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Frequently Asked Questions


How much do your services cost?

When responding to a true emergency, DELMARVA Search and Rescue does not charge for its services. We are a volunteer group and provide our own gear and transportation to all emergency callouts.

Many of the training classes we hold are also done without cost. In our "business", we'd much prefer people don't get into the situations where we're called to help them.

We offer training to the community, as well as other public safety and search groups with the hope that the information will prevent a serious incident one day.

Sometimes due to the nature of the class we teach, it is necessary to charge a fee for materials and time. These costs are always communicated up front, and we believe they are very reasonable when compared to similar classes held by for-profit groups.

How can I join your team?

For more information on how to join us in our mission, and to learn about team member requirements, send us an email. We can provide all the answers you need.

Where is DELMARVA located?

DELMARVA stands for DELaware, MARyland, VirginiA. Our primary callout area consists of the States of Delaware, and Maryland, plus the Virginia peninsula.

Upon request (and barring financial and manpower restrictions), we will respond to emergencies or training anywhere we can be of assistance. We also work in PA, VA, and WV, as requested.

How do I choose a Search and Rescue Team?

There are many teams in the region. We are not the only one, and we appreciate your considering joining ours.

When choosing a team, it's important to learn about the team. Make sure they're incorporated (this protects individuals from liability). Any corporation should have a charter and by-laws...check them out to see if you agree with how they do things. Check on insurance...will you be covered if you are injured? If you make a bad decision in the field? If they say they're charitable, check them out with the IRS before assuming you can write off expenses, or accept donations. It's easy to check to see if a group is an "exempt" group by IRS standards. Call 1-877-829-5500, listen to the menus, and give the IRS employee the name of the group. Also verify they do CJIS background checks on their membership.

Find out what the teams' training focuses on. Some teams are ground search teams only, others are just canine teams, others are both. Check the standards the team follows...most teams are NASAR oriented.

Ask the prospective team if you can attend a training session with them. You'll get to see them "in action" to see how they interact, what the leadership is like, etc. You may be asked to sign a training waiver, which protects the team from liability.

It's important to do your homework, and see if you "fit" into the team environment. These are people you'll be training and responding with, so it's important to feel that it's a match for your goals and personality.