The Oregon Mountain Rescue Council has been organized in order to establish closer coordination between Oregon mountain rescue groups, to provide centralized representation on mountain rescue matters within Oregon, and to promote mountain safety.

On December 14th, 1986, the first meeting of what would later be known as the Oregon Mountain Rescue Council (OMRC) took place. OMRC evolved out of the need for closer coordination between mountain rescue teams in Oregon. OMRC provides a centralized body for regional mountain rescue issues and enhances mountain safety education done at the local level.

The mountain rescue groups of OMRC provide a system to the county Sheriffs of Oregon that ensures well-trained and equipped personnel are available for mountain search and rescue. In 1990, Oregon State Sheriffs Association entrusted to OMRC the role of establishing and maintaining accreditation of mountain rescue teams.

The OMRC is the official representative to the Mountain Rescue Association for all mountain rescue teams in the Oregon Region. MRA regions are formed to benefit member teams. Typical purposes are to establish mutual aid procedures, to develop techniques and equipment suited to region needs, to maintain MRA standards within the region, and to deal with state agencies.