Table of Contents:

       1.  General
       2.  Introduction
       3.  Organization
       4.  Training
       5.  First  notice / Callout
       6.  Search
       7.  Rescue
       8.  Suspending  the operation
       9.  Documentation  and Reporting
     10.  Critique
     11.  Mutual  Aid Call-outs
     12.  Attachments (Available only  in command locations, Not in all preplans.)

1.0     General

     1.1      The Sheriff, with the approval of the Board of Supervisors, has the authority to search for
               and rescue lost and missing persons in Marin County.
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2.0     Introduction (Hazard summary)

     2.1      Marin County is located directly north of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. The
               county encompasses approximately 520 square miles with an additional 86 square miles of
               tidelands. The year round population is 231,000, but weekend visitors to parks and
               beaches can swell that number by 40,000.

               Approximately one-third of the land area of the county is parks and open space with
               78,000 acres belonging to the National Park Service, over 14,000 acres state owned,
               20,000 acres of protected watershed and 20,000 acres as county open space.

               Natural Hazards include cliffs, rugged coastal areas, strong currents, heavy brush and
               rapidly changing weather conditions. Potential disasters can take the form of earthquakes
               and flooding in low lying areas.

               Typical SAR incidents include hikers / bikers who become lost and spend a night out
               unexpectedly, fisherman or hikers that are washed off rocks by unusually large "sneaker"
               waves, climbers who either fall or cannot reach safety by themselves, young children who
               become lost, elderly Alzheimer's patients, and the mentally or physically disabled who
               may become lost in urbanized area's. Weather patterns can shift suddenly making
               conditions hazardous for inexperienced hikers, backpackers and bikers.

     2.2      Recreational opportunities which create possible problems.

     2.3     Environmental hazards, floods, cliffs

     2.4     Wide variety of areas, water, urban, rural, moderately inaccessible wilderness areas, etc.

     2.5     The Pre Plan is to be used as a working guideline to implementing SAR operations and not
               a how to training manual. It is to be flexible, reviewed frequently and updated when ever
               the need arises.
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3.0     Organization

     3.1     The responsibility of the Sheriff is delegated to the watch commander. Major incidents will
               operate under the Incident Command System. Lesser incidents will be expanded as
               deemed necessary by Watch Commander. The watch commander may delegate
               command to another department member.

     3.2     The Search manager/senior overhead team member will report to the  Watch Commander
               or on scene officer. The organizational chart of the SAR unit is included in attachment (A),
               and the phone list as attachment (E).

     3.3      During a major SAR operation the first officer or ranger on scene will be the Incident
               Commander until relieved by Watch Commander or his designee.

     3.4      During less complex SAR incidents and evidence searches the Watch Commander may
               delegate operational control to senior members of the SAR unit.

     3.5      The current Chain of command and positions of responsibility is shown on the form by that
               name in attachment (A).

     3.6      In the event the unit is requested by an incorporated jurisdiction, or the requesting agency
               has concurrent jurisdiction with the sheriff, that agency may retain I.C. control, or utilize a
               unified command. In operations involving multiple jurisdictions, a unified command may be
               utilized.

               If an incorporated city police department retains I.C. control, the search and rescue team
               may provide a management team and sar resources at no charge to that requesting agency.
               However, that agency should provide logistical support that may include food, fuel and
               other material that may be needed to support the search and rescue operation. The
               sheriff's office will provide a liaison officer at the rank of Sergeant or above during these
               operations.
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4.0     Qualified Personnel, Use of

     4.1      The incident commander is responsible for ensuring only those individuals qualified to
               perform a task are assigned to that task. Specific qualifications, based on training,
               experience, and character should be confirmed through the individual's unit leader prior to
               assignment.

     4.2      Unit leaders are responsible for knowing the skills and abilities of each individual within
               the unit.
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5.0     First notice / Callout

     5.1     The individual or Deputy receiving the initial report of an incident that might necessitate a
               SAR operation will conduct initial interviews with the reporting party and other persons
               who may be associated with the incident. The responding officer will conduct a brief search
               of the immediate area as appropriate and if unsuccessful will immediately notify
               communications center of the possible need for a SAR callout. The dispatcher will then
               contact the Watch Commander.

     5.2     The Watch Commander will evaluate the situation and initiate a SAR response if required.
               This will include priority analyses per 5.4 and assignment of a Level 1, 2 or 3 search as
               defined under para. 6.3 Priorities.

     5.3      The callout will be done from initial response resources as shown in attachment F, by the
               County Communications Center.

     5.4      Once a SAR incident is in progress a command post will be established and a command
               structure implemented under the Incident Command System. This will utilize overhead
               team personnel and command level personnel from other agencies as necessary.

     5.5     In order to maintain coordinated efforts additional resources or personnel will be
               authorized by the Incident Commander and requested through Communications.

     5.6     Before requesting any out of county aid an OES number needs to be obtained by
               Communications Center and provided to all responding units. Attachment (D) contains
               information required by OES for a mission number. See Section 11 for Mutual Aid
               Call-out requirements

     5.7     Additional resources for an on-going situation beyond the capability or time available by
               the initial in-county call-out list is included as attachment (G). Current copies of this list are
               maintained in the watch commanders office and Communications Center.

     5.8      The Sheriff, other law enforcement agencies, and other public agencies in the county may
               be notified as appropriate for information purposes for 'be on the lookout for' type
               assistance.

     5.9     Prior to responding to any SAR operation, all personnel involved will assemble at the
               location designated by the Incident Commander. This may be the Civic Center Sheriff's
               archway (referred to as 45), Building 816 at Hamilton Field, or in the case of remote area
               searches persons in diverse locations maybe directed to respond in to a command post
               more central to their point of origin.

   5.10      After designation of the team leader(s) and team(s) each team will be dispatched as a unit.
               All teams will operate as a unit and upon completion of the assigned operation all team
               members will report as directed for debriefing.
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6.0     Search

     6.1      Search is an emergency. Until located, the possibility of the subject being injured, sick or
               in need of prompt help must be recognized. Time and Weather may well make any search
               an emergency as they destroy clues.

     6.2     Some level of response, even if it is as simple as completing a questionnaire, should be
               made for every missing person or overdue party. (Check the law, it is required.)

     6.3     Priorities

     If a search condition does exist the following guide will help determine the relative urgently of
     the situation. The lower the priority factors, the more urgent the need to respond.

     Subject Profile Age
     Very Young.............................1
     Very Old..................................1
     Other....................................2-3

     Medical condition
     Known or suspected ill or injured....1-2
     Healthy....................................................3
     Known Fatality.......................................3

     Number of Subjects
     One Alone......................................................................1
     More than one (unless separation suspected)...2-3

     Subject Experience Profile
     Not experienced, does not know area....1
     Not experienced, knows area...........1-2
     Experienced, not familiar with area....2
     Experienced, knows area.....................3

     Weather Profile
     Existing hazardous weather.............1
     Predicted hazardous weather (8 hrs or less).........1-2
     Predicted hazardous weather (more than 8 hrs).......2
     No hazardous weather predicted..................................3

     Equipment Profile
     Inadequate for environment.............1
     Questionable for environment.........1-2
     Adequate for environment...............3

     Terrain/Hazards Profile
     Know hazardous terrain / other hazards............. 1
     Few or no hazards............................................. 2-3

     NOTE: Elapsed time from when subject "went missing", along with the "political"
                 sensitivity of the circumstances will have the effect of increasing the relative
                 urgency.

     6.4     Response based on urgency factors
               Factor Sum Response:   7-10 High priority emergency response;  11-14 Moderate
               response;  15-18 Low priority response;  19-21 Search situation or missing person?

     6.5     Strategy Computer software is available to assist the SAR manager in determining lost
               person behavior, area determination, Probability Of Area, Probability Of Detection etc.
               If a search is warranted, establish the probable boundaries of the search area. Factors to
               be taken into consideration are:

           1.  Statistical data (case histories of behavior of lost persons).
           2.  History of the area and "reconstruct the circumstances".
           3.  Intuition.
           4.  Search area. Patrol perimeter. Start Hasty teams.
           5.  Terrain idiosyncrasies, natural boundaries, confinement. Time is
                critical especially if subject has been gone only a few hours.
           6.  Protect Clues. Direct on scene personnel to protect areas likely to
                contain perishable clues, such as footprints. Give special care to
                automobiles and camp sites. Assignment should go to a trained
                tracker.
           7.  Subject information.
           8.  Natural routes.
           9.  Natural Barriers.
         10.  "Put yourself in the subject's shoes".

     6.6      Investigation/Interview

     The initial Missing Subject Profile will be completed by the first person contacting the reporting
     party. See attachment (B). Subsequent to that it is imperative that the full Lost Person
     Questionnaire be completed in detail.  See attachment (H).   Search is a classic mystery. Profiles
     and questionnaires are some of may items you can use successfully to assemble clues to help
     solve the mystery.  Consideration must be given, in the very early stages of a search, to
     designating someone to carry through with an investigation using all the clues as they are gathered
     to put the puzzle together. Other considerations must be given to criminal possibilities, clues, and
     preserving evidence.  After contact is established with the reporting party, and pertinent
     information is obtained, the first thing the Incident Commander should do is ascertain whether or
     not the person(s) reported missing is actually lost. Possible actions are:

           1.  Contacting friends, relatives, or neighbors in an attempt to learn if
                they know of the subjects plans or whereabouts.
           2.  Careful questioning of all knowledgeable persons making sure that
                person does not get out of your grasp. After the initial questioning
                insure you know how to contact the person again for follow up
                questions, do not just dismiss him.
           3.  Checking parking lots for persons vehicle, tracks where possible.
           4.  Check local attractions on the chance the missing person may be
                there. Keep in mind the persons mental age and capabilities when
                determining possible locations.
           5.  Contact other visitors, other hikers, shoppers, bikers, etc.

     6.7     Clues

     Although clues (footprints, items discarded by the subject, scent articles) may not lead directly to
     the subject, their most powerful effect can be to eliminate search areas. Every person involved in
     a search (especially the early phases) MUST be reminded constantly to be "clue conscious".

     6.8     Tactics/Determine Resources

     Initial actions will have three objectives:

           1.  Confinement: Confine the subjects travel, prevent the search area
                from becoming rapidly larger.
           2.  Deploy Hasty Teams, find clues and the subject.
           3.  Investigate the Point Last Seen in detail.

     6.9      Confinement and attraction methods

           1.  Road and trail patrols, TRACK CONSCIOUS. Humans and
                vehicles are the worst track annihilators.
           2.  Track traps.
           3.  Noise. If you are using an amplifier such as in a patrol car or a
                whistle, don't forget to listen, the missing subject may be able to
                hear you but not shout loud enough for you to hear him. Possibly
                give him some clear cut directions to follow, like stay where you
                are we are looking for you.
           4.  Lights, Spot lights, light bars. Give the missing subject the
                opportunity to respond.
           5.  Road or Trail blocks.

     6.10     Hasty team searches

     Generally, available trained searchers will be assigned, immediately as CLUE CONSCIOUS
     hasty teams, to areas of highest probability of detection, to attempt to locate the clues or the
     subject.

     Efforts of this type include:

           1.  Follow known or suspected routes. Consider working into the
                search from outside towards the PLS. A confinement technique.
           2.  Trail running.
           3.  Sign (track) cutting.
           4.  Areas of attraction to the subject. Consider the mental age and state
                of person.
           5.  Check hazardous areas. Consider the missing subjects profile
                thoroughly when planning the search area.
           6.  Roads.
           7.  Drainage's, bridges, culverts.
           8.  Ridge tops.
           9.  The easily forgotten but obvious - rest rooms, tents, vehicles,
                home, etc. The bastard search.

     6.11     Resource order of preference

     Use clue and hasty types of searches first and early on before deploying large amounts of people
     who may destroy tracks etc. Use grid search only as last resort. These resources may include the
     following. The order of use may change depending on the circumstances of the incident.

         A.  Visual trackers.
         B.  Search dogs (air scent).
         C.  Tracking dogs.
         D.  Trained (clue conscious) hasty teams.
         E.  Aircraft and hover craft.
         F.  Horses.
         G.  Boats

     6.12    The Incident Commander is encouraged to refer to the "Search is an Emergency
                Handbook. Much of this information is taken from there and treated in more detail
                therein.
                                                                  

   7.0    Rescue

          A rescue will be initiated to stabilize, extricate or transport a subject once located. The
          incident commander will evaluate the incident site to determine if the SAR unit has adequate
          and trained personnel to conduct the rescue. If not, the incident commander will contact
          Communications Center to dispatch the appropriate resources.
                                                      

     8.0    Suspending the operation

          8.1    The SAR operation will be suspended only when:

              1.  The lost or injured person is recovered and all personnel are removed from the field.
              2.  All reasonable efforts have been expended to locate and/or evacuate the subject
                   without success. The Watch Commander and SAR Incident Commander must agree
                   to suspend the operation.

          8.2    The following factors should be considered:

              1.  Weather, age and experience of the subject.
              2.  Equipment carried by the subject.
              3.  The reasonable length of time that survival could be expected under the circumstances.
              4.  The Incident Commander and staff will consider and evaluate the political ramifications
                   and use the information accordingly.
              5.  A limited search will continue on a level determined by the Incident Commander.
              6.  In the event that serious injury or death is encountered by either team members or
                   family, strong consideration must be given to a Critical Stress Debriefing.
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 9.0 Documentation and Reporting

          9.1    The Incident Commander is responsible for the completion and filing of the incident
                   report which shall consist of, but not be limited to, the following items within 48 hours
                  of termination of active field searching.

                        1.  Incident Report form, part of attachment (C).
                        2.  Any and all forms generated during and for the search function.
                        3.  Any and all team debriefing forms and the maps corresponding to those
                             assignments.
 
           9.2      The Incident Commander shall, within 72 hours of termination of active field searching,
                     get copies of  the appropriate reports and documentation from all other involved
                     outside resources.
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 10.0 Critique

          10.1      A critique of the mission will be held as soon as possible after the close or suspension
                      of that mission and whenever possible prior to teams being released from the site. For
                      minor missions the Incident Commander will determine the level of discussion
                      necessary.

          10.2      All persons, groups agencies and individuals participating in the mission will be urged
                      to participate in the critique.
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   11.0     Mutual Aid & Call-Outs: Out of County/Region Searches.

          11.1      All requests for Mutual Aid to out of County/Region will be routed through the
                      Watch Commander. He will contact or designate a member of the overhead team
                      who will make contact with the requesting agency and obtain the information
                       necessary for a response. (Use BASARC Mutual Aid Request information form.)
                      The team Call-out procedure will be followed for pager and telephone call notification
                      of members.  On contact, they will be advised of the departure staging location and
                      departure time. Members should arrive 20 minutes before the scheduled departure
                      time. All personnel will properly equip themselves for sustained field operations.
                      Responding units/members will travel in convoy to the incident.

          11.2     Upon arrival at the Incident Base, members will remain with their vehicles or at a
                      designated staging area. The team OIC or designee will contact the Staging Officer
                      or Incident Base Commander for Check-in procedures. As members are assigned
                      to the incident they will perform duties as required.  Unassigned personnel will remain
                      with the vehicles in the staging area or rehabilitation area, maintaining a state of
                      readiness to respond.

          11.3      Upon release from the incident and prior to departure all vehicles will be checked for
                      fuel, fluids and general readiness.  All personnel must follow the established procedure
                      for check out with the incident base prior to leaving. All units will travel in convoy for
                      the return trip. It is required that all vehicle drivers assure their alertness and ability to
                      drive. A co-pilot that is awake and alert is also important. The departure from the
                      incident will be delayed as required to allow for proper rest of the drivers.
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 12. Attachments

              A.  Chain of Command, SAR unit organizational chart, ICS forms set.
              B.  Forms to initiate search.

•  Callout information
•  Sign In Log.
•  Missing subject profile. (Basic information from initial
•  RP contact.
•  Team Assignment Form.
•  Hasty Search Check List

              C.  Forms, miscellaneous.

              D.  OES mission number, information required to obtain.

              E.  Phone list and Callout list, Marin SAR.

              F.  Resources list, initial - by category with phone numbers.  To include Air Patrol,
                   Posse, Dogs.

              G.  Resources list, Additional - for ongoing beyond initial capability. To include Helo,
                    Red Cross, Salvation Army.  BASARC Phone list and Resource list.

              H.  Lost Person Questionnaire

               I.  SOP for Mutual Aid. (BASARC)
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