Southeast Missouri Search and Rescue

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Poplar Bluff, MO
Southeast Missouri Search and Rescue

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Southeast Missouri Search and Rescue, Nonprofit Organization, 1020 S Broadway Street, Poplar Bluff, MO.

Founded in 2011, we are an all-volunteer organization based out of Poplar Bluff, responding to emergencies across the rugged Ozark terrain of the Mark Twain National Forest and surrounding counties.

05/31/2026

Had a blast this weekend completing a GSAR — Ground Search & Rescue — certification course with our team.

We covered land navigation, SAR crew operations, search tactics, lost person behavior, optimizing visual recognition in challenging environments, and lots more!

In-the-field testing included grid searches for a deck of playing cards hidden throughout woods and meadows with 3-foot tall grass 🌾🃏

Learn more about our team at 👉 https://semosar.org

Grateful for our Illinois Search & Rescue instructors who came down from Adams County and Brown County, IL to help make this training possible.

And also a shout out to Poplar Bluff Police Department for providing an outstanding facility for our indoor classroom training and to Robbie Meyers with Butler County EMA for providing lunch for our team during the training. Thank you!

05/29/2026

🕷️ Spider Bite Prevention for the Outdoors

If you spend time in the woods, around sheds, barns, woodpiles, brush, abandoned structures, or stored gear, spider awareness matters.

Most spiders are harmless, but in Southeast Missouri, two deserve extra caution:

— Black Widow: glossy black body with a red hourglass marking.
— Brown Recluse: Light brown spider, often with a violin-shaped marking on its back. Commonly found in dark, undisturbed areas like boxes, woodpiles, storage areas, and cluttered corners.

Before heading out:

✅ Shake out boots, gloves, jackets, sleeping bags, towels, and packs.
✅ Wear gloves when moving wood, debris, tarps, or old gear.
✅ Use long pants, boots, and long sleeves in brush, tall grass, barns, crawlspaces, or debris-heavy areas.
✅ Store gear in sealed containers when possible.
✅ Never reach blindly into dark spaces.

For Search & Rescue training, disaster response, or work around abandoned structures . . . always make sure to slow down before lifting, crawling, reaching, or putting on gear that has been on the ground.

If you think you were bitten:

Wash the area with soap and water, apply a cold pack, elevate the area if possible, and seek medical attention—especially if you suspect a black widow or brown recluse bite.

Do NOT cut the wound, suction the bite, or try to remove venom.

A few seconds of prevention can save you a lot of trouble later. Check your gear, protect your hands, and stay aware of where you step, sit, and reach.

Stay safe out there.

05/18/2026

As we are hitting the time of the year for getting out and about, cutting grass, cleaning up yards, going to the lake, or whatever it is that gets you outside, please be mindful of these little guys!

Ticks can be very small but they cause a lot of medical problems for a lot of people.

The CDC reports that the number of emergency room visits for tick bites are at the highest they’ve been since 2017.

Lyme is the most common tickborne disease in the U.S., with 476,000 people treated for Lyme each year.

To prevent tick bites and potential health issues from it, make sure to:

– Wear EPA-registered insect repellant
– Do tick checks
– Remove attached ticks as quickly as possible

If you develop a rash or fever in the days to weeks after a bite, or after being in an area with ticks, don't wait to seek medical care.

05/08/2026

Our brand-new website is live!

Visit semosar.org to learn more about who we are, how you can volunteer with us, and access free resources to help you stay safe outdoors.

From hiking and outdoor adventures to severe weather scenarios and emergency preparedness, we’re working on building a collection free resources to help you and your family be prepared and stay safe.

Check it out, share it with a friend, and help us spread the word:

https://semosar.org

04/26/2026

Severe storms and possible tornadoes expected across Southeast Missouri tomorrow evening. Stay safe!

04/17/2026

From your local Search & Rescue team — a quick guide to help you stay safe and prepared while enjoying the outdoors this spring.

Springtime is beautiful here in the Ozarks! But conditions can also be unpredictable. Make sure you have everything you need to stay safe.

Please like and share if you find this helpful.

04/07/2026

It’s been a while since we’ve posted, but the Search & Rescue team's still here and staying active!

We recently just finished a multi-day CERT training with the whole team, getting hands-on and sharpening skills.

A big thank you to Jim Watkins, Poplar Bluff Police Department, and Poplar Bluff Fire Department for helping make this training possible.

11/05/2024

Live drawing of the 2024 SEMO Search and Rescue raffle.

03/07/2023

We would like to thank all the volunteers for coming to the meeting last night. Thank you to Robbie for your presentation. Looking forward to a good training on April 6th. The wheels are in motion to make it an educational experience.

09/13/2022

Another great training, Stop the Bleed. With the Team from Air evac.

Address

1020 S Broadway Street
Poplar Bluff, MO
63901

Website

https://semosar.org/, https://semosar.org/resources

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