When Help Has to Find You: Inside Search and Rescue in Okanogan County

What really happens when someone is lost, injured, or overdue in the backcountry? In this episode of Between Here and Help, Nicole Ringgold speaks with Christina Woodworth, Search and Rescue Coordinator for the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, about the volunteer teams who respond when emergencies happen across one of Washington’s largest and most rugged counties.Christina shares how rescues are launched, how Search and Rescue works alongside Aero Methow, EMS, and other agencies, and the realities of coordinating missions in remote terrain where time, weather, and geography can all complicate the response. They also talk about prevention, preparedness, text-to-911, what it takes to become a volunteer, and how teams process the emotional weight of difficult recoveries.This is a thoughtful look at the people who show up when the unexpected happens—and what all of us can do to stay safer outdoors.