[This is identical to the "Requesting Services - Information" section.]

Phone: 650-278-1774 Fax: 650-618-1449
24 Hour Emergency Number: 800-544-1774

If someone you know is lost or missing internationally and you have any questions, doubts, fears, or concerns - call. Any time, day or night.

To successfully initiate a mission, a significant amount of information needs to be gathered in a short period of time, and as efficiently as possible. The forms in this section will facilitate this process. This section and these forms are under development - please contact 1SRG prior to downloading and filling out these forms.

The following information should be provided to 1SRG as soon as possible. Even if you are only considering requesting our services. Gathering and sending this information as soon as possible will greatly facilitate the process.

The amount of information requested below may appear to be daunting but if taken in stages it is not difficult to manage. Much of the information requested will assist you with understanding the situation better, reducing your stress during this very difficult time. The information will also help other parties involved with the search work more effectively.

There are only three very important steps to remember:

1. Fill in the Lost Person Questionnaire and gather the basic information about the search area. Fax this information to 1SRG, even if you've not officially requested our assistance. This will help you organize your thoughts and will help us provide you with better advice. Please do this as soon as possible.
2. Once you are requesting 1SRG's services, please arrange for an official request to come through government channels.
3. Arrange for a secure base of operations and for transportation from the airport to the base.

There are a lot of other details covered below and we will assist you with making all of these happen.

If someone you know is lost or missing internationally and you have any questions, doubts, fears, or concerns - call. Any time, day or night.

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Official/Government Support Required

• Letters: 1SRG requires a letter from the lead law enforcement agency and from the embassy or consulate responsible for the missing person. Ideally, the letter should state that the agency is officially requesting the services of 1SRG to assist in locating and rescuing the missing person. At a minimum, the letters must state that the agency understands that 1SRG is responding to the incident and will provide appropriate support. These letters are used to facilitate travel through customs and negotiations with airlines. 1SRG cannot deploy without these letters in hand.
• Consular Officer: If at all possible, arrange with the consulate to assign a consular officer to work with us for the duration of the mission. At a minimum, a consular officer should meet the arriving flight to facilitate passage through customs.

Logistical Support Required

1SRG requires transportation and lodging appropriate to the mission. These will vary depending on the situation.

• Transportation: At a minimum, transportation from the airport to the search area and/or lodging facility must be arranged in advance. A single large passenger van or truck will transport three people, their equipment, and one or two canines. Depending on the search area, other transportation resources will be required for various periods of time or the entire mission.
• Lodging: Lodging must provide a secure area for personnel, canines, and equipment. The area should be relatively clean, include water and sanitary facilities, and accept canines inside the building. A kitchen, large meeting area, and communication facilities are all highly desirable. Examples of appropriate lodging can be a hotel, a schoolhouse, a warehouse, and a fire station bunk room.
• Translator: At least one person capable of translating between English and the local language is extremely desirable and they should be tasked to the mission for the duration. 1SRG tries to respond with the appropriate language skills but this is not always possible.
• Aviation: Aviation resources are frequently very helpful. Locating helicopter or fixed wing charter operators who are available should be done prior to 1SRG's arrival.
• Shipping Address: Please provide the address of a secure location for shipping any additional equipment.
• Miscellaneous: Other logistical issues will arise during the mission and assistance in resolving these will be required.

Safety Information

The following information is required to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the search mission. Please ensure that this information is gathered and available.

• The address and phone number of the nearest advanced medical care facility.
• The address and phone number of the nearest medical facility.
• The contact information for the best medical transport organization.
• The contact information for a veterinarian and an animal hospital.
• The address and phone number of the nearest US embassy or consulate.

Planning Information Required

Search planning is extremely important for a successful outcome of the mission. Obtaining all of the necessary information to 1SRG as early as possible is critical. Please gather the following information and fax it to 1SRG as it becomes available. Then keep it in one location at the search base and provide it to the 1SRG field team leader when they arrive on scene.

• Canine Scent Article: If canines are responding, a scent article must be collected. This document describes how to collect a scent article. Please pay close attention to the procedures and collect several articles if possible.
• Maps: Maps are extremely important - the more accurate the better. If several different maps are available, please include all of them. It is important to include any maps that the missing person might have usedor be familiar with. The military frequently has very good maps and may provide copies under special circumstances. Work through the consulate to request these. Mark one copy with all appropriate information - point last seen, areas searched, possible sightings, significant landmarks. The maps and related information should be faxed to 1SRG.
• Reports: Any reports relating to the search. Of particular interest are reports produced by other search organizations. Please also include newspaper articles, flyers, etc. All of this information is valuable for planning purposes.
• Weather: Local weather information - current and forecast.
• Questionnaire: Fill in a Lost Person Questionnaire. It is imperative that you sit down in a quiet location and take the time to fill in as much of the form as possible.
• Photos: Photos of the area should be taken, developed, and sent to 1SRG. This includes photos of the location where the missing person was last seen and photos of the area showing significant features - mountains, valleys, rivers, highways, etc.. If possible, arrange for an over flight to take pictures of the entire area from the air. Label the photographs with a felt tip pen, not a ballpoint pen. Include a description of the area in the photograph and mark a map indicating the location as well. This can be done with a small aircraft, a 35mm camera, and a one hour photo shop.

General Country Information

Background information on the country is important for search operations. 1SRG wishes to move through the country as rapidly and as quietly as possible. 1SRG will collect this information through our own research, but information should also be provided to 1SRG by the requestors.

• Traveling: Information on traveling within the country.
• Cultural: Information on cultural issues.
• Canines: Information on the country's attitudes towards canines.
• Currency: Information on the country's monetary system.