Want To Help Powell County Search and Rescue?
There are several ways to do it!
Powell County Search & Rescue is a 501c3 non-profit organization working in the Red River Gorge Geological Area of the Daniel Boone National Forest. The volunteers of Search & Rescue spend hundreds of hours each year donating their time and talents to rescuing folks from cliffs and rugged terrain. Each rescue is unique and each person we rescue has a story to tell. We invite you to join with us in our mission of saving lives! You can become a valuable part of this effort by helping us accomplish what we are finding to be more and more difficult: funding these rescue missions from our own pockets.
Make A Donation
Powell County Search and Rescue is a non-profit, all volunteer organization funded entirely through individual donations, and fundraisings.
Become A Volunteer
There are many different roles and levels of support – you don’t have to be a world-class climber to provide an indispensable service to the search and rescue community.
Wish List
Please consider making IN-KIND material donations to Powell County Search and Rescue. Tax receipts based on the fair market value can be provided.
Who Are We?
We are an all volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to aiding persons lost or injured in the back country of Red River Gorge, Kentucky.
Why Donate?
Your generous contribution to our non-profit organization is 100% tax deductible and could one day save your life or the life of a loved one.
Latest Search & Rescue News
Sponsors
This afternoon at approximately 4:00 PM, Powell County Search and Rescue was dispatched alongside Powell County Emergency Medical Services to a reported leg injury at Natural Bridge State Resort Park.
EMS and SAR personnel made contact with the hiker atop Natural Bridge and began providing patient care.
The hiker was packaged and extricated with a SKED from atop Natural Bridge to the bottom of the Skylift where they were transferred to the awaiting ambulance and transported to a local area hospital for further care.
As always we appreciate the assistance of Natural Bridge State Resort Park staff for their pre-arrival assistance and the Skylift staff for transporting emergency crews on scene.
All agencies cleared the scene at approximately at 06:30 PM ... See MoreSee Less
25 CommentsComment on Facebook
Have fun, but be safe! ... See MoreSee Less
Search and rescue officials give ATV/UTV safety tips following deadly crash
www.wkyt.com
Its a situation Powell County Search and Rescue Chief Jeremy Urekew said hits close to home.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
🐻 Bear Sighting Alert 🏞️
Hello park visitors,
We want to let you know that a bear was spotted at Natural Bridge State Resort Park on 7/1/2025. While bear sightings are a special reminder that we share this beautiful space with wildlife, your safety—and the bear’s—is our top priority.
Here are a few friendly reminders to help keep everyone safe:
🔒 Store food properly – Use bear-proof containers or lockers
🚶♀️ Stay on marked trails and hike in groups when possible
🗣️ Make some noise while hiking to avoid surprising wildlife
🙅♂️ Never approach or feed a bear – give them plenty of space
📱 Report sightings to park staff so we can monitor activity
🚫 If you see a bear:
• Stay calm
• Back away slowly – don’t run
• Make yourself look larger and speak in a calm, firm voice
Thank you for respecting our wild neighbors and helping us keep the park safe and enjoyable for all! ... See MoreSee Less
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
Our Chief does some pretty cool stuff 😎
At Powell County SAR, we believe in the power of interagency coordination. So many of our members are imbedded within other agencies to broaden our network and strengthen our relationships so that we can assure we provide the best care when the call comes. ... See MoreSee Less
Our cadre make up half of the Rescue Specialist postions in the KSP AIr Rescue Team. They had the opportunity to participate in continual training this week. Through a tight group of partnering agenices, under the lead from the Kentucky State Police and with the support of Kentucky Emergency Management, we are always proud to support this great Commonwealth in times of disaster and emergency. #searchandrescue #usar #ICS #everyrescueisanemscall #nationalresponseplan #HoistRescue #SAR #RescueSpecialist #imnotgrated #helosar #emergencymanagement #helicopter #Hueyorbust
www.facebook.com
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
This evening at approximately 8:40 PM, Powell County Search and Rescue was dispatched to Hollerwood Off-Road ATV Park in reference to three subjects lost and stuck on an unknown trail within the property.
Powell County 911 Dispatchers were able to pull coordinates from the subjects phone and relayed to responding Search and Rescue personnel.
The subjects also advised that their UTV was stuck and were unable to get it free without assistance of winch. Due to this, MiddleFork Fire/Rescue #874 was requested for assistance with personnel transport, search, and recovery of the subjects and their UTV.
At approximately 10:40 PM, SAR and Fire personnel were able to successfully extricate the subjects and their UTV from the woods and bring them out to blacktop.
No injuries were reported and all subjects were able to drive away from the scene.
All agencies cleared the scene at 10:50 PM ... See MoreSee Less
26 CommentsComment on Facebook
This afternoon at approximately 4:55 PM, Powell County Search and Rescue was dispatched alongside Powell County Emergency Medical Services to a hiker in distress on Low Gap Trail at Natural Bridge State Resort Park.
EMS, SAR, and Kentucky State Park Rangers made contact with the hiker at approximately 5:20 PM and began providing patient care.
The patient was able to walk out under their own power with assistance from EMS and SAR personnel and was further evaluated once out of the woods.
All agencies cleared at 6:25 PM
As always, we’d like to remind visitors of the Red River Gorge to always hike with extra water, snacks, dress appropriately for the weather conditions outside, and take frequent rest breaks. ... See MoreSee Less
27 CommentsComment on Facebook
We’re just hanging out at the Red River Gorge Bigfoot Festival here at Stanton City Park! We’re located behind the pavilion next to our friends at Powell County Emergency Medical Services
Powell County Tourism - Red River Gorge ... See MoreSee Less
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Some trainings are just more fun than others. We always enjoy it when we get the opportunity to train on The Skylift at Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Hopefully we will never need to utilize these skills, but we will be ready if ever needed. ... See MoreSee Less
18 CommentsComment on Facebook
This afternoon at approximately 4:40 PM, Powell County Search and Rescue was dispatched alongside Powell County Emergency Medical Services to a hiker in distress on Grays Arch Trail.
The hiker was experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion and required immediate medical attention near the top of the stairs at Grays Arch.
EMS personnel and SAR members made contact with the hiker at approximately 5:20 PM and began providing patient care.
Due to the hikers deteriorating condition, a carryout was required to extricate them from the trail and out to the awaiting ambulance for further treatment and transport.
Powell County SAR requested mutual aid from Estill County Rescue Squad to accomplish this task as additional personnel were needed to support the carry out.
As the start of hiking season begins, we’d like to remind visitors of the Red River Gorge to always hike with extra water, snacks, dress appropriately for the weather conditions outside, and take frequent rest breaks. ... See MoreSee Less
32 CommentsComment on Facebook