County work session: Volunteer search-and-rescue group seeks commission backing

Cleburne County commissioners heard a proposal to form a volunteer search-and-rescue squad that would affiliate with the Alabama Association Rescue Squad and draw on statewide training, equipment loans and mutual-aid resources.

Haven Hester introduced the effort and asked the commission to provide a formal resolution of support and a modest funding commitment to enroll the new squad in the association’s equipment-and-training program. Hester said the association can provide free certified training for land searches, night-search techniques, traffic-incident management and other specialties and that membership opens access to state equipment loans and larger mutual-aid teams.

‘‘Free, free, free training,’’ Hester told the commission, emphasizing the association’s instructor-led classes and a slate of 54 course offerings for volunteers. The presenters said the group hopes to prioritize land-search capability before expanding to water or cave rescue, and that the association maintains caches of boats, cameras, vehicles and other rescue apparatus available to member squads.

Jen Dizon, identified in the meeting as the state training coordinator for the association, described the association’s instructor certification, probation process for underperforming instructors and the variety of specialized teams available to respond across the state. She said statewide membership and mutual-aid arrangements could scale up quickly if the county needs additional personnel for a large incident.

Presenters estimated start-up funding needs could be modest and suggested the county could support membership with a recurring contribution; they said an annual local contribution above $500 is typically sufficient to secure DECA equipment-loan privileges and association standing. They also described potential grant opportunities to help cover training and equipment costs and said the squad’s leadership was preparing 501(c)(3) paperwork.

Commissioners asked about facilities, staffing and insurance. Presenters said they were working to identify a centrally located small building—roughly 30 by 30 feet—or to use donated space, and that membership thresholds are low (about 10 active members is sufficient for association standing). No formal funding or resolution was adopted during the work session; staff and presenters agreed to follow up and place any requested resolution on a future meeting agenda for formal action.

The commission asked staff to review the paperwork and to coordinate with the sheriff’s office, which typically has authority over search scenes, before a resolution is prepared for formal consideration.