OVERVIEW

First and foremost, please make every attempt to get local law enforcement to do an organized and professional search.  Not all counties have these resources, but generally they can call neighboring counties for help.  Encourage them strongly to enlist in other agencies if more expertise is needed.  

After exhausting professional resources, then it may be time to look at a community based search.  
A community search should be your last resort, as it is a major undertaking and best
done by professional teams whenever possible.

The 4 THE MISSING COMMUNITY PLAN is designed to help bring together the missing person’s family, law enforcement and the community.  This is a source of reference to help guide a community in coordinating a plan of action.

While we always hope the experienced professional SAR teams will be called in within the first hour of a missing person case, sometimes this just isn't the case.  When SAR teams are not called in or when there are not enough of them it falls on the community to step up and take action.

Please e very cautious of so called organizations that are looking to charge for their services.  
(Some even start free and then offer add on services once they are involved)
There are literally thousands of trained volunteers waiting to help that do not charge.  
Sadly there are becoming more and more individuals out there looking to prey on the families of the lost.  

This site and the material on it is designed to help a community run an effective and organized search.  
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​INTRODUCTION
The 4 THE MISSING COMMUNITY PLAN is designed to help bring together the missing person’s family, law enforcement and the community.  This is a source of reference to help guide a community in coordinating a plan of action.

This reference guide describes how to help the family and law enforcement (LE) in the first 24 hours, how to notify and keep the community informed and how to most effectively guide the community volunteers in searching for the missing person (MP) of your community. 

Always respect law enforcements (LE) efforts, do not impede on their investigation or searches.  Cooperation is the key.  Respect all local, state and federal laws.  Realize that every case is different and not all material in this reference guide will be applicable in all cases.

Establish a relationship with the family and law enforcement (LE).

Evaluate the situation and determine how the community can best help.

Educate the family and community on what can and should be happening.

Empower the family and community to actively participate for the best possible outcome.
Knowledge is power.