheriff’s Office	(864) 984-4967 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Lee County	Lee County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 484-5353 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Lexington County	Lexington County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 785-8230 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Marion County	Marion County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 423-8216 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Marlboro County	Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 479-5605 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
McCormick County	McCormick County Sheriff’s Office	(864) 465-3200 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Newberry County	Newberry County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 321-2211 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Oconee County	Oconee County Sheriff’s Office	(864) 638-4117 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Orangeburg County	Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 531-4647 sheriff’s office main line (county directory) · Verified
Pickens County	Pickens County Sheriff’s Office	(864) 898-5547 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Richland County	Richland County Sheriff’s Department	(803) 576-3000 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Saluda County	Saluda County Sheriff’s Office	(864) 445-2112 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Spartanburg County	Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office	(864) 503-4500 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Sumter County	Sumter County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 436-2000 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Union County	Union County Sheriff’s Office	(864) 429-1612 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
Williamsburg County	Williamsburg County Sheriff’s Office	(843) 355-6381 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified
York County	York County Sheriff’s Office	(803) 628-3059 sheriff’s office line (SC Criminal Justice Academy agency directory, Apr 2024) · Verified

Page edited November 3, 2026How we verify Get SAR news alerts Is this your team? Correct or share this listing

South Carolina State SAR