Tazewell County EMA Search and Rescue

10/13/2026

🎉 Congratulations to everyone who completed the 16-hour GSAR (Ground Search and Rescue) training this weekend - incredible accomplishment!

Our SAR team showed up in a big way, serving as instructors, field training officers, and students. We welcomed several first-time participants, while one of our seasoned members completed the course again to prepare for a future training role.

👏Thank you to everyone who shared their time, expertise, and effort to make the weekend such a success. Stronger skills, stronger teamwork, and a stronger community!

10/05/2026

On Saturday, several members of our SAR team attended the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) Wilderness Search and Rescue training.

The more we train, the better prepared we are when our community needs us. Thanks to every team member who dedicated time and energy to strengthen their skills this weekend!

09/29/2026

Tonight's SAR team adventure: helping a troop of American Heritage Girls learn to use a compass! 🧭 These kids were finding azimuths for all kinds of landmarks and even triangulating their position on a map in no time. 🗺️ We had such a fun evening with this awesome group and their leaders!

09/26/2026

Cornfield search training today for our SAR team ground searchers. We found our lost subject AND his furry, four-legged friend! 🌽🐕‍🦺

09/23/2026

SAR ground searchers practiced using GPS units tonight at training. It was a fun exercise where we input a series of coordinates and used the devices to navigate to each. Great refresher for everyone!

09/15/2026

Last night, we had the privilege of hosting a special Search & Rescue (SAR) open house for a local troop of American Heritage Girls.

The girls learned about what SAR means and what we do, a bit about drones, the Unified Command Post (UCP), and even a little about weather spotting.

They got to tour the UCP, the SAR trailer, the command center, see the drone fly, and even check out the UTV (the horn definitely got a workout! 🤣 ).

Big thanks to all the Tazewell County Emergency Management members who came out to help with the show and tell. The girls had some really fantastic questions, and everyone had a great time!

09/14/2026

We hosted Basic Land Navigation (BNAV) training on Saturday. Students started the day in the classroom learning about things like topographic maps and compass usage then headed outside to practice what they'd learned.

Congrats to the students who completed this essential training, and thanks to the trainers from both Tazewell County EMA Search and Rescue and McLean County EMA.

08/30/2026

08/30/2026

SAR team went to Camp Wildwood in Metamora yesterday for a mock search & rescue exercise hosted by Woodford County EMA Search and Rescue. This was a multi-agency training and a great opportunity for us to meet up with SAR teams from other counties to practice, learn, and improve our knowledge and skills together.

Thanks to everyone who planned and organized this exercise, those who came out to train, the "lost person" actors, and to Woodford County EMA Search and Rescue for hosting!

08/26/2026

SAR team welcomed a couple new members at training last night with an intro to compasses🧭 and an overview of CalTopo (a mobile app used to map search areas, track searchers, plan and navigate routes, log clues, etc.).📱 The whole team jumped in to help and got in some practice and learned a few things as well!