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Search and Rescue Funding FAQs
Listed below are commonly asked questions regarding Search and Rescue missions occurring in New Hampshire:
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How many Search and Rescue Missions occur in New Hampshire and what is the cost of these missions?
Over the five years from 2006-2011, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department conducted approximately 800 search and rescue missions, at an approximate cost of $1.5 million.
Who pays for these search and rescue missions?
In spite of what most people believe, tax dollars are not used to support these missions. Funding for Search and Rescue efforts comes from the following sources: a $1 fee on every boat, OHRV, and ATV registration; these fees are deposited into the Search and Rescue account. Hunting and Fishing License fees cover any costs above and beyond what these fees bring into Fish and Game annually.
What groups receive Search and Rescue services in New Hampshire?
Climbers and hikers utilize 56% of all search and rescue services. Hunters, anglers, snowmobilers, boaters and ATV riders combined use 16% of the total services. Some 41% of all search and rescue missions are conducted on the White Mountain National Forest Properties.
What about children who run away or become lost and the elderly persons who become missing. How many services do these require?
The elderly, missing children and escapes from medical facilities are usually a high-profile case for the news outlets and, as a result, they receive large amounts of press coverage. The fact is they only account for approximately 17% of all search and rescue services each year.
How much money is spent on Search and Rescue each year?
Over the three years from 2009 to 2011, Fish and Game's expenditures for conducting search and rescue missions averaged approximately $320,000 annually.
I thought we made people pay for search and rescue?
In June of 2008, a law was passed authorizing Fish and Game to request reimbursement from negligent hikers. This means if a person’s behavior was negligent and, as a result of their negligent actions, a search mission had to be initiated, they could be billed for the total costs of the mission. While this change in the law has helped the Department recoup some costs, it falls far short of supporting the search and rescue program.
What is the process for determining if a rescued person is billed?
All Search and Rescue Missions go through a review process involving guidelines established by the Attorney General's Office. That review process involves the mission's supervisor, the N.H. Fish and Game Department Administration, and lastly a review by the N.H. Attorney General's Offi
ce for a final concurrence. All cases are unique and not all will get billed.
Is Fish and Game doing anything to reduce the need for search and rescues?
Since 2003, Fish and Game and the White Mountain National Forest have worked together on an outreach program to educate people to be prepared and act responsibly when enjoying the outdoors. Called HikeSafe, this program has served as a successful model for several other states. Review the Hiker Responsibility Code at www.hikeSafe.com.
It hardly seems fair that sportsmen and women pay for search and rescue services; what can be done to change this?
There certainly needs to be a more equitable way to support these services. Over the past twenty years, New Hampshire Fish and Game has submitted several different ideas to the State Legislature for consideration, and most have failed to pass. In 2011, a Legislative study committee invested a great deal of time and effort to create more equitable funding methods for the Search and Rescue program. The N.H. Fish and Game Department awaits the results of this committee's efforts with great interest.
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