How Does Texas Search and Rescue Actually Work?

We've heard about search and rescue teams in action all across Texas, especially after the devastating floods in Central Texas over the 4th of July Weekend.

With so much talk of finding missing people and returning them safely to their families, it begs the question of HOW they are able to do all of this. How does a search and rescue team actually operate when they are on the hunt?

Thanks to the Texas Search and Rescue website, we can get a sneak peek into their operations.

What is Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR)?

TEXSAR is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Austin that is comprised of volunteer first responders that aim to serve all Texans during times of emergencies.

Some specialized services that TEXSAR provides include ground search and rescue, flood and swiftwater rescue, K9 recovery, disaster relief, and aerial support, among others.

TEXSAR operates in all 254 counties of Texas and the organization does not charge for their services since their creation in 2004.

The nonprofit operates within an Incident Command System, meaning that they directly report to the agency that called them out, whether it's local law enforcement or a federal government agency.

Also, TEXSAR offers their services for free, but they still need to make money to purchase the tools and equipment necessary. This is done through corporate funding and private donors, according to their website.

TEXSAR's Missing Persons Unit

One of the nonprofit search and rescue organization's most important functions is their missing persons unit. In fact, over half of all TEXSAR deployments in the past 10 years were missing persons cases.

One thing to keep in mind is that TEXSAR does not self deploy; they are at the beck and call of local or state agencies looking to utilize their services.

This means that, if you have a loved one who is missing, you should immediately call 911 and notify your local law enforcement. Then, if required, they will seek assistance from TEXSAR themselves.