Georgias State Parks, Historic Sites, Wildlife Management Areas and other natural areas managed by the Department of Natural Resources, are places of scenic beauty and vast areas of unique historical, cultural, and natural resources.  Georgias State Parks and Historic Sites receive over 15,700,000 visitors each year.  During an average year, Georgias Wildlife Management Area receive over 300,000 hunters as well as over 701,000 non-consumptive users (horseback riding, backpacking, hiking, caving, hang-gliding, rock climbing, canoeing, etc.) for a combined total of over 1,000,000 users annually.  Thus, Georgia Department of Natural Resources managed property receives an average annual attendance of over 16,700,000 making visitor services and protection an important part of site operation.

Oftentimes visitors are ignorant of the dangers of the rugged and beautiful sites or they become overly daring, reckless, or sometimes overly involved until it is too late, and they require help.  Many times, it is someone simply becoming lost by taking a wrong turn or, getting caught by darkness on a long trail.  Even the simplest of mishaps can have dire consequences if there are sudden and drastic weather changes, such as hypothermia cases in August suffered by individuals being caught in the later afternoon mountain thunderstorms.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Search and Rescue Team is an assemblage of dedicated professional within the Department trained, willing, and ready to respond to emergencies on state-managed lands.