Search & Rescue

​​​Overview

Goals of the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) include to bringing quality Search & Rescue training and exercise opportunities to the Search & Rescue community, to establish Search & Rescue teams across the state, and to support current teams (i.e. Ground teams, K-9 teams, Swift Water teams, Low & High Angle Rope teams, Confined Space teams, Drone teams, ATV teams, and Mountain Bike teams). WVEMD hopes to bring together all the Search & Rescue teams in West Virginia to improve response time and save lives.


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Training & Exercises

The WVEMD Search & Rescue Training Program is designed to help Search & Rescue teams in all first responder entities with training, resource and knowledge sharing, collaborating, and coordinating efforts to enhance Search & Rescue activities around the state. Here are a few classes offered by the program:

  • Swift Water Rescue
  • High & Low Angle Rope Rescue
  • Urban Search & Rescue
  • Wilderness Search & Rescue
  • K-9 and Ground Teams
  • Drone, ATV, and Mountain Bike Rescue Teams

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If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jeff Cunningham (Training & Exercise Coordinator, Search & Rescue) at jeff.o.cunningham@wv.gov​

Last Updated: March 2025