Has anyone done search and rescue in coordination with local authorities in the US? I just heard of a need to find a young skier who was possibly caught in an avalanche. Not sure if it would be a rescue or recovery effort, so any type of video capability might suffice at this point. I'm not sure about reimbursement, but if someone is serious, please reply and I can provide contact information. It's in the Tahoe area.
Search and Rescue, Tahoe area?
- Thread starter GLSFLY2
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That's interesting. They don't talk about dealing with other SAR resources much.
Typically, you really must coordinate with the local SAR team. If you're not part of the team - your part of the problem. And the other part of the problem is, of course, the FAA. To actually and officially work with a government SAR team you need a 555 exemption with all that entails. To unofficially work with a SAR team you have to convince the powers that be that your useful, not dangerous. Our city attorney nixed that concept due to liability issues.
In our town, we've kicked it around a bit. Our feeling is that unless you were actually part of SAR then we can't have you in the field because you won't know how we do things. Because these things don't have much range, you are likely to be close to the action and therefore interacting with everyone else. Which means you need to have a radio, backpack, training, etc. Now the problem is that if you are part of the SAR team, then you need the stupid 555. And a pilot. Right now, we've decided to just keep looking around. Hopefully the FAA will come up with some rational plan.
But don't expect to run up to the SAR team, drone in hand, and expect much besides a confused smile.
Ya got me
I don't really understand what this has to do with the OP asking for help in finding our lost skier, Carson May. On the SWARM page, under SOP it goes into some more details on joining SAR, etc. Being that his question was asked here on a UAV forum... to me the logical answer to try and help him as best I can is by giving him the link that I posted above. In this area or where I am about 30 minutes from Lake Tahoe, we have our own county SAR departments, it is miles of extreme unpopulated terrain with no access other then aerial search for so much of it. Right now we have been hammered with snow and rain like normal for the winters here and adding UAV's to the search may help but being this was another avalanche, unfortunately right now the weather here isn't helping.
Here's the story - Search For Missing Skier At Sugar Bowl Resort
If you want to become part of SAR you'll need to do some significant work in advance. You'll want to make contact with the local EMS/SAR?NIMS group. Once you make that you'll want to take some FEMA courses so that you're able to understand in integrate with SAR work. When things start rolling you'll need to know how to work with the Incident Management Team. If you aren't part of the team you may be asked to leave the area. To get a head start you'll want to take (and pass) the following certifications:
ICS and NIMS Courses
ICS-100
ICS-200
ICS-300
ICS-700
ICS-800
Emergency Management Institute - National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Some of the above can be completed online and those "should" be complete before you try to become part of the IMT. Other courses are classroom based and can be taken once you are part of the IMT team.
Whatever you do please do not, EVER self dispatch. If you aren't part of the concentrated efforts you could actually hamper current efforts and cause problems and delays. When it's life or death you could cost valuable time and assets.
I work with local SAR and am a member of our IMT as a "technical specialist". If I can help anyone please don't hesitate to hit me up in a PM and I'll do what I can.
ICS and NIMS Courses
ICS-100
ICS-200
ICS-300
ICS-700
ICS-800
Emergency Management Institute - National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Some of the above can be completed online and those "should" be complete before you try to become part of the IMT. Other courses are classroom based and can be taken once you are part of the IMT team.
Whatever you do please do not, EVER self dispatch. If you aren't part of the concentrated efforts you could actually hamper current efforts and cause problems and delays. When it's life or death you could cost valuable time and assets.
I work with local SAR and am a member of our IMT as a "technical specialist". If I can help anyone please don't hesitate to hit me up in a PM and I'll do what I can.
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