McLean County proclaims January 2024 as Search and Rescue Month, honors EMA volunteers and canine teams

The McLean County Board on Jan. 16, 2025 issued a proclamation recognizing January 2024 as McLean County Search and Rescue Month and honored Emergency Management Agency volunteers and canine teams for their service.

The proclamation — read at the meeting by Chair Elizabeth Johnston — described the McLean County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) as first established as the McLean County Rescue Squad and later becoming the Emergency Services and Disaster Agency on Feb. 17, 1987. The board noted the EMA serves as the primary unified command post for 11 counties and a secondary command post for 10 additional Illinois counties, and cited the contributions of roughly 40 volunteers, including seven search-and-rescue dogs and six handlers, who reportedly dedicate 1,000 hours annually to training and preparation.

The proclamation traces volunteer service into national response efforts, citing deployments during hurricane and tornado events including Hurricane Helene, Maui response, Hurricane Katrina and the Joplin, Missouri tornado. The resolution also recognized volunteer roles beyond field response — drone operations, command-post operations, communications, GIS, severe-weather operations, vehicle maintenance and public education — and praised both human and canine members for sustained community support.

EMA representative (identified in the meeting as Miss Beck) thanked volunteers in brief remarks, noting volunteers typically respond at night or during harsh conditions and that the team’s availability makes county response possible.

The proclamation was adopted by the McLean County Board on Jan. 16, 2025; participants and volunteers were invited to pose for a photo at the conclusion of the presentation.