What We Do

Our World Has Changed

Natural disasters are occurring more frequently and with increased severity. Police and fire services are overextended. OSRT members are trained professionals that can respond to a wide range of disruptive and unfortunate events whenever and wherever they occur. This adds personnel, technology, and resources that can be applied to the response, all at no cost.

OSRT members respond at the request of law enforcement, fire departments, other agencies, as well as at the request of public citizens concerned about a missing loved one. On every deployment we obtain permission from the agency managing the case.

Our Services

We do much more than find lost hikers. OSRT is staffed by all volunteers and we are proud to note that all our services are always completely free of charge.

Members of OSRT have access to the most comprehensive training available for the services we provide. Our members become certified by nationally recognized organizations such as National Association for Search and Rescue, Community Emergency Response Team, Mountain Rescue Association, Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and/or additional resources offered by instructors who are experienced in the field.

Services

Lost Person Behavior Analysis

The OSRT search team utilizes Lost Person Behavior Analysis to significantly increase to success factors in finding missing people.

GPS / CalTopo Tracking

OSRT search operators utilize CALTopo, an extremely accurate real time tracking software, to accurately monitor personnel in the field.

Back Country and Wilderness Search and Rescue

The OSRT search team members are adept at conducting detailed searches in dense undergrowth as well as in heavily wooded environments

Urban Missing Persons Searches

OSRT search team members frequently conduct searches in urban or suburban environments.

Police Evidence Searches

Members of OSRT are frequently called upon to assist law enforcement in conducting and documenting searches relative to evidence of criminal activities.

Recoveries

OSRT team members are called upon to recover victims from difficult terrain and we do so with the utmost respect.

K-9 Search Teams

OSRT search K-9s and their handlers are some of the most comprehensively credentialed and experienced in the state.

Drone Operations

OSRT was one of the first teams in the state to acquire and use drones in search operations.

Rope Rescue Operations

Whether it's high angle, or low angle, the OSRT rope rescue team is fully equipped and experienced in handling rope rescues in difficult terrain.

Disaster Response Operations

OSRT team members have brought into play a wide range of skills on the ground for more than 9 national disasters.

Spontaneous Volunteer Management

Managing spontaneous volunteers is a key component to many major searches. OSRT Command and Control personnel assist law enforcement by monitoring and managing volunteer searchers.

Community Safety Education

OSRT personnel regularly deliver public awareness sessions on a wide range of critical topics such as disaster preparation, human trafficking, lost persons, and Hug-A-Tree.