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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] Search in King George County VA

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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: Una Smith <una.smith@att.net>
  • To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Search in King George County VA
  • Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 14:35:31 -0600

Whoa there, T'mi. I think I get what Irv is saying and it isn't
a criticism of your team.

Here in New Mexico, the nearest resources generally are called
first, starting with the most qualified ones. Sometimes the
incident commander will decide that certain special resources
are needed, and call them early. Usually those special
resources are high-angle technical rescue teams, dog teams, or
civil air patrol. If the mission looks likely to go into
additional operational periods, teams from farther away will
be called, but only the most qualified teams. A mission that
goes on is likely to attract spontaneous volunteers, in which
case managing relatively unqualified teams may be more trouble
than benefit.

I have been asked to respond 8 hours away, but the request was
not through the NM SAR resource office and the resource office
did not authorize my response. I have responded 3+ hours away,
numerous times, but not for the inital operational period. It
is possible that reflects the large number of SAR resources in
my area, compared to in T'mi's area.

For novice responders it is highly demoralizing to be canceled
en route. Experienced responders know this is normal and may
be a good thing...it depends on how competent SAR management is.

I think Irv is asking about that. Could SAR management be doing
a better job of deciding what resources are necessary, and not
calling distant resources ahead of doing adequate investigation?
I gather that TROTSAR aims to be a regional initial resource,
so can expect to get a lot of calls that will be cancelled en
route. That is a hard role to fill. In effect, TROTSAR acts
somewhat like the NM SAR resource office, which dispatches just
one person (incident commander) who decides whether to call for
additional resources.

Is TROTSAR called by SAR management, or by other agencies that
do not necessarily have expertise in SAR?

Una Smith
New Mexico




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