08/05/2025
The recent flooding events in Texas, and the Hurricane Helen landfall event last fall have again brought light to the essential roles played by local Search and Rescue Teams in all disasters.
The recent flooding events in Texas, and the Hurricane Helen landfall event last fall have again brought light to the essential roles played by local Search and Rescue Teams in all disasters.
Recently Governor Mike Braun announced efforts to make sure Indiana is prepared for similar disasters. Our team, and others in the state recently sent Governor Braun, and officials at the Indiana Department of Homeland Security a letter showing our support for this effort, and letting them know we stand by ready to assist.
The body of that email is below.
Thank you to the Governor, IDHS and especially all the local and regional public safety agencies across the state who are working to make sure Hoosiers are prepared for future disaster.
July 31, 2025
The Honorable Michael Braun
Governor of the State of Indiana
Indiana Statehouse
200 West Washington Street, Room 206
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2797
Dear Governor Braun,
In the wake of recent tragedies such as the floods along the Texas waterways, and tornadoes in other parts of the United States, we were heartened to hear of your intention to evaluate whether Indiana is adequately equipped to handle such devastating emergencies.
As is often the case when administrations change over, be they small-scale such as a rural volunteer fire department or large-scale such as state government, it can be difficult to keep track of what has been available, and is still available.
We want to take this opportunity to make sure you are aware of all that is available to you, to the State of Indiana, and all Hoosiers living within her borders.
We make up the volunteer search and rescue community spread throughout the state, from one corner to another, from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River.
Each of these teams represent decades of experience in search and rescue–from K-9 handling to ground searcher and search management. Members of our teams have experience on fire departments, police departments, emergency management agencies, emergency medical services, FEMA task forces, military, and other backgrounds, all trained and available to respond to emergencies large and small.
In prior years, many of us were part of Indiana’s District Emergency Task Force systems, and would be able and willing to participate in such a system again should it be resurrected as part of efforts to build a more robust emergency response within the state.
Many of us do have the flexibility to respond not only to disasters and emergencies within the state, as we do frequently as requested by our local law enforcement and fire partners 24/7/365. We are also willing and able to assist others in need through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. We bring years of experience and training to the table, and stand ready to serve our fellow Hoosiers and Americans in whatever capacity we can be utilized.
Thank you for your service to Indiana.
Signed;
American Patriot K9 Search Team (serving South Central Indiana)
Cincinnati SAR (serving Southeast Indiana)
Indiana Search and Response Team (serving Northeast Indiana)
Indiana United SAR (serving Southern Indiana)
Jennings County SAR (serving West Central Indiana)
Midwest Search Dogs (serving Central Indiana)
NSI Search and Recovery (serving Southeast and East Central Indiana)
NWI Search and Recovery (serving Northwest Indiana)
Ohio Valley SAR (serving Southwest Indiana)
Porter County Search and Rescue (serving Northwest Indiana)
