Washoe County Search and Rescue outlines rescue process, volunteer structure and safety tips

Sergeant Garrett Byrd and Deputy Nick Edes of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit described how the county responds to wilderness calls and invited residents to consider volunteering. The pair outlined the team’s incident‑management process, the role of volunteers and technology, and offered practical safety tips for people recreating in the county’s backcountry.

Byrd, who joined the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in 2014 after several years with the Nevada Highway Patrol, walked listeners through a typical call. He said 911 and text‑911 location data are used immediately to set up a conference with the incident management team, determine terrain, and page only the specialized teams needed rather than the entire roster. "We have their location," he said, explaining that modern phone pings can narrow a search to a small area.

The unit maintains…