Search and Rescue Team

​

The mission of the Search and Rescue Team is to provide a rapid response to a search effort by establishing an operational team composed of trained professionals, the end result being to find the victim as quickly and safely as possible.

 

Virginia Beach Department of EMS Search and Rescue Team provides search and rescue and disaster response services to assist people and communities in times of need. This is achieved through the use of professionally trained personnel, certified K9s, and state-of-the-art equipment. We respond to requests from law enforcement, fire safety, and emergency management agencies at the local, state, and national levels. We will also respond to requests for assistance from recognized disaster relief agencies as well as government agencies in other countries. We are a resource for searches for the missing and exploited persons. As a rapid response, internationally deployable group, the team has worked on three continents performing Search and Rescue and disaster response operations.

 

Virginia Beach Department of EMS Search and Rescue Team incorporates a team of four handlers to enhance out search capabilities for missing people. These dogs are able to follow scent left by lost or missing people over many miles and several days old. Handlers are skilled at interpreting how their dog's behavior might be affected by wind conditions, ground currents, temperatures, and weather.

 

For training, handlers incorporate specific scent problems over a variety of obstacles and terrains. Typical training incorporates having the dogs track two to three old scents in a variety of conditions. In order to keep these dogs operationally ready, handlers must train these dogs at least 3 to 4 times a week.

 

The EMS Search and Rescue Team are available for: