A fixed wing aircraft can effectively and reasonably search this area, locate a vehicle or campsite and return to Reno even before ground units or vehicles can arrive in Gerlach. Typically, the Air Squadron would be utilized to locate a vehicle or campsite of a missing person, the ground units would begin a search from that location. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office currently has three rescue boats thanks to the generous donation of local citizens. Many searches and rescues are for missing or overdue snowmobilers, skiers, boaters and others who venture into the mountainous, snow-covered terrain of Washoe County. Many areas cannot effectively be searched by any other means.
Snowmobiles can reach farther into a snow-covered search area and much quicker than any other means.
In drier conditions, the same can be said for ATVs. Additionally, special vehicles can carry much more rescue equipment into the field than one can on foot with a backpack. All medium to large operations require a great deal of coordination and radio communications activity. The Sheriff's Office maintains two mobile command posts for this purpose. Perhaps the smallest group of volunteer search and rescue organizations is the Communications Unit.