Training
Schedule
| 12/4 |
Winter Rescue and Snow Safety (Dave
Bodner) |
********
SILT Back Issues
#98-4 (July-Aug
98)
#98-3 (May-June 98)
#98-2 (Mar-Apr 98)
#98-1 (Jan-Feb 98)
#97-6
(Nov-Dec 97)
#97-5 (Sept-Oct 97)
#97-4 (July-Aug 97)
#97-3 (May-June 97)
#97-2 (Mar-Apr 97)
#97-1 (Jan-Feb 97)
|
1 T 8:
Insanity is hereditary. You can get it from your children.
[Duh- Ed]
www.ribmagazine.com
Check out the possible river rescue boat designs. NPS
ordered one.
" There is no free lunch. There are,
however, better places to eat. "
NPS Morning Report- usually pretty
interesting: www.nps.gov/
morningreport/index.htm Lots of rescue stuff, lots of
helicopter stuff, dumb / unlucky tourists, idiots, felons.... the works.
Mayday:
From the French
" m’aidez" = help us.
ENDURANCE
- by Alfred Lansing --
Antarctic adventure in "full conditions"
"For scientific discovery, give me Scott; for speed and
efficiency of travel, give me Amundsen; but when disaster strikes and
all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton."
Way Cool:
Check out www.maptech.com
9- 29- 98
Industrial Stuntman does High Fall with Bounces from way up
Scaffold. |
Incidents
98-56 to 98-67 (September-October)
********** August 18, 1998 **********
| NPS 98-517 |
Joshua Tree NP
(CA) - Rescue |
| On
August 14th, Michael Done, 47, of Clovis, California, suffered
multiple fractures to one of his ankles while scrambling in the
rocks 250 feet above the Rattlesnake picnic area. Ranger/EMT Kevin
Tillman received the initial report, scrambled up the cliff, and
provided emergency medical treatment. A multi-agency rescue effort
was begun. It took two hours to lower Done via a guiding line
type high-line system. The rescue occurred at night; the
Twenty-Nine Palms fire department illuminated the rock face with
flood lights to facilitate operations. Ranger Jeff Ohlfs was IC.
[Pat Suddath, DR, JOTR, 8/18] |
********** August 26, 1998 **********
| 98-541 |
North Cascades
NP (WA) - Rescue |
| Paul
Maresca, 42, of Watertown, Connecticut, fell while leading a climb
of the east ridge of Forbidden Peak on August 26th and suffered open
fractures of his left tibia and fibula and bleeding wounds to his
face and scalp. A partner hiked out and reported the accident. A
contract helicopter from Hiline Helicopters lowered rangers
Kelly Bush and Doc Livingston to a point near the site. They
assessed and treated the injuries and prepared Maresca for an airlift
via Firewood Two, a rescue helicopter from Whidbey NAS.
Maresca was lifted via two hauls to the Marblemount ranger station
just before dark, then taken by ambulance to Skagit Valley Hospital
in Mount Vernon. [Galen Stark, NOCA, 8/26] |
| Radio
Communications in the Near Future-- OPERATIONAL NOTES- from the NPS |
| Narrowband
Digital Radio Contracts - The long-awaited award of the DOI
contracts for narrowband digital radios has been announced. All
federal government radio systems must be converted to narrowband
operations within the next decade - all VHF systems by January
1, 2005, and all UHF systems by January 1, 2008. The number of
discrete channels available for assignment will basically double
after the transition has been completed. This will permit the
government to meet expanding radio system requirements and reduce
the chances for radio interference between VHF and UHF systems.
[edited from NPS morning report] |
********** September 2, 1998 **********
| 98- 56 |
9- 2- 98 |
Stranded Hiker - - from River
Trip |
Dome Plateau |
IC = 1 T 7 |
Late
at night, Frank... "received a report that a Western River
client had left camp at Onion Creek Rapid and hiked / climbed to the
top of the Wingate in the Dome Plateau area. Spoke with (river)
guide via satellite phone who said they had voice contact with the
subject and he was 10-4... just stranded at top.
"Western River advised that they might be able to handle
it themselves. I advised as to best way to reach subject... via
Yellow Cat Road from I-70 and then on easy Dome Plateau road all the
way to overlooking Professor Valley. Faxed them a Barne’s trail
description and map and off they went in 2 4WD pickups. When they
reached the subject at about 5 am, they had to use a rope to access
him (in the dark) and help him climb back up to road.
"1 T 7 and 1 T 801 advised Western River that it was their
choice to use GCSAR or not. They decided to try to solve the problem
in-house. Said they would call via cell phone if they had any
problems."
Comments: Hooray for Western River
for solving their own problem. Self rescue, in group form. F.A.
Barne’s was the map of choice for route finding into this
obscure place. The route up on to Dome Plateau from the Yellowcat
Road was described as not that hard with most of the 4WD stuff being
sand traps.
Responders: Frank, Brad, Kent, Art |
| Wildlands Fire
stuff. An NPS release from Sept 2, 1998 |
FIRE
ACTIVITY-- NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III
The preparedness level has gone up one step. Preparedness
Level III goes into effect when the following conditions are met:
Two or more geographic areas experiencing incidents requiring a
major commitment of national resources. High number of fires
becoming Class D and larger. Additional resources are being ordered
and mobilized through NICC. Type 1 teams are committed in two or
more areas, or 300 crews are committed nationally.
CURRENT SITUATION
Fire activity jumped significantly yesterday in the northern
Rockies, necessitating the commitment of three Type 1 and six Type 2
incident management teams. Fire activity also continued in the
Northwest, eastern Great Basin and northern California, with another
two Type 2 teams committed to fires in those areas. Good progress
was made on meeting containment objectives on fires in southern
California. Very high and extreme fire indices were reported
yesterday in Texas, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon,
Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota. |
********** September 8, 1998 **********
| GCSAR meeting
9- 8- 98 |
We
talked about paying the Officers big (?) money and upping the
Training Pay for next year.
Training- We went to the Fire Tower.
Fun building. The Rock Rescue Team broke in the new Rescue
Winch up on the roof. [From Rescue Systems Inc., Kyle Isenhart, Utah
95, north of Fry Canyon]. They hauled Rescues Randy and Augdy up and
down. Interesting work space, not too big.
Several people harnessed up for ascending and rappelling from
the roof of the 2nd floor. Rex went nuts rappin’. Jennie helped
teach this part.
We also had subjects go "get lost" using the GO TO
function on the GPS’s. Three waypoints were preprogrammed into
the GPS. The lost people went to each of these points. Then the
Search Dogs went to find them in the urban search mode. Much foon
was had by all. |
| CREDIT FOR
RESPONDING -- Notes from 801: reprinted from Silt 98-2
|
| The
"credit" thing has become a real can of worms...with
people showing up at the shed for less than five minutes at the
beginning of an incident, then being "unavailable" (and
expecting credit for the response), and others calling in when the
incident is far along or nearly over (and expecting credit for the
response). My feeling is that those showing up at the shed MUST be
available to respond to the incident with the rest of the group
in order to receive credit, and those calling in to see if
additional help is needed must do so within ten minutes of the
initial page to receive credit, and they MUST truly be available to
respond. This is the way credit will be given in the future. If
there are any objections, object now. |
********** September 15, 1998 **********
| 98- 57 |
9- 15- 98 |
Ambulance Assist Broken Biker
|
SRBT |
IC = 1 T 3
Ops- 813 |
A
redheaded gal from Texas fell down and whacked out her foot bone and
one of those big ligaments down there. Yuk.
A fellow in another party, who said he was a trainer for a
Kansas football team, got word out to his buddies at the parking lot
using their own personal hand set radios. They cell phoned 911 from
the parking lot.
Greg took a jump kit and sprinted out ahead on a motorcycle. He
found our subject and the RP who had put an ACE on the subject’s
ankle to immobilize.
EMT’s arrived and puffed up an Air Splint. And she rode
out on Sam’s 6 wheeler, following the recently painted and
marked EMS routes. Super.
Comments: "... following the
recently painted and marked EMS routes. Super." Classic LAST:
Locate, Access, Stabilize, Transport.
Responders: Greg, Sam, Jeff, Bego,
Connie, Ann, Vicci. |
********** September 17, 1998 **********
| COLIN SMITH gets
the SEUG NPS SAR hot seat. CW says "Hot Dog." 17 Sep 1998
|
From:
Steve Swanke
HI: Today Jim Webster and myself recommended that Colin Smith
be the new SAR coordinator for the SEUG. This recommendation was
approved by Larry and Walt. Colin will continue in the fine
tradition of SEUG SAR coordinators and build on the foundation
established by Rich Perch and Galen Howell "so that others may
live". Thank you for your past support of the SEUG SAR function
and stay tuned for details as Colin further develops our program.
Steve
***
From: Jim Webster
I'll be filling the position vacated by Galen hopefully by the
first of the year (maybe December?). As you know, I'm recruiting for
someone with strong SAR skills. That person will become the Arches
NP SAR point of contact, and will work with Colin (rhymes with
Galen) on SAR issues, training, etc. By the way, we have a new
seasonal ranger here, "Arches 227", who does NOT sound one
bit on the radio like Galen. However, he does have strong climbing
and technical rescue skills. His name is Gary Haynes, and has been
working at Yellowstone for the past several years. He'll be "watching
over the cache" until our new person gets here. Come on by for
a visit! Jim |
********** September 22, 1998 **********
| GCSAR meeting 9-
22- 98 |
The
very famous Doug Squire talked about the Local Emergency Planning
Commission.
And we talked about the Proposed 1999 GCSAR budget and how the
County Council will so willingly give us enuff money to really suit
up and pay officer stipends.
John Flahie was scheduled to talk about Limiting Liability Thru
Documentation but he was out on a medical incident at Delicate Arch
that necessitated a helicopter evacuation. Bego was in large
trouble with Brad for "accidentally" getting a helicopter
ride. |
********** September 23, 1998 **********
| 98- XX |
9- 23- 98 |
ATV Rollover |
IC = 1 T 14
|
Crash
Kelsey takes a 4 wheeler over the line. 'Nuff Said.
Comments: Holy smokes, another ATV "lucky."
Responders: Brian |
********** September 27, 1998 **********
| 98- 58 |
9- 27- 98 |
Dislocated Biker Shoulder
|
Porcupine Trail |
IC = 1 T 14 |
Paged
out as a dislocated biker shoulder about 2 miles above the Porcupine
Single Track. The RP said this guy had one hand on his head, bike in
other hand and was hiking out with his girlfriend. When we arrived
at the trailhead with all our stuff, there he was. A passing biker
had reduced his dislocation, put his arm in a sling and continued
on.
He refused medical treatment from 1 T 504, we refilled their
water bottles and they waited for their ride back to town to appear.
Comments: Had this guy needed to be
carried out, it would have taken alot of time and effort-- and more
people probably.
Responders: Llyod and Kim, Jeff,
Sam, Frank, Jimmy F., Bego with Tye guarding the Shed. |
********** September 29, 1998 **********
| Emergency
Services Explorers training with GCSAR 9- 29- 98 |
A
night on the Fire Tower at the Fire Station. Eight Boy Scout leaders
(!) and about 30 young men showed up for Rappelling, Ascending and
Climbing on the new climbing wall: "Sector D."
Comments: 10,000 thanks to the
instructors. More than 2 per station. Cool. Hot. It was also very
good to see so many BSA leaders. Two of them scampered up the climb.
Instructors: Corky "Dang"
Brewer, Archie Walker has a Grigri, Brad "scaffold"
Mallory, Kris Czerak, John Flahie, Matt Moore (Thanks for the
harnesses), Kent Green, Bego. |
| Bad Bike Dharma:
98-627 - Haleakala NP (HI) - Bicycle Accidents with Serious Injuries |
| Despite
close monitoring of the five commercial bike tour incidental
business permittees operating in the park, there's been an average
of one bike accident every two-and-a-half business days this year...
................. |
********** October 5, 1998 **********
| 98- 59 |
10- 5- 98 |
Biker Head Bonk |
Porcupine Single Track |
IC = 1 T 3 |
Paged
out as a head bash 2 miles up the single track. Initial reports from
RPs gave a picture of serious head injury so 1 T 3 put our very
famous Arches Helicopters on call.
GCSAR responded to the trailhead with Stokes and wheel to learn
that the patient was walking down toward the road. Auggie sprinted
up to the patient. She walked out with a dislocated shoulder and
gave us $500 to boot.
Comments: Most of the helicopter
junkies showed up at the hanger. Duh.
Responders: Jeff, Rex, Auggie,
Frank, Sam, Bego, Steve White |
Helicopter
Safety: Guess what happens when you..........
98-625 - Kenai Fjords NP (AK) - Helicopter Accident with Injury
|
| On
the morning of Sunday, September 26th, a survey crew contracted by
BLM was completing a cadastral survey of lands within the park which
were recently conveyed to the Port Graham Village Corporation. As
the crew was off-loading from a helicopter via a "toe in"
landing on a rocky point along the steep, remote, marine shoreline,
surveyor Charles Lamb walked upslope into the main rotors of
the Hughes 500 helicopter. Lamb was struck on his hard hat and
shoulder and knocked down by the rotor blades. The pilot of the
helicopter managed to maintain control of the aircraft and landed it
on a rock ledge nearby, where he activated his ELT... |
********** October 10, 1998 **********
| 98- 60 |
10- 10- 98 |
Lost Jeepers |
Poison Spider |
IC = 1 T 813 |
Another
10 pm call. Dan went up the Poison Spider Trail and found the
subjects about 1/4 mile from the top of the Portal Trail. Sam drove
up 5 miles and waited for Dan there.
Comments:
Responders: Dan and Sam |
********** October 12, 1998 **********
| 98- 61 |
10- 12- 98 |
Stranded Jeepers / Hikers
|
Jackson Hole |
IC = 1 T 9 |
Down
from Salt Lake, these two plus their dog started driving from the
Needles District toward Moab via the Lockhart Basin and Hurrah Pass.
Somewhere near that funny rock with all the caves west of Hurrah
Pass they hit a rock, bent a rim, the air went woosh and they became
hikers.
They walked and walked, thinking that by following the river
they could hike to Moab and safety. They walked clear up past
Jackson Hole, across from the Potash Plant, and kept walking till
the cliff and the river met, barring their hike to Moab. They
signaled for help 1 mile above Potash.
GCSAR put the River Rescue boat in the Ol Colorado at the
Potash boat ramp and motored upstream to the subjects. Thirsty,
grateful.
Comments: They walked on roads for
the first while taking all the left turns, thinking the river led to
safety. Had they taken all the right turns they would have hiked up
over Hurrah Pass and most likely met someone in Kane Creek Valley.
But this route would have no water.
Responders: Rex, Jeff, Sam, Bego,
Kent |
| 98-656 - Grand
Canyon NP (AZ) - Assist; Rescue |
| A
46-year-old woman had fallen about 20 feet while descending a
slippery trail adjacent to 200-foot Mooney Falls, named for an
explorer who lost his life while descending on a rope that was too
short. The hiker had lost consciousness and sustained multiple
injuries in the fall. A doctor was summoned to the scene from the
Supai clinic... and a medevac helicopter responded... was unable to
land at the base of the falls as their was no safe helispot. BIA
officers asked the park for assistance with a short haul rescue...
Park personnel stabilized the victim on an island at the base of the
falls, then conducted a short-haul extraction. [Edited] |
********** October 13, 1998 **********
| 98- 62 |
10- 13- 98 |
Yet Another Portal Trail
Disaster |
IC = 1 T 12
|
With
no helicopter available, we had to do this one overland. And no
Galen.
So, the climb up to the First Ledge was dispatched using
Friends for protection on the 5.5 climb, belayed by Bruce, a friend
of the victim. A no rope route to the Second Ledge (where Portal
fall victims seem to land) was found by Webster, looking thru
binoculars from down on the road. Bego scampered up this route to
the victim to confirm death.
About now, it was pretty dark. We had the Light Plant that
Potash donated to GCSAR brought out to illuminate the whole scene.
Sam and Dean figured out the plant’s puzzling problems.
Also about now, the rest of the personnel and equipment needed
was arriving at the bottom of the steep part. Larry Van Slyke, Steve
Swanke and Frank Mendonca ascended the ropes to the victim and
hauled the litter and more rope up to 2nd Ledge. Kent Green and
several NPS folks took up residence on 1st ledge to assist in many
ways.
Using Friends and natural anchors, a lowering station was
constructed and the litter was sent from 2nd ledge all the way to
the bottom of the cliff. The litter attendant was rappelling on a
separate rope so that in the event of rockfall, the attendant had
the possibility of penduluming out of the way. The lowering was
probably 250 feet.
Meanwhile, many people had hiked up to the bottom of the cliff
to do the difficult litter carry down past one more ledge and
hundreds of feet of loose talus to the road. Webster was the ramrod
here. The litter was kept on belay for 500’ down the talus.
About 6 hours after page out, we had a short debrief and some
soda at the road.
Subject: Agency Assist
Several Arches and Canyonlands employees participated in an
agency assist with Grand County on 10/13/98. Kevin Kirk, a 43 year
old mountain biker from Colorado, fell over 200 feet to his death
from the Portal Trail, on Poison Spider Mesa, directly across the
river from the Moab Sloughs.
Personnel from Grand County Search and Rescue, Grand County
Sheriff's Office, Grand County Ambulance Association, and Moab Fire
Department were joined by NPSer's Larry Van Slyke, Steve Swanke,
Gary Gurtler, Murray Shoemaker, Gary Haynes, Lisa Hendy (two new
Arches rangers - welcome to Arches!) and Jim Webster.
Bego Gerhart and Frank Mendonca of Grand County SAR and Swanke
and Van Slyke did several high angle litter lowerings, with the
balance of the NPS staff helping on multiple scree lowerings, with
the last being a 600 foot long, belayed scree evacuation. There was
high potential for rescuer injury, but all personnel were very aware
of the hazards, which included rockfall, unstable footing and
darkness. No injuries to rescuers occurred. The recovery operation
was safe and went smoothly. There was excellent communication and
cooperation between a lot of folks under stressful and very
unfortunate circumstances. -----> Jim Webster
NPS Morning Report: Arches NP (Utah) – On
10/13/98, 43 year old Kevin Kirk of Conifer, CO fell over 200 feet
to his death in a mountain bike accident on BLM land immediately
outside the park. Over 30 county search and rescue personnel were
joined by 7 ranger staff from Arches and Canyonlands NP’s in
the recovery effort, which was complicated by nightfall, a high
potential for rockfall and unavailability of helicopter support. The
recovery effort lasted for six hours, and included several vertical
litter lowerings and a 600 foot, belayed, low-angle scree
evacuation. There were no injuries to rescue personnel. Less than
six months earlier, another mountain biker fell to his death from
the same location. Many of the same NPS and county rescue personnel
worked on both incidents. (Jim Webster, CR, ARCH)
Comments: This rescue situation
is fraught with rock fall and loose ground. Each team must stay out
from under the teams above. No maybe.
You know you have it made when rescue veterans Van Slyke and
Swanke show up.
Debrief didn’t come up with much cuz it went so well.
Group HUG.
The first loads going up should contain 2- 300’ ropes,
2-150’ ropes, in addition to a lead climbing rope, a rack of
Friends, locking biners and runners and a Rappel Rack. Another 150’
rope is needed from the bottom of the cliff down thru the small
cliff band below. And a 300’ rope plus a Rappel Rack is needed
to belay the litter down thru the talus.
The chemical illumination to mark the trail thru the talus from
cliff down to road was a big plus. These little lights were put in
before dark when seeing the best route was possible.
A new rappel route has since been established from 1st Ledge to
the bottom of the cliff. It is about 200’ downstream of where
the climb up to 1st Ledge occurs. A tree with rope and rap rings.
Clean take-off and not above any of the teams below. It is 76 feet
long. If one is careful, a 150 rope doubled will do.
Maybe we should put in protection bolts on the route up to
Second Ledge. 10 bolts would make it safe enuff for just about
anyone with 10 biners and a belayer. After the leader reaches 1st
ledge, he should go fix a rope over at the aforementioned new rap
route for other rescuers to ascend.
Carabiners on rescues are like socks in the laundry. Where did
12 GCSAR biners go?????
Responders: 2nd Ledge:
Larry, Steve (NPS), Bego and Frank (GCSAR). [combined age: 201]
1st Ledge: Kent (GCSAR), Gary, Lisa and Murray (NPS).
The Litter Team: Jim Webster (NPS), Jimmy N., Kris,
Rex, Sam, Dan, Richard, Nancy, Jennie, Jeff, Rory, Mark, George
(GCSAR)
Lights by Sam, Dean, Kurt (GCSAR)
Road Control: Louis, Zane, Archie, Shawn (Gr Co SO)
Grand County Ambulance by Ann and crew
Inspirational messages by Jim Nyland and Doug Squire
(no S)
I don’t think this list is complete.... |
********** October 17, 1998 **********
| 98- 63 |
10- 17- 98 |
12 yr old Boy w/ Broken Leg
|
SRBT |
IC = ? |
Jarom,
a 12 yr old from West Valley City, UT., broke his leg near the Main
Loop / Practice Loop intersection. GCSAR was guide service for the
ambulance and our 6 wheeler transported the boy.
Comments:
Responders: Frank, Jex and Reff,
Sam, Kurt |
| 98- 64 |
10- 17- 98 |
Biker ( local guide) down on
SRBT |
IC = 1 T ?
|
Not
far from the main trail split, this fellow busted his clavicle.
Rex and his jeep went in with the ambulance while Kurt and Sam
went in with the Wheelers. The subject was transported out by our 6
wheeler to the waiting ambulance.
Comments: Unpaged
Responders: Reff and Jex, Kurt, Sam |
********** October 22, 1998 **********
| GCSAR Meeting
10- 22- 98 |
We
debriefed and stuff.
Http://www.atving.com/editor/review/atv/polaris/ranger98/release.htm
Training: Orienteering. Two compass
courses were offered and the best teams got prizes. |
********** October 25, 1998 **********
| 98- 65 |
10- 25- 98 |
Overdue biker on the Poison
Spider |
IC = 1 T 12
|
Paged
out at 0100 hrs- yawn. Gabe was going for an "out and back"
but ran out of light.
GCSAR sent 2 teams of ATV’s up the trail while Frank hiked
up the Portal Trail to the top. He made voice contact with the
subject and guided the ATV’s to him by radio.
Comments: His friends had gone
looking for Gabe to no avail.
Responders: Frank, Sam, Lee, Jeff,
Mark |
| 98- 66 |
10- 25- 98 |
Rescue: Lockhart Basin Rd.
|
IC = 1 T 9
|
This
one lasted from 5 pm to 5 am. The subjects were driving from the
Needles District to Moab via Lockhart Basin when their little Mazda
got a flat and they needed help changing it.
Sam and Richard went in from the Moab side and found them at
UTM: 0614459 x 4252600. Every one then drove out to the south cuz of
major erosion to the north.
Comments: This should have been a
San Juan County wrecker service call.
Responders: Sam and Richard |
********** October 30, 1998 **********
| 98- 67 |
10- 30- 98 |
Overdoo biker on the Gemini
Britches Trail |
IC = 1 T 8 (Arch)
|
At
night, of course. Lots of rain, too. Steve Brownell ran the main
trail before calling GCSAR.
We sent 2- 4WDs up from Hwy 191 to go into the Gold Bar and
Bull Canyon areas. Two more 4WDs went in from the top to check out
areas north of the Bridges. He was found a mile from 191.
Comments: Paged twice with "very
poor response."
Responders: Frank, Sam, Lee, Jeff
and Michelle Walker’s detail. |
| From the Salt
Lake City Tribune: |
Utah
Counties Bear the Brunt Of Rescue Costs- BY MICHAEL VIGH
A 56-year-old Brooklyn, N.Y., man got stuck between two rocks
last month while hiking a narrow slot canyon near Moab. Unable to
move up or down, he screamed for help. Another hiker alerted
authorities, and a Grand County Search-and-Rescue helicopter was
dispatched to the scene, where rescuers were able to quickly free
the stranded man. The rented chopper spent 44 minutes in the air,
costing county taxpayers nearly $600. When the man was presented
with the bill, he refused to pay.
``We ask out-of-county residents to pay for their rescues,''
said Frank Mendonca, Commander of the Grand County Search and Rescue
team. ``But, if they don't pay, there's not much we can do.''
From the redrock mountains in the south to the alpine forests
in the north -- counties conduct hundreds of searches every year in
the scenic Beehive State. Utah has no law compelling people to
pay -- even if, as in the case of the Brooklyn man, the rescue
is based largely on the victim's own foolish decisions. That doesn't
stop some officials from trying -- including San Juan County Sheriff
Mike Lacy. He said a few lost hikers have reimbursed the county. Yet
most Utah officials don't send an invoice to those they have saved,
recognizing that search-and-rescue costs are a necessary byproduct
of outdoor recreation. The state, however, is beginning to help.
Counties can get partially reimbursed for searches and rescues
through the state Division of Comprehensive Emergency Management.
Funding was established under a law passed by the 1997 Utah
Legislature, which initiated a small surcharge on the purchase of
off-road vehicles and habitat authorizations. The fund reimburses
counties for expenses, training and equipment related to searches
and rescues.
About half of all Utah counties took advantage of the program
in its first year. The total available to counties since 1997
amounted to nearly $195,000. Utah counties applied for and received
just more than $111,000. There is no limit to what counties can
receive unless the money in the fund dries up, officials said.
All Utah counties that applied for assistance received what
they requested. Grand County got the most, receiving $14,492
between July 1997 and July 1998. Salt Lake County received $12,000,
while Weber and San Juan counties received more than $2,000 each.
Still, all these sums were far less than each county spent on
searches. Even though the reimbursement covers only a fraction of
their search-and-rescue costs, some county officials feel it is
sufficient -- leaving little reason to ask people to pay the costs
of their rescues.
``There is no law against being stupid,'' said Salt
Lake County Capt. Gil Howard. ``The only way I see that you could
charge people is if they intentionally put themselves in stupid
situations.'' [This IS being done, eg Yosemite re rescue of
unprepared climbers in storms- Ed]. Added Summit County Sheriff Fred
Eley: ``We haven't considered that idea because it would be so hard
to do. We feel [the cost] is the responsibility of the Sheriff's
department.'' Sevier County Sheriff John Meacham agreed that it is
the responsibility of counties to help people in need. Sevier County
has never really explored the idea of charging victims after they
have been found. Added Salt Lake County's Howard: ``How do you put a
price tag on a search? It would be highly difficult to calculate
what a search costs.''
Calculating costs is difficult because most searchers are
volunteers who get no reimbursement. Most use their own vehicles and
have their own lifesaving equipment. They wear pagers and are always
prepared for the next rescue.
``These people are the true heroes,'' Howard said. ``They
are willing to go out and save people night and day. I can't say
enough about them.''
[Unedited, bold type by Ed] |
|