Now recruiting first responders and disaster rescue technicians for our first disaster response team.Apply to volunteer
D.A.R.T.Direct Action Response Team, home

Get involved

Stand with D.A.R.T.

Support the network, train with us and deploy, or partner with us before the next disaster hits.

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Support D.A.R.T.

Help equip the first team

Every member needs gear, every team needs a cache, and the team needs a response vehicle. Sponsors and in-kind donors make that happen.

  • Personal gear

    Issued to each member: protective equipment, packs, lighting and field kit.

  • Team cache

    Shared rescue, medical and communications equipment the whole team draws from.

  • Vehicle build-out

    Turning a pickup into a response vehicle: bed, rack, lighting and storage.

  • Training

    Courses, certifications and space to run drills.

Stay connected

Be the first to know when giving opens

Team news, training days and ways to help. A few emails a year.

Volunteer

Deploy when disaster hits

D.A.R.T. is veteran-led and built on first responders and disaster rescue technicians. We give preference to experience that matches the role. Civilians are welcome. Most of what you need, we will train.

What matters most: you are physically able, you can stay calm under pressure, and you follow through.

Apply to volunteer

Already a member? Sign in to your account.

D.A.R.T. field uniforms for a team leader, rescue technicians, a medic and an operations director.
The D.A.R.T. field uniform

Roles on the team

  • Land SAR Team Leader. Leads a team in the field.
  • Land SAR Technician. Reaches and rescues people in disaster zones.
  • Swiftwater/Flood SAR Technician and Team Leader. Rescue people from floodwater.
  • Evacuation Specialist. Moves residents safely out of the area.
  • Medical Search and/or Rescue Technician. Medical care for the team and survivors. EMT or higher.
  • Canine Search Specialist, Disaster/Structural Collapse Live. Finds survivors with a trained dog.
  • Food Unit Leader. Keeps the team fed.
  • Liaison Officer and Public Information Officer. Coordinate with agencies and keep the public informed.

Every role uses FEMA's NIMS position title and works under the Incident Command System.

How it works

From application to deployable

Every step is tracked in your member account, so you always know what is left.

  1. STEP 1

    Apply

    A short online application. It takes a few minutes.

  2. STEP 2

    Interview

    We talk about your background and the role that fits.

  3. STEP 3

    Paperwork and background check

    Waiver, agreements, emergency contact and basic medical information.

  4. STEP 4

    Train and certify

    Core training plus the certifications for your role.

  5. STEP 5

    Deployable

    You can be called out with the team.

Partner with us

For agencies

Emergency managers, fire, law enforcement and EMS: plan drills, staging and agreements now, so we are ready to work together when disaster hits.

How we work with agencies
  • Coordinated through the Incident Command System
  • Organized to NIMS standards
  • Self-sufficient for five days