SEARCH AND RESCUE Land/Wilderness. Ben Morse SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION CHIEF SAVANNAH FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES GEORGIA SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM COORDINATOR

SEARCH AND SEARCH AND RESCUERESCUE

Land/WildernessLand/Wilderness

Ben MorseBen Morse

SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION CHIEFSPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION CHIEF

SAVANNAH FIRE & EMERGENCY SAVANNAH FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICESSERVICES

GEORGIA SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM GEORGIA SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM COORDINATORCOORDINATOR

Search and RescueSearch and Rescue Land/WildernessLand/Wilderness

MethodologyMethodology– TerminologyTerminology– Search TechniquesSearch Techniques

Two Types of SearchesTwo Types of Searches– Land/WildernessLand/Wilderness– Urban SearchesUrban Searches

Geo-referencingGeo-referencing

Search and RescueSearch and RescueTerminologyTerminology

Search AreasSearch Areas– Assigned by Incident CommandAssigned by Incident Command– MapMap

Search GridsSearch Grids LabeledLabeled Map issued to each TeamMap issued to each Team

Point Last Seen (PLS)Point Last Seen (PLS)– Point on map where victim was last seen Point on map where victim was last seen

by a witnessby a witness Positive ID!Positive ID! Trailhead, hunting camp, office space, work area, etc…Trailhead, hunting camp, office space, work area, etc…

– Place to focus search aroundPlace to focus search around Age, experience, physical fitness, how long ago sightedAge, experience, physical fitness, how long ago sighted

– clues to how large search area will beclues to how large search area will be


Last KLast Knnoown Position (LKP)wn Position (LKP)– During a search clues will turn upDuring a search clues will turn up– When they are solid enough to be reasonably When they are solid enough to be reasonably

certain that the search victim left itcertain that the search victim left it Since LKP Since LKP more recent than PLS more recent than PLS

– New starting point for searchNew starting point for search– General direction of travelGeneral direction of travel– Approximate speed of travel Approximate speed of travel


PrProbobability of Detection (POD)ability of Detection (POD)– Likelihood of finding search subject in:Likelihood of finding search subject in:

Given search areaGiven search area With technique usedWith technique used Different search techniques yield different Different search techniques yield different

POD’sPOD’s– Coin reported in Sand BoxCoin reported in Sand Box

Each search technique has a “probability of Each search technique has a “probability of detection”detection”

– More thorough: higher POD/longer it takes to More thorough: higher POD/longer it takes to search same areasearch same area

– Managing a Search is a balance of POD and Managing a Search is a balance of POD and Search TimeSearch Time

Search and RescueSearch and RescueLand/Wilderness SearchLand/Wilderness Search

EquipmentEquipment– MapsMaps– Handheld GPSHandheld GPS– CompassCompass– Suitable clothingSuitable clothing

Weather / EnvironmentWeather / Environment

– Communications with aircraftCommunications with aircraft– Food, water, first aid, etc….Food, water, first aid, etc….– ATV’sATV’s


Search TechniquesSearch Techniques– Bastard SearchBastard Search

Look in obvious places/assume victim not lostLook in obvious places/assume victim not lost What the searchers call the person after crawling What the searchers call the person after crawling

through woods, etc… then finding him eating through woods, etc… then finding him eating popcorn and watching baseballpopcorn and watching baseball

– Example: boy goes hunting and doesn’t return by Example: boy goes hunting and doesn’t return by darkdark

Searchers called outSearchers called out Boy returns home in wee hoursBoy returns home in wee hours In reality, hunting story was fabricated to get out of In reality, hunting story was fabricated to get out of

chores and spend day with Sallychores and spend day with Sally

Search and RescueSearch and RescueLand/Wilderness SearchLand/Wilderness Search– When suspected – assign a team to do a hasty When suspected – assign a team to do a hasty

search of likely places the person would gosearch of likely places the person would go ConsiderationsConsiderations

– IntelligenceIntelligence Latest info of plans of personLatest info of plans of person Where they were goingWhere they were going Who are the friendsWho are the friends Recently made friendsRecently made friends

– SpeedSpeed Use radios & vehicles so planners can rule out areasUse radios & vehicles so planners can rule out areas Talk to the couple in the tent next doorTalk to the couple in the tent next door Was there an argument earlier in the dayWas there an argument earlier in the day Leave a note on the car, etc…Leave a note on the car, etc…


Containment SearchContainment Search– When search team arrives they have a PLS of When search team arrives they have a PLS of

victimvictim– Determine max area based on PLSDetermine max area based on PLS

How fast person walkingHow fast person walking How long since last seenHow long since last seen Wind up with a circle with PLS at the centerWind up with a circle with PLS at the center

– Direction unknownDirection unknown– Make containment the top priorityMake containment the top priority

It limits your search areaIt limits your search area– Anyone can do itAnyone can do it

Straight roads – two or three searchersStraight roads – two or three searchers Even two sides of area helpsEven two sides of area helps Must be vigilant – 100% that no one gets by themMust be vigilant – 100% that no one gets by them Run rehab for those in deeper searches/report in by Run rehab for those in deeper searches/report in by

radio regularlyradio regularly


Hasty SearchHasty Search– 10 to 12 highly trained searchers dropped 10 to 12 highly trained searchers dropped

in to virgin areain to virgin area Goal: move quickly, look for clues or lost personGoal: move quickly, look for clues or lost person Purpose: Bring a rapid end to the searchPurpose: Bring a rapid end to the search Almost slow jog, check areas person may be Almost slow jog, check areas person may be

injured or restinginjured or resting Not directed – team has free reignNot directed – team has free reign

– Slow down for point search; pass open areas very rapidlySlow down for point search; pass open areas very rapidly– Speed requires trained rescuers who know to look for Speed requires trained rescuers who know to look for

cluesclues Footprints, broken branchesFootprints, broken branches

POD based on skill of rescuers and search areaPOD based on skill of rescuers and search area


Grid SearchGrid Search– Typical line of searchers walking through Typical line of searchers walking through

woodswoods Searchers in straight line moving slowly and Searchers in straight line moving slowly and

deliberatelydeliberately Maintain spacing with searchers on sidesMaintain spacing with searchers on sides

– Do not take the path of least resistance (thorn Do not take the path of least resistance (thorn bush)bush)

– Seldom find victim, but typically find cluesSeldom find victim, but typically find clues– Sometimes used to give people something to do in Sometimes used to give people something to do in

very large searchesvery large searches Spacing – pack of cigarettesSpacing – pack of cigarettes


Choke Point SearchChoke Point Search– Use based on lost persons skills, and the Use based on lost persons skills, and the

terrainterrain Large river with few bridgesLarge river with few bridges

– Typically not very useful where lost person Typically not very useful where lost person is trying to evade searchersis trying to evade searchers

– Can be handled by less Can be handled by less experienced/physically fit teamsexperienced/physically fit teams


Track Trap SearchTrack Trap Search– Natural or man-made “traps” that capture Natural or man-made “traps” that capture

evidence of a lost persons passingevidence of a lost persons passing Footprints in sandFootprints in sand Clothing caught in thorn bushesClothing caught in thorn bushes

– Where frequent lost persons are reported,Where frequent lost persons are reported,(National Parks) SAR teams build track traps (National Parks) SAR teams build track traps out of sand on major trailsout of sand on major trails

Track traps are raked smooth, then checked Track traps are raked smooth, then checked frequentlyfrequently

Tracks are compared to those of the lost person Tracks are compared to those of the lost person


Do we need to have all Searchers Do we need to have all Searchers using the same system,using the same system,– AirAir– Ground TeamsGround Teams– Incident CommandIncident Command– Others…Others…

Should they all at least Should they all at least understand the playbook?understand the playbook?


Latitude / LongitudeLatitude / Longitude United States National GridUnited States National Grid Global Area Referencing SystemGlobal Area Referencing System

Lat/LongLat/Long

Lat / LongLat / Long Keeping it simple~ for Catastrophic Keeping it simple~ for Catastrophic

Incident SAR, the commonly described Incident SAR, the commonly described “Latitude and Longitude”describes what a “Latitude and Longitude”describes what a SAR responder will use on a standard SAR responder will use on a standard chart/map and what is displayed in a GPS chart/map and what is displayed in a GPS receiver.receiver.Lat: Lat: 31.9794 North31.9794 North

Long:Long: 81.1k685 West81.1k685 West

Lat/LongLat/Long

USNGUSNG

United States National Grid (USNG): United States National Grid (USNG):

Ground-based grided coordinate system Ground-based grided coordinate system based on Universal Transverse Mercator based on Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System. (UTM) System.

Basic unit of measure is the meter; Basic unit of measure is the meter; positions reported as distance north from positions reported as distance north from equator and distance from the zone equator and distance from the zone central meridian. central meridian.

Purpose: provide a seamless, Purpose: provide a seamless, standardized ref system for nationwide standardized ref system for nationwide use during times of crisis.use during times of crisis.

US National GridUS National Grid

Global Area Reference System Global Area Reference System (GARS): (GARS):

Georeferencing during a Georeferencing during a Catastrophic EventCatastrophic Event

NSARC Georeferencing Matrix: NSARC Georeferencing Matrix: Catastrophic Incident SARCatastrophic Incident SARGeoreference System User Georeference System User USNG USNG Lat/Long Lat/Long GARSGARS

DD-MM.mmm (1)DD-MM.mmm (1)

Land SAR Responder(2)Land SAR Responder(2) Primary Primary Secondary Secondary N/A N/A

Aeronautical SAR Responders(3) Aeronautical SAR Responders(3) Secondary Primary Secondary Primary Tertiary Tertiary

Air Space Deconfliction(4) Air Space Deconfliction(4) N/A N/A Primary Primary N/A N/A

Land SAR Responder/ Land SAR Responder/ Primary Primary Secondary Secondary N/A N/A

Aeronautical SAR Responder Aeronautical SAR Responder

Interface (5) Interface (5)

Incident Command: Incident Command:

Air SAR Coordination Air SAR Coordination Secondary PrimarySecondary Primary N/AN/A

Land SAR Coordination Land SAR Coordination Primary Primary Secondary Secondary N/A N/A

Area organization and Area organization and Secondary Tertiary Secondary Tertiary Primary Primary

accountability (6) accountability (6)


The FootnotesThe Footnotes1.1. During CIS operations, Lat/Long will be in During CIS operations, Lat/Long will be in

one standard format: one standard format: DD-MM.mmm. DD-MM.mmm.

2.2. Land SAR RespondersLand SAR Respondersmustuse USNG; mustuse USNG; however, a good familiarity with lat/long is however, a good familiarity with lat/long is necessary to ensure effective interface necessary to ensure effective interface between Land and Air SAR Responders.between Land and Air SAR Responders.


3.3. Air SAR Responders will use lat/long. Air SAR Responders will use lat/long. 4.4. Air space deconfliction: Air space deconfliction: only in Lat/Long.only in Lat/Long.5.5. Air SAR Responders working with Land Air SAR Responders working with Land

SAR Responders have primary SAR Responders have primary responsibility of coordinating SAR using responsibility of coordinating SAR using USNG(Both need to know USNG and USNG(Both need to know USNG and Lat/Long.).Lat/Long.).

6.6. GARS (Global Area Reference System): GARS (Global Area Reference System): used for CIS response leadership used for CIS response leadership situational awareness.situational awareness.


Catastrophic Incident defined:Catastrophic Incident defined: any natural or manmade incident, any natural or manmade incident,

including terrorism, that results in including terrorism, that results in extraordinary levels of mass causalities, extraordinary levels of mass causalities, damage, or disruption, severely damage, or disruption, severely affecting the population, infrastructure, affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions and/or government functions

Lat/Long –USNG -GARSLat/Long –USNG -GARS

Matrix is for NSARC member Matrix is for NSARC member agency SAR Respondersagency SAR RespondersNSARC won’t impose NSARC won’t impose georeferencing standards on georeferencing standards on volunteer, local, or State SAR volunteer, local, or State SAR Responders; however:Responders; however:Need to be aware of what to expect Need to be aware of what to expect when a Catastrophic Incident is when a Catastrophic Incident is declared and NSARC member declared and NSARC member agencies conduct SAR operations. agencies conduct SAR operations.

Lat/Long –USNG -GARSLat/Long –USNG -GARS

Matrix Matrix willwill be implemented when be implemented when a Catastrophic Incident occurs.a Catastrophic Incident occurs.

(As defined in the NRF)(As defined in the NRF)

Questions?Questions?

Documents

SEARCH AND RESCUE Land/Wilderness. Ben Morse SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION CHIEF SAVANNAH FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES GEORGIA SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM COORDINATOR