Who is legally in charge of the search

• The Responsible Agent (RA), usually local law enforcement, but Fire/Rescue in some states.
• An RA can call VADES (Virginia Department of Emergency Services) and request help managing a search, trained field teams, etc.
• VADES has no search team on staff, so they call volunteer search teams. These teams (ASRC included) have filled out a memorandum of understanding, defining their relationship with VADES, which allows them to respond to searches as an official state resource.

How are Searches Run? Incident Command System (ICS)

• Incident Commander (IC) organizes the search and locates resources requested by the RA. Sometimes the RA acts as IC.
• Under the IC, there is an OPS Chief and a Plans Chief.
• OPS (briefly) covers Briefing/Debriefing, coordinating field teams, etc.
• PLANS draws up tasks for field teams; handles subject/search investigation.
• Public Information Officer (PIO) deals with media; gives out info. on subject & search.
• Safety Officer: IC (or appointed underling) responsible for safety of teams in the field (locates hazards, etc.) Also in charge of safety of personnel leaving for home.
• AIR OPS: person assigned to coordinate special needs of air resources. (e.g. fuel, LZ's, commo)
• Civil Air Patrol (CAP): Provide ground management and air operations at searches.
• COMMO- logistical or OPS function, coordinates ... (you guessed it) communication
• Logistics: in charge of finding food/shelter for resources, may also deal with equipment supply needs
• Finance-Keeps track of expenditures and donations, and if using paid resource (PD or military) keep track of their hours
• Staging Officer: Helps formulate/organize teams
• ICS requires lots of documentation (clue logs, briefing/debriefing notes, etc.)

MEDIA

• They will want to talk to you
• The ASRC has a policy that the only people who talk to the media about information specific to the search are the IC and the PIO. (i.e. not field personnel)
• You cannot tell them any info. about the search, but you can give your name and vital statistics (where you're from, what agency you're there with, etc)
• If they badger you, talk about SAR theory or your past experiences or your gear or how to do a sweep task. But NO SPECIFIC INFORMATION about the current search, and NO SPECULATION ABOUT THE OUTCOME of the current search.