SAR Tracks 2023.12

December 2023 Updates

We wanted to take the opportunity to look back and reflect upon all that has occurred in 2023. This past year has seen unprecedented growth for the NSARGC and for SARCOP adoption and usage. In 2023, the NSARGC supported 55 real-world incidents. Four were FEMA deployments, including Vermont Flooding, Hawaii Wildfires, Hurricane Idalia, and Tropical Cyclone Lee. The remainder were state and local deployments. We also supported 174 registered exercises across the nation and grew our community to over 1,200 people.

None of this growth would be possible without you. Thank you for participating in our monthly SAR Geo Hangouts; providing valuable feedback on our workflows and technology; promoting SARCOP throughout your organizations; and training for the next incident. We look to carry this momentum into 2024 as we continue to build the community.

December 2023 SARGeo Hangout

The recording and notes from the Dec. 13, 2023 SARGeo US&R/GIS Tech Hangout are available below. If you have not already signed up for the calendar invite for next month's hangout, you can do so here.

Recording

Call Notes

SARGIS 10: A Look Back over the Past Five Years

In late October 2018, the National Alliance for Public Safety GIS (NAPSG) Foundation Search and Rescue Working Group hosted SARGIS 10, a three-day training and small conference at West Valley College in Saratoga, CA dedicated to Search and Rescue and GIS. Participants conducted training on Wildland SAR/Missing Person scenarios, conducted early testing of location tracking, and began to explore and develop technological processes for US&R. Over the years, this working group grew and evolved, eventually giving birth to the National Search and Rescue Geospatial Coordination Group (NSARGC) that we know today. We look forward to continuing to develop as an organization to serve the search and rescue community.

One Team. One Mission. One Map.

Pulling Back the SARCOP Curtain

Learn how the Search and Rescue Common Operating Platform (SARCOP) system was built, how it intakes and manages data, and how you can use components from this platform in your own projects.

Watch full video

NGA Assists with Maui Wildfire Relief Response

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency provided on-the-ground support to FEMA US&R Teams and FEMA liaison Officers, in parallel with Maui Fire and Police departments search and rescue efforts following the wildfires in Lahaina.

Read the full article

Call for US&R Symbology Working Group Participants

Ten to fifteen people are needed from a cross-section of the US&R System to participate in a US&R Symbology Working Group. This group will review and approve proposed US&R Resources symbols which will be used for force-laydown maps. Participants will be required to attend 3 to 4 meetings and provide thoughtful feedback throughout the process. Interested candidates should complete the following survey.

Interest Survey

The NSARGC Community had a strong showing at NAPSG Foundation's annual Innovation Summit for Preparedness & Resilience (InSPIRE), including a keynote address from Section Chief Chad Beam from the South Carolina Emergency Response Task Force. Thank you to all of those who were able to attend.

Responsesystem.org NAPSG Sandbox Exercise Notification

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