Summary

The volunteers within King County Search and Rescue perform at least 100 rescue missions each year, with more than 5,000 rescue deployments since its inception

Story

WHEREAS, people in King County who find themselves in imminent danger or distress or who become lost, especially in remote areas, depend on search and rescue services; and

WHEREAS, the volunteers within King County Search and Rescue, operating under the direction of the King County Sheriff’s Office, are part of nonprofit organizations who contribute their time, skills, and equipment to help those in need; and

WHEREAS, the volunteers within King County Search and Rescue perform at least 100 rescue missions each year, with more than 5,000 rescue deployments since its inception; and

WHEREAS, in 2014, the volunteers drove 182,000 miles while volunteering more than 18,000 hours on missions; and

WHEREAS, the volunteer organizations of King County Search and Rescue include eight units: King County 4x4 Search and Rescue, King County Explorer Search and Rescue, King County Incident Support Team, King County Search Dogs, Northwest Horseback Search and Rescue, Pacific Northwest Trackers, Seattle Mountain Rescue, and Ski Patrol Rescue Team; and

WHEREAS, the volunteers within King County Search and Rescue provide a valuable public service by promoting public education on wilderness safety and assisting law enforcement communities with crime scene investigations; and

WHEREAS, the volunteers within King County Search and Rescue teams maintain the highest proficiency in search and rescue techniques and operations;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the King County Executive and King County Council, proclaim October 5-11, 2015, as

in King County and we encourage all county residents to join us in acknowledging the county’s search and rescue volunteers for their important, life-saving work.

DATED this fifth day of October 2015.