Southern Search & Rescue, Inc.

Starting a Response Team or Unit

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First, we would like to thank you for your interest in starting a new team or unit.  By following the outline below, the process will go as smoothly and quickly as possible.  Be sure to read and follow all of the directions or there will be a delay in processing your request.

1. Please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and tell us that you are interested in establishing a new team or unit.  We will try to respond within a week, but if you do not hear from us, please feel free to call and leave a message at (972) 704-4318 or (469) 248-5002 (toll-free number coming soon).  We will review your request and make sure that it does not duplicate or interfere with an existing team or unit.  Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. will also furnish valuable information and advice on your organizational endeavor.


2. Start to form your team/unit and create an organizing group.  The organizing group will work together to accomplish the actions outlined below. Your group should plan to contact as many community leaders as possible to help you find prospective new members. Because of this, you might try including community leaders on your organizing group. They will be able to open doors for you and the new unit. Some suggested contacts are presidents of various civic groups, the Chamber of Commerce, prominent businessmen, religious leaders, and the mayor or city councilmen. Of course, the ideal solution is to find an organization willing to sponsor your unit; of special interest is your local sheriff dept., police dept and fire department. This is why it is so important to do the thorough research mentioned earlier. Once you have identified a legitimate need in the community, the leaders are more receptive to you and your plans. The more interest and support you obtain from the local community, the better the chance for a successful start.


3. Download and complete the Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. Response Team/Unit Charter Application.  Be sure to read the application completely and read through the website for more information on how we operate and function.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .


4. Identify an interim team/unit captain/leader. To be successful, the unit will need an energetic individual interested in service to the community. The importance of finding the right person for this position cannot be overemphasized. The success of the program will be attributable more to leadership than to any other single factor. If at all possible, try to get a captain that has prior police, fire or military experience, though not required.


5. Have your organizing group determine what kind of team or unit you will be developing.  We have several types of team/units to choose from:
   • Search and Rescue
   • Disaster Relief/Response
   • Combination SAR and Disaster Relief/Response Unit
   • Note:  Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. does not support youth only units.  A Response Team/Unit may choose to sponsor or have a youth program, but we will not charter purely youth teams/units.
     


6. Select a meeting place. A suitable meeting place is very important, this will be used as your team/units office and home.  Get a permanent location as quickly as possible.  Try to find a location that is readily accessible to all members. If at all possible, avoid meeting in a member's home or changing the location from week to week. This will allow meetings regardless of who is on vacation or has moved and promotes a sense of permanence. The meeting place should also provide office and classroom space. If you can't get an entire office initially, try to get a closet or storage area for permanent placement of unit files and other property. Some possible sites are fire departments, sheriff office, churches, schools, charter schools, and veterans organizations' facilities.


7. Apply for your team/unit Charter. When all of the above actions have been taken, it is time to obtain a charter to officially recognize the unit as an active member team/unit of Southern Search & Rescue, Inc.. To obtain a charter, mail the Application for Charter to Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. A charter fee, payable to Southern Search & Rescue, Inc., must accompany the application for charter in the amount of $25.00¹. A minimum of five member applications, with membership fees, must accompany the charter application, as this is the minimum amount of people to form a unit. Once the charter is issued, it will be mailed to the Interim Team/Unit Commander. You may pay this charter application fee by credit card for a additional $2.00². The initial membership fees should come in the form of a check with the applications, but you may allow each member or one member to pay by credit card, which would include an additional $2.00² per application.

Benefits of Chartering a Team or Unit

• Part of a Nationally Recognized Emergency Service organization
• Ability to attend training and certification programs at a discount
• Standardized training, certification and operational protocols
• Ability to request or respond when mutual aid is needed
• Discounts on equipment
• Online centralized tracking of qualifications (*in the works)
• Online centralized tracking for missions in a database application (*in the works)
• Accident/Medical Insurance (*please read insurance information)

¹ Units/Teams formed outside of Texas may have other fees and requirements depending on their state of formation. These fees may include filing a Doing Business As (DBA), state filing fees and any other fees that may have to be done for operating a "foreign" corporation in your home state. The national office will assist in taking care of these needs as they come up.

² These fees only apply to credit card/echeck due payments.  The fee of $2.00 is a per charter application.  The fee of $2.00 is per individual membership application.  This is a convience fee and allows us to receive the full amount for the membership to be used towards the members benefits and cost.  This is subject to change at any time.