Southern Search & Rescue

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. (chartered in Texas as Southern Search & Rescue/Emergency Response Units, Inc.), is a US based all volunteer non-profit humanitarian organization that is dedicated to providing emergency response services both nationally and internationally when possible.

The idea behind the organization is to provide much needed additional services to the community during times of disaster and emergencies that traditional organizations are not able to do. Whether it's helping to search for and rescue victims to helping in relief and recovery efforts. Working along side other organizations to help make a difference.

Contents

[edit] Founders

The original idea for Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. was created during 1991 by Christopher Hodgdon (1972-). The organization started basic operations in late 1991 and was finally incorporated and chartered in Texas on December 11, 1996.

[edit] Organization Formation

Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. is a Texas non profit corporation that is duly authorized to operate under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act. The State of Texas granted its charter on December 11, 1996. It has maintained the status of an authorized corporation in good standing since that date.

Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. is a fully recognized 501(c)3 non profit listed with the United States IRS. It was granted its exemption letter on May 8, 1997 and according to this letter all donations received by this charity have been tax deductible since the date of incorporation, just like most non-profit exempt corporations, including the American Red Cross.

Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. has filed an application for a Group Exemption Letter (GEL) with the IRS and is currently waiting the receipt of this letter, allowing it to cover various divisions and sponsored organizations under its tax exemption.

The corporation is now headquartered in Kaufman, Texas.

[edit] Services

Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. was created for the sole purpose of helping others. This organization is based on Humanitarian efforts. The 1st and main goal of Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. is the protection of human life. These activities may be taking place in your local area either under the direction of Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. or by other organizations or agencies. Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. does this with various type of operations (services) which are listed below:

[edit] Disaster Preparation

Help people to learn to prepare for a disaster before it happens.

[edit] Disaster Relief

Working with disaster victims by helping them with items to allow them to survive. These efforts are done along side other organizations, such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and others.

[edit] Search & Rescue

Teams designed to search for and rescue missing victims due to a disaster or emergency.

[edit] Emergency Communications

Helping to provide additional communication forms that can be used during a disaster. Amateur radio operators are the backbone of this program. The use of amateur radio operators is a good choice have given millions of hours of service to many organizations through out the United States and the world.

[edit] Community Training

Working with communities in helping to better protect themselves, through CPR training, first aid class, AED training and more.

[edit] Fire Fighting

Southern Fire Department™ is another division of Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. This division is still under development, but the main purpose is to provide a resource for other fire departments to use in their ongoing battles with wildfires.

[edit] CERT Programs

Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. has recently introduced its CERT program. The first program it has created is known as Kaufman County CERT™ program. Kaufman County is located east of Dallas, Texas. CERT programs are setup throughout the US to help local governments during a disaster. The purpose is similar to disaster preparation, expect with a CERT program, there is the actual creation of teams of normal citizen's that are training on how to help during a disaster. All members are usually volunteer and donate their time to help make a difference.

CERT programs date back to the early 1980's and got started in Los Angles, California. As of March 19, 2005, there are currently 1655 confirmed CERT programs in the US and other locations, with more being added daily. If your community does not have a CERT program, Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. has made it known that is will be happy to sponsor the formation of a CERT program.

[edit] Organizational Information

Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. is a Texas Non-Profit Corporation that is operated by its volunteers under the guidance of its Board of Directors, but unlike a traditional corporation, these Board members are not paid for their time, but volunteer to serve the organization. There are no shareholders and no one in this organization receives any benefit for their services, other than knowing that they help change a life.

[edit] External links

Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. and Division's websites:

Other Websites:

[edit] Affiliated Organizations

The following is a list of organizations that are affiliated with Southern Search & Rescue, Inc. by the way of organizational sponsorship.

Kaufman County ARES, Inc.

Kaufman County CERT, Inc.

Kaufman County Citizen Corps, Inc.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../s/o/u/Southern_Search_%26_Rescue_eaf4.html"