From what I have seen it is just the opposite.  It will be military personnel, Civil Air Patrol, county SAR, and so forth.  The incident CP is likely to turn away emergent volunteers that aren't with some organized SAR group.

They'll be starting and conducting a large area ground search until they find the crew or have confirmation that changes it to a recovery operation.  Drainages, then grids, all of that done in parallel with wreckage inspection.

I've seen them skim by in a flash in the Mt. Aix area while hunting. Usually in pairs as I recall. They must have been just under sonic boom speed.
Not much room for error.

(Not the EA-18. Years ago and different aircraft)

I just checked the weather for that area, Mt Rainier area, It's 3 degrees. How long ago was the crash?

Mt Rainier may be 3 degrees at the summit, but the area where they've been searching is mid 30s to mid 40s.

I think there are misunderstandings here about how rough that country is. There may only be a handful of places as remote and difficult in the entire lower 48. There’s a reason planes go there to make noise. Relatively few sorts of people have any business being involved in this or they’ll have more casualties.

Any updates ?

The P-3 just landed at Whidbey, that’s about it. It looks like the flew a search pattern north/south the whole time at 11k ft, with several orbits, maybe listening for ELTs or visual signs?

bummer

NAS Whidbey Island facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/NASWhidbeyIsland

Growler Mishap Update #3
7:30 p.m. PDT OCT 17, 2024
The U.S. Navy, along with local law enforcement and partner agencies, continue search and rescue efforts on the mountain where a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler crashed on Oct. 15.

The wreckage rests at approximately 6,000 feet altitude in a remote, steep and heavily-wooded area east of Mount Rainier.

Soldiers from 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord are assisting in the search. 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) brings specialized mountaineering, high-angle rescue, medical, and technical communication skills necessary to navigate the difficult terrain associated with the Cascade Mountain Range that is inaccessible by other means.

The status of the crew cannot be confirmed without a site assessment of the debris area.
“Our priority is to locate our two aviators as quickly and as safely as possible,” said Capt. David Ganci, commander, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “Adhering to Dept. of Defense procedure, we cannot identify or confirm the names of aircrew involved in a mishap until 24-hours after their next of kin have been notified of their status. Please remain patient and limit speculation about the incident. That is one of the best ways we can respect the privacy of the loved ones who are impacted by this tragic event.”

There are no known hazards to the public.

“We appreciate the community support as experienced personnel respond around the crash site,” said Capt. Nathan Gammache, commanding officer of NAS Whidbey Island. “We are confident that we have the capability we need at this time, and will request any additional capabilities, if needed, via official channels in coordination with the on-site incident commander.”

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The U.S. Navy will continue to provide updates. More information is available on NAS Whidbey Island's website and official social media accounts.

Sounds like they haven’t reached the wreckage yet. I think we know how this one is going to turn out. :/

Man, it's easy to forget how some areas in America can be so remote. Prayers for the crew

Don't those guys have battery powered SAR radios in their vest? They should have been picked up a couple hours after not returning....if they bailed out