Annex D - Search and Rescue - West Virginia Division of Homeland ...

Annex:
D
Title:
Search and Rescue
Related Federal ESFs:
Purpose:
ESF 9 – Urban Search and Rescue
This annex describes the state’s system and assigns
responsibilities in SAR operations. It addresses three types of
search/rescue categories: (1) locating lost persons or civilian
aircraft, where this is the sole purpose of the operation; (2)
structural explosions, collapse or transportation accidents
involving Urban Search and Rescue techniques, such as highangle
rescue and confined space (does not pertain to mine
emergencies); and (3) natural disasters, where search and
rescue is an integral part of the overall disaster operations,
including body recovery.
West Virginia Code: • West Virginia Code, Chapter 15, Article 5, as amended
Primary Agency:
State Support Agencies:
References:
• West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management
• West Virginia State Police
• West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
• West Virginia National Guard
• West Virginia Department of Administration/Aviation
Division/Fleet Management
• West Virginia Civil Air Patrol
• West Virginia Regional Response Team
• West Virginia K-9 Search & Rescue Team
• West Virginia Emergency Medical Services
• National Incident Management System
• National Response Framework, as amended

ANNEX D
SEARCH AND RESCUE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................. 1
II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS.................................................................................. 1
A. Situation ........................................................................................................................ 1
B. Assumptions .................................................................................................................. 1
III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS .......................................................................................... 2
A. General .......................................................................................................................... 2
B. Phases of Management ................................................................................................. 2
1. Response ................................................................................................................. 2
2. Mutual Aid .............................................................................................................. 3
3. State and Federal ..................................................................................................... 3
4. Demobilization ........................................................................................................ 3
IV. ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES ............................................................... 4
A. General .......................................................................................................................... 4
B. Categories and Lead Agencies ...................................................................................... 4
C. Responsibilities ............................................................................................................. 4
1. West Virginia State Police ...................................................................................... 4
2. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources ........................................................ 5
3. West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services ........................................... 5
4. West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management ....... 5
5. West Virginia National Guard ................................................................................ 5
6. Department of Administration/Aviation Division/Fleet Management ................... 5
7. West Virginia Civil Air Patrol ................................................................................ 5
V. DIRECTION AND CONTROL ......................................................................................... 6
VI. CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT ................................................................................ 6
VII. ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT .............................................................................. 6
A. Records Maintenance .................................................................................................... 6
B. Preservation of Records ................................................................................................ 6
VIII. ANNEX DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................. 7
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ANNEX D
SEARCH AND RESCUE
I. PURPOSE
A. This annex describes the state’s system and assigns responsibilities in Search and
Rescue (SAR) operations. It addresses three types of SAR categories: (1) locating
lost persons or civilian aircraft, where this is the sole purpose of the operation; (2)
structural explosions, collapse or transportation accidents involving Urban Search and
Rescue (USAR) techniques, such as high-angle rescue and confined space (does not
pertain to mine emergencies); and (3) natural disasters, where search and rescue is an
integral part of the overall disaster operations, including body recovery.
B. This annex is intended to be consistent with the State of West Virginia Emergency
Operations Plan (WVEOP), the National Response Framework (NRF), and the
National Incident Management System (NIMS).
C. Operations involving lost aircraft are conducted in accordance with the West Virginia
Civil Air Patrol’s SAR plans and the National Search and Rescue Plan. State and
local government organizations may be requested to assist in the operations; however,
overall direction of the operation is by WVDHSEM in coordination with the US Air
Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), if
appropriate.
II.
SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
A. Situation
1. This annex is intended to be utilized for any type of incident (natural disaster,
technological accident, or man-made act) and any magnitude of an incident
(minor, major, or catastrophic).
2. A sufficient number of safety officers are designated.
3. Appropriate Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel provide emergency
medical care at all Search and Rescue operations.
4. If the incident is of a suspicious nature, concern for the possibility of “secondary”
devices should be raised.
B. Assumptions
1. It is possible that multiple events, either related or unrelated, may occur
simultaneously causing a shortage of resources.
2. The SAR operation may be related to a domestic or foreign terrorist incident.
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3. The SAR operation might be part of a mass casualty incident.
4. A SAR operation is likely to draw local, state, and possibly national news media
attention.
5. The SAR operation might be criminal in nature and the issue of evidence
preservation may be present.
6. The SAR area of operation may contain hazardous materials.
7. Federally-funded USAR teams may be requested.
III.
CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
A. General
1. Operations are directed and accomplished by local government utilizing local
resources. These resources may include supplies, equipment, and personnel
belonging to any private sector companies that may be involved with SAR
activity. State assistance may be provided upon request.
2. Overall coordination of SAR operations within a county are performed by the
local government, except when:
a. The local government requests the state to perform the coordination function.
b. The Governor directs state coordination of SAR operations in a multi-county
area due to the magnitude and severity of the situation.
3. All resource requests must indicate the National Incident Management System
(NIMS) Resource Type being requested, if applicable.
B. Phases of Management
1. Response
a. Local authorities utilize either the Incident Command (IC) or Unified
Command (UC) Structure.
b. Communications is first a local issue with outside resources being
incorporated into local communications. Other communications needs are
addressed in Annex C – Communications.
c. An Incident Action Plan (IAP) is developed and implemented.
d. Responder safety is the first priority.
e. An Emergency Medical Services (EMS) unit is located on-scene.
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f. The State Warning Point is notified that a SAR activity is being conducted.
g. Public information activities are established to advise the public of safety
issues and encourage the public to provide information, especially in cases of
a missing person, which may assist rescuers. See Annex M – Public
Information for more information.
h. The public is kept at a safe distance from the search scene for its own safety,
and also to prevent the unintentional contamination of possible evidence and
prevent additional persons from becoming lost or injured.
i. A Demobilization Plan is developed by the Planning Section Chief.
2. Mutual Aid
a. Mutual aid may be requested when local resources have been fully committed
and additional resources are required; or if technical expertise is not locally
available.
b. Arriving resources are integrated into the existing IC or UC structure.
c. Team integrity is maintained by arriving units.
d. The initial Demobilization Plan is modified to accommodate the mutual aid
resources.
3. State and Federal
a. If local mutual aid resources are inadequate, or if appropriate expertise is not
available, a request for assistance may be made to the State Emergency
Operations Center (SEOC).
b. Requests may include the West Virginia Regional Response Program
(WVRRP), Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) or Federal USAR Teams.
These requests must include specific details on the types of search and rescue
missions required.
c. When state resources are utilized, assignment is on a mission-by-mission basis
to the maximum extent possible.
d. IC and UC track state and federal resources as with any other mutual aid
resource.
4. Demobilization
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a. Demobilization planning begins with the establishment of IC or UC as
required by NIMS. As the volume of resources increases, the Demobilization
Plan is appropriately modified.
b. If possible, state, and federal resources are released first, followed by local
mutual aid resources.
IV.
ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. General
1. Operations involving lost persons are under the direction of local government and
employ local resources. The exception to local government direction is operations
on state or federal property, i.e., parks, forests and non-navigable waterways.
These are under the direction of the appropriate state or federal agency.
2. Operations involving lost aircraft are conducted in accordance with the West
Virginia Civil Air Patrol’s SAR plans and the National Search and Rescue Plan.
State and local government organizations may be requested to assist in the
operations; however, overall direction of the operation is by West Virginia
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (WVDHSEM) in
coordination with the US Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) and
the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), if appropriate.
B. Categories and Lead Agencies
Law enforcement has the lead role in SAR operations. As soon as the lost person(s) is
located, the local fire department assumes the lead during rescue operations. While
one discipline serves as the “lead” for the operation, the other serves as a support.
Waterborne rescue is most likely to vary based on local resources.
Type of Rescue Operation Lead Discipline Support Discipline
Aircraft Accident Law Enforcement Fire/EMS
Confined Space Fire Law Enforcement/EMS
Entrapment Fire Law Enforcement/EMS
High Angle Fire Law Enforcement/EMS
Missing Person Law Enforcement Fire/EMS
Waterborne Varies with local policy Varies with local policy
C. Responsibilities
1. West Virginia State Police
a. Provides assistance for ground and air SAR operations for the state. This
includes K-9 operations needed for search.
b. Provides mobile command center for communications support.
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2. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
a. Provides assistance for ground, air, and water search and rescue operations for
the state.
3. West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services
a. Provides EMS assistance for all SAR missions.
4. West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
a. Provides coordination for all state agencies.
b. Receives local requests for state, volunteer (K9, Civil Air Patrol (CAP), horse,
cave, and mountaineer) and federal SAR assistance.
c. Requests SAR assistance as required from any state agency.
d. Verifies inventories of available state volunteer search and rescue resources
and keeps current a summary of said resources.
e. Establishes protocols for prioritizing state volunteer response activities.
f. Coordinates state, volunteer and federal support.
g. Provides communication assets as requested.
5. West Virginia National Guard
a. Provides SAR personnel assistance for ground, water, and air operations
through the National Guard.
6. Department of Administration/Aviation Division/Fleet Management
a. Provides air and ground transportation in support of SAR operations for the
state.
7. West Virginia Civil Air Patrol
a. Prepares plans and procedures to accomplish air and ground SAR missions for
the state in accordance with existing agreements.
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8. West Virginia K-9 Search and Rescue
a. Provides search dogs, handlers, and field support personnel in support of SAR
missions throughout the State of West Virginia.
9. West Virginia Regional Response Team
a. Provides personnel to support SAR missions.
b. The West Virginia Regional Response Team is activated by the West Virginia
SEOC.
V. DIRECTION AND CONTROL
A. WVDHSEM is responsible for coordinating search resources. WVDHSEM identifies
available resources needed during an emergency situation. Coordination of these
resources is handled through the SEOC.
VI.
CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
A. Lines of succession are in accordance with the WVEOP Basic Plan. It is the
responsibility of each agency to ensure sufficient trained staff is available to perform
its search capabilities.
VII.
ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT
A. Records Maintenance
1. WVDHSEM is responsible for the maintenance, revision, reviewing, and
exercising of this annex.
2. It is assumed there are deficiencies in this annex that are not be identified until the
annex is exercised or an actual event occurs. Anyone noting deficiencies in this
annex are to forward them to WVDHSEM as soon as they are identified.
3. Each state and federal agency responding to a SAR assignment will prepare
interim and final reports on their activities and submit copies to WVDHSEM.
B. Preservation of Records
1. All records are kept in accordance with current local, state and federal records
retention schedules.
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VIII. ANNEX DEVELOPMENT
A. WVDHSEM is responsible for the development of this annex.
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