YORK COUNTY, Pa. — In times of crisis, many are known to lend a helping hand. South Central PA Search and Rescue 93 is a notable example, as their volunteers wholeheartedly dedicate their time and effort to providing aid in various emergencies.
"We take great pride in giving back to the community. That's why we do what we do. When we search for a missing person, whether it's a small child or an elderly individual, our goal is to reunite them with their family. Unfortunately, in some cases, it becomes a recovery mission, but for us, it provides closure for the family," said Chief Kurtis Timmer, with Search and Rescue 93.
During this season, the Search and Rescue 93 team responded to a dozen cases, including instances involving missing boaters, hikers, and kayakers. Chief Timmer highlighted the diverse nature of their missions, noting that they are called out to assist in finding lost or missing persons, whether it be a runaway, someone with dementia, or an individual with autism.
“The initial call for the missing kayaker requested the use of drones…since our drones could cover longer distances, we needed visual observers to watch the drone while the pilot operated it. On the second day of the search, we added more people trained in water rescue to the team,” said Chief Timmer.
The team's efforts are not limited to human search and rescue operations—canine companions play a crucial role as well. K9 Puck and K9 Unity, among other trained dogs, work alongside the team to conduct area searches and provide invaluable support.
“I think in her own way they know that they're helping out. I know when I get canine Shiloh fired up, when the tones go off and she sees me get dressed, she knows she's getting ready to go somewhere. Ears are up, she's very energetic, and when I get her fired up in her special way, she's ready to go to work and go out and do her thing,” said Chief Timmer.
However, the training and maintenance of these dedicated K9 units come at a cost. Chief Kurtis Timmer acknowledged that the volunteers devote substantial time to training, fundraising, and participating in missing and recovery cases without any financial compensation.
“The courses that the handlers have to go to…again, out of pocket. So one canine course can cost anywhere from $350 to $450…that's just the course,” said Chief Timmer,
The team undergoes continuous training, and the funds raised are reinvested into equipment and supplies to ensure they are well-prepared for their vital missions, according to Chief Timmer. He also mentioned the costs for classes that help on a variety of search, rescue, and recovery missions.
“The non-canine handlers, the non-drone pilot folks are ground pounders. They've got a series of classes that they have to take to be qualified to go out and do searching and become team leaders and so they, too, have to pay for classes out of pocket.”
The team's primary goal is to reunite loved ones safely, but they need community donations and support to continue their work.
“We're all volunteers. So all the money that gets donated to the team goes back into team equipment, team supplies,” said Chief Timmer.
For more information, or to get involved, click here.