New Grant Program Offers 75% Federal Funding for Remote Search and Rescue on Public Lands

The Public Land Search and Rescue Act is setting up a new federal grant program aimed at boosting emergency response capabilities in remote areas of our national parks, forests, and other federal lands. Essentially, if you get lost or hurt far off the grid, this bill is designed to make sure the local rescue teams have the specialized gear and funding to find you.

The Federal Lifeline for Remote Rescues

This new program, managed by the Secretary of the Interior, is designed to funnel money directly to state and local government entities—or their designated rescue organizations—that are already legally responsible for conducting search and rescue (SAR) operations on federal land. The definition of a “remote search and rescue activity” is specific: it covers finding, helping, and extracting anyone lost, injured, or trapped far from easy access, or recovering remains.

What can the money be used for? It’s pretty practical. Funds can cover buying specialized equipment (like advanced GPS units, ropes, or specialized vehicles), maintaining and repairing existing gear, and, importantly, reimbursing the organizations for the actual costs incurred while carrying out a rescue. This is a big deal because remote SAR operations are often complex, time-consuming, and incredibly expensive, and local budgets frequently get stretched thin.

The Catch: Who Pays the Tab?

While the federal government is offering significant help, it’s not a free ride. The bill states that federal funds will cover up to 75% of the total project cost. The local entity—the state, county, or designated SAR group—must cover the remaining 25% or more. For a small county adjacent to a major national park, that 25% cost-share could still be a substantial barrier, especially if they are already struggling financially. This requirement means the program will likely favor larger, better-funded local governments that can easily meet the matching requirement.

Priority for Tourist Hotspots

The legislation directs the Secretary to prioritize applications coming from areas that have a high volume of visitors compared to the number of permanent residents. Think of the popular national parks or wilderness areas that see millions of tourists every year but are surrounded by small, sparsely populated towns. This focus makes sense: these high-traffic areas are statistically more likely to experience the kind of incidents that require remote SAR.

For example, if you live in a small town near the Grand Canyon or a major Rocky Mountain wilderness area, your local SAR team is likely to get priority funding to upgrade their helicopter time or specialized medical equipment. This directly improves the safety net for every hiker, climber, or tourist visiting those federal lands. Ultimately, this bill provides a necessary financial boost to the often-volunteer and underfunded heroes who risk their lives to bring people home.