Member Teams
Search and rescue encompasses the activities that respond to lost, missing, overdue, stranded or in-distress persons. Search and rescue operations are commonly associated with outdoor activities and “wilderness” environments as Alberta is home to 661,848 km2 of vast terrain from flat plains to dense brush and the Rocky Mountains.
Search and rescue missions can happen anywhere and in any environment including cities and towns. Urban areas may become isolated and without emergency services during disasters and emergencies. Individuals can become lost in urban areas as a result of mental health issues, such as dementia or Alzheimer disease, or they can simply go missing in the confusion of a large community event.
The province has also experienced 7/10 of the costliest disasters in Canadian history. Today, search and rescue plays a vital role in disaster and emergency response alongside fire services, law enforcement and EMS. Read our 2024 Wildfire Report to learn more.
Search and rescue programs, equipment, and personnel vary geographically in accordance with local needs, available resources, and identified risks and hazards. Search and rescue operations benefit local emergency management programs as the diverse expertise of search and rescue teams and their force multiplying capabilities increase a local authority’s all hazards readiness and response capabilities.
Our commitment to public safety covers those who are lost, missing and in-distress as well as extraordinary incidents. To meet the diverse needs of the province, our 32 teams are spread across the province and ready to deploy at a moments notice.
