Mounted search and rescue

["IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

A rough look at the map places this mission about 35 miles NW of
Charlottesville, 75 N of Richmond and 75 S of DC.

The rapidity of response is dependent on the organization of the effort. 
In VA, NM, and other jurisdictions where SAR is a state level response
organization the entire available state resource is available simultaneously
if the technology is available.  In other areas where the resources are
local or regional mutual aid requests have to be processed by the requester
and the requested resource.  And some resources cannot leave their home
jurisdiction without permission of their AHJ.  

If a locality refuses to request higher level jurisdictions to assist then
nothing happens.  Where there is a regional resource the locals must still
request it before it can respond.  Even where there is a state level
resource availability each resource must be dispatched individually and they
may vary in method from pagers, to R-SAN, to telephone trees.  Mobilization
time and travel time must also be accounted for.  

Lastly there is the mission itself.  Young children must be looked for by
law, but most Amber Alert plans allow for up to 4 hours delay while the case
is evaluated by a state agency to see if the case fits the criteria.  If an
adult is involved there may be no statutory responsibility to even look for
the missing person(s) and consequently no call outs.  

Another element added to the chaos is bilateral instead of multi-lateral
assistance pacts.  Where most emergency services operate under regional
dispatch agreements and mutual pacts tied to 9-1-1 service regions, outside
that area explicit mutual aid pacts have to be concluded, agency by agency. 
This become further complicated when SAR is conducted by an NGO in one area
and a government agency in another.  While establishing a government to
government framework recent EMAC laws also now require proof of insurance
and willingness to accept responsibility for lost equipment, wages and
workman's comp costs by the responding agency, not the requesting agency.

Lastly, what is an appropriate response distance, either in terms of hours
or miles? Is a resource that has been on the road for hours usable on
arrival? If it is a volunteer resource that has also been at work for hours
previously at what point does a risk manager say, "don't come". This applies
to both people and animals.      

The incident manager must decide what resources he needs, when he needs
them, and how to support them on arrival.  Local knowledge is extremely
valuable in search management to utilize resources effectively. Not having
local knowledge can extend a mission for days and reduce success rates.

Irv Lichtenstein