INCIDENT SUPPORT TEAM

MISSION CONTROL

The Incident Support Team (IST) is the backbone of El Dorado Search and Rescue operations. IST plans and runs the search, is responsible for the safety and well-being of all searchers, and provides round-the-clock support in all weather conditions. EDSAR Field Team Members contribute their skills and expertise to enhance IST's capabilities. Aligned with national and state standards (NIMS, ICS, and SEMS), IST ensures efficient, effective coordination for complex rescue missions. 

Being part of IST is highly rewarding but requires significant ongoing training to manage critical SAR operations and diverse technologies:

El Dorado Search and Rescue Incident Search Management Team creates search plans and strategy. Search tactics requires constant review.

Search planning and tactics require constant review

El Dorado Search and Rescue Incident Search Management Team creates search maps. Creating search maps requires significant training.

Creating search maps requires significant training

Many of our senior staff have undergone specialized SAR training, including the California Office of Emergency Services' training for “Direction and Control of the Search Function” and Winter and Summer Field Safety Operations, the National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR)'s training for “Managing the Lost Persons Incident”, and training from the prestigious U.S. Air force and U.S. Coast Guard’s “National Search and Rescue School”, which is the same school used to train U.S. military SAR teams. 

El Dorado Search and Rescue Incident Search Management Team give prompt, thoughtful planning, deployment, and execution during Hasty Searches

Hasty searches demand prompt, thoughtful planning, deployment, and execution

El Dorado Search and Rescue Incident Search Management Team handle large-scale, multi-county mutual aid searches that require scaling and coordinating management

Large-scale, multi-county mutual aid searches require scaling and coordinating management

El Dorado Search and Rescue Incident Search Management Team must be careful in analyzing evidence and field intelligence from searches to discern validity

Evidence and field intelligence from searches must be carefully analyzed to discern validity

SAR missions can be looking for the lost in urban or wilderness areas or gathering and providing evidence and field intelligence for the Sheriff’s Department. The Incident Support Team manages all phases of a SAR operation, even after the mission concludes. Phases can involve:

Logo for El Dorado Community Foundation

We extend our deepest gratitude to the El Dorado Community Foundation for their generous $61,000 grant. This incredible support enabled the IST Team to acquire a new incident support trailer, which will be invaluable for in-county and mutual aid rescue missions, as well as SAREX training exercises.

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Donate today and make a difference in every rescue mission to support those in need.

Your donations will enable our Incident Support Team to continually invest in specialized training and cutting-edge mapping and geolocation technology so our team always stands ready to respond to emergencies and handle complex incidents to find those lost or injured.