Mounted search and rescue

[Lois Guyon <laguyon2@yahoo.com>]

Our group worked  a tornado where a small town was blown apart.  The horses 
were used for crowd control and surrounded the bank as the State Police 
removed the money to a town with power at their bank.  The physical 
destruction and loss of life resulted in many first responders as well as 
sightseers being at the site.  Building materials and glass were everywhere.  
The horses were not prepared in any special way. Those who were usually 
barefoot were barefoot and those that usually shod had on shoes.  Not a 
single horse was hurt. This was due to luck, as the risks are obvious.  
Because we live in a tornado ally, I am going to do some awareness work with 
our people.  We dodged the bullet once. I doubt anyone had thought of the 
dangers involved in tornadoes vs other work.  We may not be so lucky next 
time.  Better we plan!

Lois Guyon
LaSalle County, IL. Sheriff's MSAR


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