A good first step in improving an agency's response capabilities is to analyze the types of services and equipment other sheriff agencies in similar communities provide. Another way is to inventory available equipment and review training capabilities. Examples of the types of services sheriff agencies provide are cited. The examples involve sheriff agencies in California, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Arizona, Maryland, and New Jersey. They focus on search and rescue teams, aircraft, marine patrol, defibrillators, cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, and disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 2 photographs