Ed. Note: The following is a news release provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The threat of storms caused by El Niño has prompted the eight Los Angeles County Sheriff’s search-and-rescue teams, including one based in Santa Clarita, to begin planning for the heavy rains anticipated for the county.

Last weekend, 36 search-and-rescue specialists trained for swift-water rescue response. The focus was land-based operations which primarily deal with how to rescue a victim safely out of a fast flowing river or channel without having to enter the water.

The Santa Clarita team was most recently called to action in August, when members guided hikers lost in Hasley Canyon to safety. No injuries were reported from the event.  

Upcoming training will certify these search-and-rescue team members as swift-water rescue technicians. Many current search-and-rescue team members already possess this certification, which deals with how to rescue a person trapped in a river or channel by entering the water and making contact with them.

Swift-water rescue responses are the highest level of risk to the public safety agencies who respond.  One-third of all swift-water deaths are rescuers who attempt to save someone from a river or channel.

The eight search-and-rescue teams consist of team members who live in the immediate area, who will be pre-identifying likely areas prone to flooding. They will coordinate with public safety agencies who are stakeholders in flood responses.

Once identified, the teams will pre-plan rescue sites for those areas including the identification of possible hazards.

Search-and-rescue teams work closely with LASD’s Special Enforcement Bureau Emergency Services Detail, a highly trained and multi-mission bureau which staffs Air Rescue 5, the premier helicopter rescue platform.

Related Story: Search And Rescue Find Missing Hikers In Towsley Canyon

Special Enforcement Bureau Emergency Services Detail deputies operate around the clock, seven days a week. In addition to their tactical operations, all Special Enforcement Bureau Emergency Services Detail deputies are certified paramedics and rescue divers.

This branch of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for coordinating and participating in mountain search and rescue, underwater search and rescue, swift-water and flood rescue operations for the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

They staff the Air-5 Rescue Helicopter, the Special Enforcement Bureau Emergency Services Detail Ocean Rescue Boats, and are Special Weapons Team members.

L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Team members are reserve sheriff’s deputies who volunteer their time to help others for $1 a year, and who partner with sheriff’s civilian volunteers who volunteer for free.

There are 200 members of the eight search-and-rescue teams of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. They are all emergency medical technicians and certified mountaineers.

These rescuers were activated for 597 search and rescue missions last year, making L.A. County one of the most active for search and rescue missions in the nation. Reserve deputies and civilian volunteers are supervised by full-time sheriff’s deputies.

For more info on the rescuers, click here.   And for more information on the ongoing El Niño event, please click here.