04-03-2025
Search and rescue advocates push in support of legislative bill
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – If you're stranded in one of New Mexico's mountains or lost in the wilderness and call 911, New Mexico Search and Rescue advocates said under current laws, they might not hear about it for hours or even days. That's why legislators are proposing a bill to make sure, should the worst happen, the right resources get to you right away.
'That family is still missing their loved one,' said Teal Harbin, New Mexico Search and Rescue Advocate. She remembers 80-year-old Jose Orozco, who went missing in Santa Fe in early January and still hasn't been found.
'It's hard to tell them that their death or the injuries that they've experienced could have maybe been prevented if we were called sooner,' said Harbin.
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A simple call – that's what Harbin and legislators backing a search and rescue bill said could change everything. 'Time is of the essence when somebody is in a wilderness situation, and they're injured or lost. And it's really about speed and dispatch, and that's what this bill seeks to do,' said Sen. Jeff Steinborn.
Under the current law, advocates said, there is no guarantee that search and rescue will be dispatched alongside other resources. They've found that even when they are contacted, it's usually hours to days later.
'It has resulted in unnecessary death and harm to those that are hurt out in the wilderness,' said Harbin.
The bill would amend the New Mexico Search and Rescue Act, which gives state police the power to send out response groups with specific skill sets. The problem, advocates said, is that dispatchers aren't contacting state police right away.
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'What we realized when looking at the issue is, of course, it's not really any fault of any agency. It's not like anyone's purposely delaying calling us out. Really, it comes down to unawareness,' said Harbin.
Harbin said the amendment provides clear criteria of what constitutes a possible search and rescue mission and what would require a phone call to the New Mexico State Police. 'And then from there, the New Mexico State Police dispatch their experts in being able to determine if search and rescue is needed or not. They will take it from there,' said Harbin.
Harbin said search and rescue teams aren't being called statewide. She worries about the future of search and rescue in the state but hopes this is just the beginning: 'It's the first step in trying to guarantee that we have that safety net, that New Mexico Search and Rescue will be there, and the outdoor recreation economy can continue to grow,' says Harbin.
The bill is set to be heard in the Senate Tax Committee Tuesday.
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