Mounted search and rescue

["Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>]

From: "Chuck Daniel" <iwhound@voyager.net>
> Cross Training with CERT for SAR or MSAR is valuable. [...] A MSAR is
> first and foremost a SAR then a MSAR and must be able to exist for 48 
> hours
> or better on our own.  The first thing the CERT training stated was that
> help may not be available for 48 hours.  It is your responsibility to have
> assets available for yourself, family and the victims.

Disaster preparedness is normally taught as a 72 hour expectation for 
self-sufficiency until outside assistance arrives. Since Katrina I hear the 
feds are seriously considering increasing to an expectation of 96 hours of 
self-sufficiency.

> [...] the first line of defense is at the local level.  Thus, crossing
> training is valuable since you will be the first line of defense.  I guess
> I'm beginning to stray; you cans see were my politics are  ........sorry

Disaster preparedness isn't a matter of politics, it is a matter of taking 
responsibility for personal preparedness as opposed to dependency / 
expecting others to help you. You're very correct that preparedness begins 
at home. And *anyone* somehow in the local system for emergency response has 
potential to be on the call-out list for a widespread disaster ... so SAR / 
MSAR has the choice of either cross-training to at least have basic disaster 
skills, or being called and not having that cross-training.

MSAR has a variety of options to contribute during disaster while mounted, 
obviously skills while on the ground are useful, and even the hauling 
vehicles and trailers have potential for use. Incident-specific.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare Co SAR - Hasty Team ICP Team
www.ceoates.com/sar
Tulare-Kings CERT
www.tk-cert.org

Learn about Disaster SAR-related discussion on:
www.tk-cert.org/natlsar/