Virginia Search and Rescue Program

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VirginiaSearch and RescueProgram
Mark Eggeman State SAR Coordinator Operations
Division, VDEM
Emergency Services Coordinators Briefing - 2008
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Search and Rescue Program

• Operations Division of VDEM
• 2 primary elements
• Training
• Operations

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Training Inland SAR

• Law enforcement, Fire-Rescue, EMS, Emergency
  Managers SAR Volunteers
• Approx. 1100 personnel annually
• Field Skills
• Search tactics, navigation, rescue, etc.
• Management skills
• Search strategy, planning, coordination, etc.

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Operations

• Upon request of local jurisdiction
• Coordinate statewide SAR response
• Virginia Emergency Operations Center
• One-stop-shop for local jurisdictions
• Available 24 hrs 800 468-8892

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Operations

• Scope of Operations
• Aeronautical
• Inland
• Maritime
• Urban (Catastrophic Incidents)

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Operations

• Non-Declared Events
• Lost/Missing Persons
• Cadaver/Evidence
• Emergency Distress Beacons
• Missing/Overdue Aircraft
• Downed Aircraft
• Swiftwater Rescue
• Cave Rescue
• Maritime SAR

• Declared Events
• Catastrophic Incidents
• Mutual Aid / EMAC
• Least common yet most visible

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SAR Resources

• Ground SAR
• Mantracking
• SAR IMTs
• Mounted
• K-9

• Cave / High-Angle
• USR
• Regional HTR
• Swiftwater
• Aircraft

Various skill levels and sub-specialties exist
within each category
38 organizations serve as a SAR asset to the
Virginia SAR Program
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Mission Tracking

• General averages of frequency
• Aeronautical
• Emergency Distress Beacons (90)
• Aircraft crashes (40)
• Inland SAR (90)
• Maritime SAR (200)
• Catastrophic SAR (2-3)

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Aeronautical SAR
Aircraft Crashes Jan Sep 2008
Alive Well Alive, Injured
Fatal Suspended
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Aeronautical SAR
Distress Beacons Jan Sep 2008
Located Not Located
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Inland SAR
Jan Sep 2008
Alive Well Alive, Injured
Deceased Suspended
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Maritime SAR

• Chesapeake Bay
• Navigable tributaries and waterways
• Primarily served by
• U.S. Coast Guard
• Virginia Marine Resource Commission
• VA. Dept. of Game Inland Fisheries
• Local jurisdictions w/marine capability

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Catastrophic SAR

• 2008 Events
• Severe Wx / Tornado Wise Co.
• Tornado Damage - Suffolk
• Building Collapse - Chester

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Requesting Resources

• VEOC 800 468-8892 / 804 674-2400
• Information to provide
• Name of missing
• Age / Gender / Race
• Place last seen (street address if possible)
• Time last seen
• Reported missing to who / what time
• Directions (or address) to ICP
• Name number of on-scene officer in charge

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Requesting Resources

• Address needs to be complete w/city
• Local street addresses are not unique to all of
  Virginia
• Types and numbers of resources requested
• If uncertain, can request to speak w/SAR
  Coordinator for consultation

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QUESTIONS?
Mark Eggeman Mark.Eggeman_at_VDEM.Virginia.Gov 804
674-2422