The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

What would happen if you got lost or injured in the woods?

The Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for search and rescue activities in Wahkiakum County. Search and Rescue (SAR) means the acts of searching for, rescuing, or recovering by means of ground, marine or air activity any person who becomes lost, injured or killed while outdoors or as a result of natural, technological, or human caused disaster, including instances involving searches for downed aircraft when ground personnel are used. SAR personnel are also used in urban search and rescue operations and crime scene searches. Recruitment for SAR volunteers is ongoing. Minimum age is 14 years old.

SAR is funded through fund-raising activities, grants, and donations. Regular meetings/training are held every fourth Wednesday of the month. Weekend trainings are held twice a year and a week long training once a year. Persons interested in joining SAR may pick up an application at the Sheriff’s Office or stop by during any SAR activity.

Our next SAR activity is a fund-raising event, Wahkiakum Dog Day at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds September 20 from 1-5 p.m. Bring your dog for an afternoon of fun. Microchip your dog for a $20 donation. There will be hot dogs and drinks, SAR K9 Team demonstrations, dog contests, and SAR equipment display.

Our next SAR meeting/training is at the River Street Meeting Room on September 23 from 7-9 p.m. We are also having our next weekend training session off West Valley Road in Skamokawa, September 26 & 27 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Deputy Bill Tawater, SAR Coordinator, or Correction Officer/Dispatcher Vernon Barton, Assistant SAR Coordinator, are available to answer any questions about SAR. Call (360) 795-3242 or (360) 465-2202 or stop by the Sheriff’s Office.

This article is the first of a series of articles that will be printed monthly. The subsequent articles will provide information about Search and Rescue, wilderness survival, outdoor safety, and other Search and Rescue activities.

The sponsors for the Dog Days event include Cowlitz Animal Clinic, Petco, Mule Country Pet Sitting, Healthy Hound and Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health.