Piedmont Search and Rescue (PSAR) was formed in 1997 to fill a void for professional search and rescue (SAR) services in the central Virginia area. PSAR is activated through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the request of local law enforcement. PSAR will respond anywhere in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and if requested, will respond out of state as well. PSAR is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization as defined by the requirements of our 501 (c) 3 status issued by the Internal Revenue Service. As such we receive no state or federal funding for our efforts, and we do not charge a fee for our services. PSAR is funded through private donations, gifts, and grants awarded by philanthropic foundations. Unlike a rescue squad PSAR does not own a building, ambulances, or other rescue vehicles, which keeps our operating costs extremely low. PSAR members respond from home or work based on a text message alert and travel to missions in their personal vehicles at their own expense. Our members come from all walks of life, from the private sector to public safety agencies. Some are hard working blue-collar types, others, white-collar professionals. Despite our diverse backgrounds we all have one thing in common — the desire to help those in dire need.