Okanogan County search-and-rescue seeks to reallocate Title 3 funds to dive and water-rescue gear

Christina Woodworth, Okanogan County’s search-and-rescue coordinator, told commissioners she and deputies want to reallocate Title 3 funds that had been earmarked partly for a four-seat side-by-side to pay for dive and water‑rescue equipment that the county currently lacks.

Woodworth said about $70,000 of Title 3 money is allotted for search and rescue this year and that a prior board allocation—part of a larger $140,000 pool split last year between search and rescue and the conservation district—had been earmarked for a side‑by‑side vehicle. She said deputies and volunteers now recommend shifting those funds to outfitting a forming dive team and improving swift‑water response.

"We think it would be more beneficial to spend those funds on outfitting our dive and our swift water teams," Woodworth said. She detailed equipment requests that would come from the reallocation: four dry suits and four full‑face masks with communications, tanks and lift bags for underwater vehicle recovery, support gear for ice and swift‑water responses, a Starlink terminal and subscription for communications in known radio‑dead spots, and safety accessories for existing side‑by‑sides.

Technical Rubius, identified in the meeting as a search‑and‑rescue team member and diver, described the operational need. "These aren't just dry suits for diving and recovery. They can be used for swift water rescue. They can be used for ice rescue," he said, adding the county currently lacks dry suits suitable for cold, deep work and has been relying on volunteers' personal gear. He and Woodworth said the county now has three certified divers and expects a fourth soon; the planned purchases would outfit four divers.

Woodworth provided line‑item amounts discussed at the meeting: $28,655 proposed for dive‑team equipment (dry suits, full‑face masks with comms, tanks, lift bags and support gear); about $6,843 to supply officers with life jacket, knife and whistle kits (23 sets) for patrol vehicles; $400 to bring a certifier to test two volunteer human‑remains detection dogs and handlers; and smaller sums to enclose an older side‑by‑side, buy gas cans, fire extinguishers and other safety items. She said the county previously had $6,500 slated to replace portable radios and $5,000 for lights/siren equipment on a side‑by‑side; staff recommended reallocating portions of those amounts.

Commissioners and staff discussed eligibility under the Forest Service Title 3 program. A county staff member said the proposed new uses would be compared to the Forest Service's eligible uses and that, if they conform, the county's existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) can be amended to adopt the new uses. "If they submit the proposed new uses, I'll amend—I'll create the amendment for you to review and OK, and then the commissioners will review and OK the warning changes," a staff official said.

No formal motion to reallocate funds was recorded in the transcript. Commissioners expressed general support during discussion—"I'm fine with it," and "sounds like a good use of funds"—and asked staff to prepare a written amendment to the Title 3 MOU for the board to review and adopt at a later meeting.

Why this matters: county search‑and‑rescue incidents include ice, lake and swift‑water events where properly certified divers, thermal protection and reliable communications materially affect responder safety and the ability to recover victims or vehicles. Woodworth emphasized the county currently borrows equipment from volunteers or neighboring agencies and pays to repair borrowed gear when it is damaged.

Next steps: staff will prepare an amended MOU or amendment language that lists the proposed new uses and bring that amendment back to the board for formal consideration. Commissioners indicated they would review and vote on a formal amendment in a future meeting.