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| Maine Association for Search and Rescue | |
|---|---|
| Name | Maine Association for Search and Rescue |
| Abbreviation | MASAR |
| Formation | 1970s |
| Type | Volunteer nonprofit |
| Headquarters | Augusta, Maine |
| Region served | Maine |
| Membership | Search and rescue teams, individual responders |
Maine Association for Search and Rescue
The Maine Association for Search and Rescue is a statewide volunteer consortium that coordinates search and rescue resources across Maine, linking local teams, state agencies, and federal partners to respond to missing person incidents, wilderness rescues, and disaster-related missions. It functions as a nexus among municipal police departments, county sheriff's offices, state agencies such as the Maine Department of Public Safety, and federal entities including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Coast Guard, while also engaging with academic institutions and nonprofit organizations for training and research.
Founded in the late 20th century amid rising outdoor recreation and increasing search demands, the organization evolved from informal mutual aid among municipal police departments and county sheriff's offices to a formalized association influenced by precedents like the National Association for Search and Rescue and protocols from the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group. Early incidents that shaped its development involved notable operations in the Katahdin region and coordinated responses to severe weather events that engaged the Maine National Guard and the American Red Cross. The association’s historical milestones include adoption of standard operating procedures compatible with the Incident Command System, participation in multi-state exercises with New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts, and contributions to statewide missing person initiatives alongside the Maine State Police.
Membership incorporates volunteer search teams from regions such as Aroostook County, Cumberland County, and Penobscot County, individual search and rescue technicians, K9 units, and technical rescue specialists drawn from municipal fire departments and volunteer ambulance services. Affiliate members include university programs at the University of Maine, nonprofit groups like the Appalachian Mountain Club, and private firms providing aviation support. Governance often mirrors nonprofit boards found in organizations such as the American Alpine Club and includes elected officers, standing committees on training, operations, and equipment, and liaisons to agencies such as the Maine Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Training curricula align with national standards promulgated by entities like the National Association for Search and Rescue, the National Fire Protection Association, and the United States Department of Transportation. Courses cover wilderness navigation, rope rescue, swiftwater operations, and K9 handling, often delivered in partnership with institutions such as the New England Outdoor Center and the United States Coast Guard Academy. Certification pathways reference competencies used by the National Park Service and State Police academies, while continuing education leverages symposiums featuring experts from the Society of American Foresters, American Red Cross, and the International Association of Fire Fighters.
The association coordinates responses to missing hikers in regions like Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park, marine incidents along the Atlantic Ocean coastline, and backcountry emergencies on ranges such as the Longfellow Mountains. Routine activities include joint search exercises with the United States Air Force, multi-agency disaster drills with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and assistance during statewide storms alongside the Maine Department of Transportation and Maine Emergency Medical Services. The association also supports public outreach with partners like the Maine Audubon and hosts volunteer recruitment in collaboration with AmeriCorps.
Members maintain assets including K9 search teams, rope systems compliant with standards from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, snowmobiles for operations in Aroostook County and western ranges, all-terrain vehicles, and small boats suitable for the Penobscot River and coastal responses. Aviation assets are coordinated through agreements with operators such as regional air ambulance services and charter firms, and equipment procurement often references grants used by organizations like the National Sheriffs' Association. The association inventories specialized gear including GPS units endorsed by Garmin, radios interoperable with FirstNet, and technical rescue hardware specified by the Technical Rescue Foundation.
Formal memoranda of understanding link the association with the Maine State Police, county sheriff's offices, municipal police departments, the United States Coast Guard, and federal agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Park Service. Cross-border exercises with neighboring states such as New Hampshire and Massachusetts and cooperation with indigenous communities and tribal entities enhance regional readiness; the association engages academic partners like the University of Southern Maine for research on search patterns and with nonprofit organizations such as the Appalachian Mountain Club for trail safety initiatives. Mutual aid frameworks draw on models from the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and interoperability guidance from the Department of Homeland Security.
Funding streams include memberships, equipment grants from state allocations administered by the Maine Emergency Management Agency, federal grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and donations processed through partnerships with charities like the American Red Cross. Governance follows nonprofit models with a board of directors, bylaws, and oversight comparable to organizations such as the National Audubon Society and the Sierra Club chapters, while auditing and compliance reference standards used by the United States Government Accountability Office for grant recipients. Financial sustainability strategies include fundraising events similar to those run by the Appalachian Mountain Club and grant applications to foundations active in public safety and outdoor recreation.
Category:Search and rescue organizations Category:Organizations based in Maine