About WRIG

The Wilderness Response & Investigation Group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing professional search and rescue services across Tennessee and surrounding regions.

Our Mission

To provide highly skilled, professional search and rescue services to locate missing persons in wilderness and urban environments, while maintaining the highest standards of safety, training, and operational excellence.

We are committed to serving our communities through volunteer dedication, continuous training, and collaboration with local, state, and federal emergency response agencies.

Core Values

  • Professionalism: Maintaining the highest standards in all operations
  • Integrity: Acting with honesty and transparency in all situations
  • Compassion: Treating all individuals with dignity and respect
  • Excellence: Continuously improving our capabilities and response

Our History

From humble beginnings to a recognized leader in search and rescue operations

2015

WRIG founded as 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

2016

First official SAR mission deployment

2018

K9 program established with certified search dogs

2020

Drone operations program launched

2022

Expanded operations to cover 12 Tennessee counties

2024

150+ successful missions completed

Leadership Team

Experienced professionals dedicated to excellence in search and rescue operations

SM

Sarah Mitchell

Executive Director

ICS-300, Wilderness First Aid, 15+ years SAR experience

Sarah has led WRIG since its founding, bringing extensive experience in emergency management and team coordination.

MR

Mike Rodriguez

Operations Manager

K9 Handler, Technical Rescue Specialist, EMT-B

Mike oversees field operations and maintains our high standards of safety and professionalism.

DJC

Dr. Jennifer Chen

Medical Director

Emergency Physician, Wilderness Medicine Specialist

Dr. Chen provides medical oversight and ensures our team maintains current medical protocols.

DT

David Thompson

Training Coordinator

NASAR Certified, Rope Rescue Technician, 20+ years experience

David develops and implements our comprehensive training programs for all volunteers.

Certifications & Training

National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR)

Certified training programs and operational standards

Incident Command System (ICS)

FEMA-certified incident management protocols

Wilderness First Aid

Advanced medical training for remote environments

Agency Partnerships

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency

State-level coordination and resource sharing

Local Sheriff Departments

Direct support for law enforcement operations

National Park Service

Specialized wilderness rescue operations

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EMERGENCY NOTICE

For Emergencies or to activate a SAR response, DIAL 911 IMMEDIATELY

The contact form below is for non-urgent, general inquiries ONLY. In emergency situations, always contact local emergency services first.

Contact Us

Have questions about volunteering, training, or our services? We'd love to hear from you.

Send us a Message

Contact Information

General Inquiries

[email protected]

Headquarters

Memphis, Tennessee
Serving Tennessee and surrounding states

Response Availability

24/7 Emergency Response

Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM

Important Information

501(c)(3) Non-Profit

Tax-exempt charitable organization

FEMA Certified

Federal emergency response qualified

NASAR Member

National Association for Search and Rescue