Vermont Search and Rescue
Who leads searches in Vermont, 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; after hours call 911 or the nearest VSP barracks): DPS SAR Coordinator, VSP Headquarters: (802) 241-5656 · VSP Headquarters (weekdays 8am–4pm): (802) 244-8727 · After hours: nearest VSP barracks. How a state request works ↓
Requesting state help in Vermont
The Commissioner of Public Safety (Vermont State Police) has jurisdiction over all search and rescue operations in the state and coordinates local, county, state and nonprofit responders. For backcountry searches the Department works with Vermont Fish and Wildlife game wardens.
- State contactAfter hours: call 911 or the nearest Vermont State Police barracks. Business hours: DPS SAR Coordinator, VSP Headquarters: (802) 241-5656 · VSP Headquarters (weekdays 8am–4pm): (802) 244-8727 · After hours: nearest VSP barracks.
- Requesting state resourcesA law enforcement agency that receives a report of a person missing in the backcountry, a remote area or state waters must respond right away and notify the Department of Public Safety (20 V.S.A. § 1845). After hours, call the nearest Vermont State Police barracks.
Want to write the request out before you call? Use the request builder. Official agency: Vermont Emergency Management ↗.
Key numbers
Only figures with a published source.
BluePrintSAR resource pages for Vermont (below).
How search and rescue is requested in Vermont
- Step 1In an emergency call 911.
- Step 2A law enforcement agency that receives a report of a person missing in the backcountry, a remote area or state waters must respond right away and notify the Department of Public Safety (20 V.S.A. § 1845). After hours, call the nearest Vermont State Police barracks.
- Step 3The Department makes sure the VSP Search and Rescue Team is notified and decides the level of response.
- Step 4VSP brings in Fish and Wildlife game wardens, volunteer SAR teams, ski patrols and local responders as needed, using the Coordinator's database of SAR-capable agencies.
- Step 5All agencies work under the Incident Command System, with the Department of Public Safety holding overall SAR jurisdiction.
Law and authority
Defines search and rescue as using resources to find and help people missing in backcountry, remote areas or state waters.
The Commissioner of Public Safety has jurisdiction over all SAR operations and coordinates with Fish and Wildlife game wardens for backcountry rescues.
All SAR operations must use the Incident Command System; Department SAR Team members must meet equipment standards and be trained in SAR and ICS.
Creates a permanent, non-law-enforcement Search and Rescue Coordinator who keeps records, tracks training and communicates standards to agencies.
A law enforcement agency told of a person missing in the backcountry or state waters must respond at once and notify the Department of Public Safety.
The Coordinator keeps a database of agencies with SAR capability and their contacts, by geographic area.
Knowingly making a false report of a person missing in the backcountry or state waters can be fined up to $1,000.
Search and rescue training is part of police officer certification through the Vermont Criminal Justice Council.
Recreated the Search and Rescue Council after it expired in 2021. It sets and updates SAR training and equipment standards, reviews missions and reports yearly to the Commissioner.
State plans and guidelines
Official plans, annexes and program documents for Vermont.
- Vermont State Emergency Management Plan, Base Plan ↗ — Vermont Emergency Management base plan for the State Emergency Management Plan (SEMP).
- SEMP Response Mission Area Plan ↗ — Response part of the SEMP, covering state support functions including search and rescue.
Resources by discipline
What each resource does, how it is requested in Vermont, and the standards that apply.
Listed in BluePrintSAR directories for Vermont
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 (VSP / ANG)
Vermont State Police screen lost-person reports; aircraft come from the Vermont Guard, Civil Air Patrol or neighboring states.
Canine (K9)
Vermont State Police run SAR and call in volunteer dog teams; police canine SAR teams certify to Vermont Criminal Justice Council standards, and VT-TF1 dogs to FEMA
Cave & Mine Rescue
Volunteer specialistsSpecialists for rescues in caves and mines, where rope work, tight passages and communications make ordinary rescue methods hard.
Cell Phone Forensics
Kelsey Smith Act law: none found. 4 agencies and resources listed. All checked against a cited source.
Coast Guard
Coast Guard district and 1 sector covering Vermont, plus 6 stations, local and volunteer units. All checked against a cited source.
Communication
National SAR and interoperability channels from the NIFOG, plus 4 state, local and volunteer radio systems and groups. All checked against official sources.
Dive & Underwater
3 public safety and volunteer dive teams listed. All checked against a cited source.
Drone / UAS
State drone law: 20 V.S.A. 4622. 5 agency and volunteer drone teams listed, each checked against a published source.
National Guard
Governor-activatedMilitary helicopters and personnel for hoist rescue, aerial search and ground support when civilian resources can’t do the job.
Mantracking
Trackers who find and follow a missing person’s footprints and other sign on the ground.
Marine & Boating Law Enforcement
State boating agencyOfficers and boats on lakes, rivers and coastal waters who respond to boating emergencies and support water searches.
Police / State Police / Law Enforcement
The Commissioner of Public Safety (Vermont State Police) has jurisdiction over all search and rescue operations in the state and coordinates local, county, state and nonprofit responders.
State Parks
State agencyThe state park system, whose staff know park terrain and trails and support searches on park land.
Swiftwater & Flood Rescue
Teams that search for and rescue people and animals in swiftwater and floods, from shore and by boat.
Technical Mountain Rescue
MRA teams listedTeams for steep, high-angle and alpine terrain that use rope systems to reach and evacuate people.
USAR (FEMA / State Task Force)
1 state or regional US&R team listed, with how to request them.
Federal lands (Forest Service and National Park Service)
Federal land managerFederal land agencies whose staff support searches on national forests, grasslands and parks.
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.
14-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 14 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Addison County | Addison County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 388-2981 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Bennington County | Bennington County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 442-4900 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Caledonia County | Caledonia County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 748-6666 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Chittenden County | Chittenden County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 863-4341 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Essex County | Essex County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 676-3500 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Franklin County | Franklin County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 524-2121 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Grand Isle County | Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 372-4482 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Lamoille County | Lamoille County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 888-3502 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Orange County | Orange County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 685-4875 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Orleans County | Orleans County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 334-3333 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Rutland County | Rutland County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 775-8002 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Washington County | Washington County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 223-3001 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Windham County | Windham County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 365-4949 office main line (state directory) · Verified |
| Windsor County | Windsor County Sheriff’s Office | (802) 457-5211 office main line (state directory) · Verified |