NESAR volunteers offer their specialist search-and-rescue skills to bring home the lost, missing, and injured across Central and Eastern Pennsylvania and the tri-state area — answering the call day or night, on land or water, in all weather.
Volunteers Who Answer the Call
Since our founding in 1972, NESAR has grown into one of the foremost search and rescue teams on the East Coast. Our K9, water, and wilderness units work emergency searches throughout Eastern and Central Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and beyond.
NESAR is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our members receive no compensation — they train relentlessly and stand ready 24/7/365 because they believe no one should be lost without someone coming to find them.
Our Capabilities
NESAR members are trained to the highest standards — meeting or exceeding SARTECH II, NASAR, and PSARC certifications.
Search & Incident Management
NIMS-trained incident command, mapping, and communications that lead searches to their best possible conclusion.
Wilderness & Technical SAR
Land navigation, tracking, grid search, rope rescue, and confined-space and structural-collapse operations.
K9 Search & Recovery
Air-scent, trailing, and tracking dogs certified in both live find and human remains detection.
Flood Response & Water Recovery
Rising-water and flood response plus water-recovery operations, with our own boat and certified water rescue technicians.
Disaster Response
A trained supporting resource to local, state, and federal authorities in natural and man-made disasters.
Community Programs
Hug-a-Tree child safety education and event safety support — always free to our community.
Trusted When It Matters Most
Our human and K9 members have been integral to search and recovery operations following the World Trade Center attack, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Sandy. We work hand-in-hand with local law enforcement, the Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Council, and PEMA — deployed only by authorizing authorities, and never charging for our services.
Join Us or Support the Mission
Become a volunteer, or help fund the training and gear that saves lives.
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