State Launches Utah Search and Rescue Assistance Card

SALT LAKE CITY--()--The Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Division of Emergency Management, recently launched the Utah Search and Rescue Assistance (USARA) card program.

Outdoor enthusiasts with a USARA card subscription will be protected from expensive non-medical rescue costs if they get lost or injured. The program provides a one-year individual subscription for $25 and a family subscription for $35. Five-year subscriptions can be purchased for $100 and $140, respectively.

“The USARA card gives you and your family peace of mind when you are recreating in Utah’s backcountry, while supporting the search and rescue teams we depend on,” said Tom Adams, Director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation. “The USARA card is another important piece of ‘gear’ you should take with you on the trail.”

The USARA card will supplement Utah’s Search and Rescue Financial Assistance Program, which is currently funded through surcharges on registered recreational vehicles and boats. The program distributes hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly to counties across the state, but those reimbursements often do not cover the full cost of search and rescue efforts.

Recent numbers show that more than 1,400 people are rescued by search and rescue teams in Utah each year. Sixty-three percent of victims are rescued in a county in which they didn’t reside. The percent increases dramatically for tourism-rich areas such as Grand County and can severely strain the small tax bases of rural communities. The lack of funding to pay for search and rescue has forced some counties to charge rescue victims for the cost of their rescue.

“Back-bill charges can be an unwelcome surprise after the trauma and anxiety of a backcountry incident,” said Sheriff Steven White of Grand County, who serves as chair of the Search and Rescue Advisory Board. “We look forward to the added protection for our visiting friends as they enjoy Utah’s outdoor recreation.”

County sheriff departments coordinate search and rescue work throughout the state, using highly skilled staff and volunteers. USARA card proceeds will help fund the replacement, upgrade, and rental of search and rescue equipment, as well as the training of search and rescue volunteers. To contact a local county sheriff office, visit the Utah Sheriffs’ Association.

To sign up for a Utah Search and Rescue Assistance card, visit rescue.utah.gov.

About Utah.gov

Utah.gov is the entry point to over 1,000 online services and benefits over 3 million residents in the state of Utah. Utah.gov provides citizens and businesses with more convenient options for interacting with government. Through Utah.gov, citizens can find public meetings, renew their vehicle registration, buy a hunting and fishing license, register a business, find a transparent state budget, and much more. In 2016 alone, Utah.gov received 20 awards making it the nation’s most honored state website. Utah.gov is managed and operated through a public-private partnership between the state and Utah Interactive, the Salt Lake City-based official digital government partner for the state of Utah. Utah Interactive is part of digital government firm NIC’s family of companies.

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About the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED)
business.utah.gov

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) charter is based on Gov. Gary R. Herbert’s commitment to statewide economic development. The state’s economic vision is that Utah will lead the nation as the best performing economy and be recognized as a premier global business environment and tourist destination. GOED provides extensive resources and support for business creation, growth and recruitment statewide, as well as programs to increase tourism and film production for the benefit of Utah residents. All administered programs are based upon strategic industry clusters to develop a diverse, sustainable economy. GOED accomplishes its mission through unprecedented partnerships. For more information please contact: Aimee Edwards, (801) 538-8811 or edwards@utah.gov.

About the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS)
dem.utah.gov

The Utah Division of Emergency Management (dem.utah.gov) is the State's lead agency for coordinating state resources in a disaster. Utah DEM also conducts emergency preparedness efforts before a disaster through its Be Ready Utah program (BeReadyUtah.gov). Be Ready Utah aims to help families, businesses, schools and communities get ready for disaster.

Contacts

Utah Interactive
Sara Watts, 801-983-0275
General Manager
swatts@utahinteractive.org
or
GOED
Aimee Edwards, 801-538-8811
Communications Director
edwards@utah.gov

Release Summary

The Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation recently launched the Utah Search and Rescue Assistance (USARA) card program.

Contacts

Utah Interactive
Sara Watts, 801-983-0275
General Manager
swatts@utahinteractive.org
or
GOED
Aimee Edwards, 801-538-8811
Communications Director
edwards@utah.gov