When every second counts in a search operation, coordination tools should never be the bottleneck. PubSafe has heard that message loud and clear from search and rescue teams, CERT volunteers, and community members across the country. Today, we are excited to announce the alpha launch of PubSafe Search Party — a mobile app built specifically for organizing search parties quickly and effectively. Available now on iOS via Apple TestFlight, this purpose-built tool strips away complexity so volunteers can focus on what matters: finding the missing person.
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Watch the full walkthrough on YouTube to see the app in action.
The Story Behind Search Party
The idea for Search Party came from a real situation. A few years ago in Florida, a child went missing. Three hundred community members showed up to help search, but the local sheriff’s office had no efficient way to organize them. Volunteers had their driver’s licenses photographed. Someone tried to upload KML tracking files after the fact. It was chaos — not because people didn’t want to help, but because there were no tools designed for this specific scenario.
That experience stuck with PubSafe founder and CEO Eron Iler. The full PubSafe platform already includes search coordination capabilities, but the team recognized a need for something even simpler — a dedicated app that anyone could use to spin up a search party in seconds, with no training required. Watch the announcement video to hear Eron tell the story himself.
How Search Party Differs from the Full PubSafe App
This is an important distinction. The full PubSafe mobile app is a comprehensive platform for NGOs, government agencies, and corporate teams. It includes work order management, volunteer hour tracking, incident reporting, and deep integration with the PubSafe web portal at PubSafe.net — designed for both daily operations (“blue skies”) and emergencies (“gray skies”).
Search Party is the opposite of comprehensive — and that is the point. It is a niche app for a single purpose: temporary search party coordination. No login required. No account creation. No long-term data storage. Enter a code or scan a QR code, and you are in. When the search is over, the session expires automatically. It is search coordination, stripped down to its essentials.
What Does the Search Party App Do?
Once a search party is created, the app provides everything a search team needs in the field:
- Simple join process — Join a search party by entering a code or scanning a QR code. No login, no payment, no app store account beyond the initial install.
- Real-time map — All members appear on a shared live map, giving incident commanders and volunteers instant situational awareness.
- Mission brief — Organizers set the search parameters, boundaries, and instructions once. Every team member can reference them from within the app.
- SOS and emergency alerts — Any member can trigger an emergency alert that appears on every screen in the group.
- Broadcast messaging — Send updates to the entire team at once. No need to repeat the same information across phone calls or text threads.
- Privacy controls — Members can hide their location when appropriate. Sessions are temporary and expire automatically when the operation ends.
- Member directory — See who is on the team, search by name, contact members directly, or locate them on the map.
The full video walkthrough demonstrates every feature in detail, from creating a search party to testing the QR code join flow.
Who Should Use Search Party?
The app is designed for a wide range of search scenarios and organizations:
- CERT teams — Community Emergency Response Teams that need a simple way to activate and coordinate members during searches
- Search and rescue organizations — Professional and volunteer SAR teams running field operations
- Sheriff’s offices and law enforcement — Agencies that need to organize large volunteer groups quickly during missing person cases
- NGOs and disaster response organizations — Groups coordinating field teams during natural disasters or humanitarian responses
- Community volunteers — Neighbors coming together to search for a missing person, pet, or vulnerable family member
- Multi-agency coordination — When multiple organizations need to operate on the same map during a joint response
How to Join the Alpha
The Search Party app is currently available as an alpha release for iOS devices through Apple’s TestFlight program. Here is how to join:
- Install the TestFlight app from the iOS App Store
- Tap the TestFlight invitation link from the video description
- Open the Search Party app and create or join a search party
Alpha testers can explore all features at no cost. There is no login required once the app is installed — just enter a code and start testing. Feedback from alpha testers will directly shape the production release, which is expected within the next few weeks and will support both Android and iOS.
Click here to join the Search Party alpha on TestFlight.
What Is Coming Next
The production launch of PubSafe Search Party is expected within weeks and will bring full Android and iOS support to everyone. The team is especially interested in feedback from CERT teams, SAR professionals, and community organizations that regularly coordinate search operations. Your input during the alpha phase will help make sure the app meets real-world needs.
For organizations that need the full suite of emergency management tools — volunteer hour tracking, incident reporting, work orders, and the PubSafe web portal — learn more about the complete PubSafe platform or explore how PubSafe supports volunteer coordination during emergencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PubSafe Search Party free to use?
Yes. The alpha test is completely free. The production version’s pricing has not been announced, but the goal is to keep it accessible for volunteer organizations.
Do I need a PubSafe account to use Search Party?
No. Search Party is a standalone app. You do not need a PubSafe account, and no login is required to join a search party.
Will there be an Android version?
Yes. The production launch, expected within weeks, will support both Android and iOS. The alpha is iOS-only through Apple TestFlight.
Can Search Party be used internationally?
Yes. The app works anywhere with cellular service, globally, making it suitable for international disaster response and search operations.
