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SAR members prepare to search for lost subjects during a snowstorm.


Search & Rescue in Washoe County, Nevada

Washoe County occupies approximately 6608 square miles in the northwest corner of Nevada, stretching from just north of Carson City all the way north to the Oregon border. The southwestern part of the county encompasses a portion of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe. The northern half of the county is the western edge of the Black Rock desert. The Truckee River cuts through the southern portion of the county from west to east, turning north at Wadsworth, and terminating at Pyramid Lake.

(See map under Organization / Statistics)






Responsibility for search and rescue operations in the State of Nevada is the duty of the Sheriff of the county of jurisdiction. Washoe County Sheriff Mike Haley utilizes teams of citizen volunteers, as auxiliary deputies, to conduct SAR missions. By using SAR volunteers, Sheriff Haley saves the taxpayers of Washoe County in excess of $993,000 dollars annually.



Our SAR volunteer team program has been nationally recognized for our volunteers' efforts, training and organization. In Washoe County, visitors and residents alike benefit from the emergency search and rescue services, for which there are no fees, due to the dedication and commitment of the hundreds of search and rescue volunteers who comprise the 7 specialized teams. Though they work side by side, these specialized teams each have very specific responsibilities during a search and rescue mission. Please take some time to visit our specialized teams homepages on the navigation bar to find out more about what they offer.


RECENT SEARCHES

June 10, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, SVU and WCSAR responded to MM31 on SR447 on the report of possible stranded motorists that were caught in multiple mud slides and road washouts between that location and Gerlach.  This was the result of thunderstorms that dropped large amounts of rain in the area. County road crews were able to clear the effected areas, and no one was found in distress. 

June 9, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, RAVEN and SVU responded to Pyramid Lake to assist PLSAR in searching for two subjects in an inflatable raft that were blown out into the lake during a thunderstorm.  A Pyramid Lake ground unit spotted two subjects from a distance, standing on the shoreline in the Dago Bay area.  RAVEN landed to confirm their identities.  They had been blown/drifted approximately 4.5 miles from their original location at Wino Beach.  A PLSAR boat transported the subjects to staging.

June 9, 2013 - SAR Staff and WCSAR responded to an area on Red Rock Road to conduct fire evacuation notices for a lightning caused brush fire.

June 6, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, SVU and WCSAR were requested to conduct an evidence search along the Truckee River in the area of Lockwood and Mustang, related to an on-going criminal investigation.

June 5, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, SVU and WCSAR began responding to the D'Andrea area to search for two missing juveniles.  As SAR teams were arriving at staging, the subjects were located at outside of a local school.

May 29, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, SVU and WCSAR began responding to the entrance to Fox Mountain from SR447 to search for two subjects who were missing.  Just as teams were leaving Reno, the subjects were located by Gerlach Deputies.

May 27, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, RAVEN and WCSAR responded to the Hunter Creek Trail area to locate and transport an injured hiker.  The subject had neck and back injuries and was hoisted from the trail by RAVEN.  She was then transferred to a waiting ambulance at the trailhead.

May 25 - 27, 2013 - The SVU conducted safety patrols at Pyramid Lake during the Memorial Day weekend.

May 18, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, SVU and WCSAR began responding to the Mt. Rose Summit to search for an injured hiker reported to be one mile east of Relay Peak.  Before arrival, the subject was located by NLTFPD and transported by CALSTAR to a local hospital.

May 18, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, SVU and WCSAR responded to the Lockwood area to search for a lost subject in the Lagormasino Canyon area.  The subject was located at a Boy Scout camp and was transported to her vehicle which was stuck in a pond.  The vehicle was not retrievable, so she was transported back to staging after warm clothing was provided.

May 17, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, SVU and WCSAR were requested to search for three subjects - two adults and an infant, that were in a disabled vehicle on the west northwest side of Peavine.  Search teams located the subjects and transported them back to staging.

May 16, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, SVU and WCSAR began responding to a reported plane crash in the area of Verdi Peak.  As teams were arriving at staging, Washoe County resources were cancelled due to the location of the aircraft, which was in Sierra County, California.

May 16, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team and WCSAR conducted an evidence search in the Carson River related to an on-going criminal investigation.

May 13, 2013 - SAR teams were requested a second time, later in the day, to respond to the Mustang exit and conduct a thorough search of a specific area.

May 13, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, SVU and WCSAR were requested to assist WCSO detectives with an evidence search at the Mustang exit of Interstate 80.

May 4, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, RAVEN, SVU and WCSAR responded to the Lockwood area to search for two lost subjects in a vehicle, reported to be in the Lagormasino Canyone area.  Search teams, with the aide of RAVEN, were able to locate the subjects and guide them safely back to staging.

May 3, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, SVU and WCSAR began responding to the Cold Springs area on the report of a mountain biker who was overdue.  Before teams arrived, the subject returned to his residence.

May 3, 2013 - SAR Staff, Hasty Team, RAVEN, SVU and WCSAR assisted RPD in searching for a missing Alzheimer's subject that was last seen heading west from the Home Depot in NW Reno.  Teams searched areas west of the Home Depot on both sides of the freeway, parks to the south, streets in the area of her residence, and areas along the river.  A business at Plumas and McCarran notified RPD that a disoriented woman was in their store.  RPD responded and positively identified the subject as being the missing subject.



# of searchers that found us!


 
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Affiliated Search & Rescue Teams
of Washoe County, Nevada
P.O. Box 20012
Reno, NV 89515-0012

 
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