Mounted search and rescue

[Una Smith <una.smith@att.net>]

Ginger Hannah's call for volunteers concerns the search for Bryce Tarter.
You may recall we discussed it briefly last month, but below is a brief
recap.

This search amounts to a basic training exercise for SAR responders and
a good opportunity for spontaneous volunteers to contribute substantial
effort.  I don't knock exercises;  we have some recurring exercises
here in New Mexico, involving certain cases where the subject was never
found.  At a minimum, they allow SAR managers to gain experience running
missions.  All management functions get a workout:  logistics, planning,
operations, communications, liason officer, public information officer.
Field teams get to assess their mission readiness:  decide whether to
go, what to pack, gas up, check fluid levels, check air pressure on all
tires, check trailer lights, brakes, batteries, pack the truck and
trailer, decide what time to leave home (evening before, morning of?)
and how and what to feed the horses.  Make arrangements for animals and
dependent family members left at home, etc. etc.  Most of these steps
you do not have time to do for an emergency SAR mission, so you either
are ready to respond, or you stay home.  Responders who get a lot of
emergency callouts maintain a high level of readiness at all times, and
that is one reason they get so many callouts.  Those who get very few
callouts, and all new responders, benefit enormously from "exercise"
missions like this one.

        Una Smith
        New Mexico

--------------------------------- snip -------------------------------

Here is a press release from a local TV station's website:
http://www2.wsav.com/sav/news/local/article/search_for_armstrong_student_bryce_tarter_continues/109076/

Search for Armstrong Student Bryce Tarter Continues

SAVANNAH, Ga.—The search continues for 19 year-old Bryce Tarter.  The
Armstorng Atlantic State University student was last seen driving away
from campus at 5:00 a.m. January 31. He has not been seen since. 
 
Some friends of Bryce Tarter’s family are organizing a search for him
this weekend. It started out with just a small group of people but has
grown substainally in size.

They will be meeting at the Ride and Share at the intersection of
Highway 17 and 119 in Guyton at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. They will be using
horses, atvs, and boats to search areas in Bryan, Effingham and
Bulloch. They are dubbing it Operation Hope.

If you’re interested in volunteering for the search, call Clint Droste
at 912-433-4216. Any horseback riders who are experienced in trail
riding and would like to help are asked to call Ginger Hannah at
912-268-2752.