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#searchandrescue

2 posts2 participants0 posts today

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Colorado Sun: First responders in Colorado’s mountain towns are receiving wave of unfounded texts for help from satellite-enabled iPhones

At least 10 Colorado 911 dispatch centers have received emergency texts from iPhones saying people were trapped, lost or on fire

coloradosun.com/2025/07/23/col

The Colorado Sun · First responders in Colorado’s mountain towns are receiving wave of unfounded texts for help from satellite-enabled iPhonesBy Jason Blevins

CNN: FEMA search and rescue chief resigns after frustration with Texas flood response

"The head of FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue branch, which runs a network of teams stationed across the country that can swiftly respond to natural disasters, resigned on Monday.

Ken Pagurek’s departure comes less than three weeks after a delayed FEMA response to catastrophic flooding in central Texas caused by bureaucratic hurdles put in place by the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the disaster response agency..."

cnn.com/2025/07/21/politics/fe

CNN · FEMA search and rescue chief resigns after frustration with Texas flood responseBy Gabe Cohen
Continued thread

Ham Radio's role -- the search and rescue team was unable to contact their command post, but used ham radio to relay emergency traffic:

"Because of the dense forest and canopy in the remote location, the rescue team was unable to communicate with the command post that the pair had safely been found.

“They utilized an amateur radio frequency, commonly known as HAM radio, to establish communication,” officials said. “After broadcasting ’emergency traffic’ on the HAM radio, their call was immediately answered by a retired El Dorado County Communications Supervisor who was a HAM operator monitoring frequencies from his home. This HAM operator then contacted the El Dorado 911 center, which provided the information to Calaveras Dispatch, and the SAR command post was notified.” "

Successful rescue at Glacier National Park after people taking a selfie fell into Avalanche Creek.

"A group of four visitors from Florida were gathering for a photo on the rocks above Avalanche Gorge, when one individual slipped and fell into the water, a second and third person trying to help also fell in. Two of the individuals were swept through the gorge while one was able to grab ahold of tree branches in the gorge, waiting for help. "

nps.gov/glac/learn/news/glacie

www.nps.govGlacier staff and park visitors rescue three people after falling into Avalanche Creek - Glacier National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

From Montrose SAR (earlier this morning)

Montrose Search & Rescue Team (Ca.)

"Day 6 – The search for Monica Reza continues in the Mount Waterman area. SAR teams from San Diego to Tulare County have joined the mission to help bring her home. We’re grateful for their tireless efforts. #FindMonicaReza #MontroseSAR #MutualAid

"Please avoid the search area. Uncoordinated hikers can interfere with tracking, delay progress, or create new emergencies. We also have enough food & supplies at this time. Thank you for supporting trained teams. #StayClearForSafety #SAR #AngelesNationalForest"

Continued thread

My lessons learned were:

- Pay attention to the same weather and check forecast before heading out
- Bring enough water for a 16 mile trail (which turned into 20+). I needed at least four liters, I brought two
- Have redundant medication, map, compass, and gps (if you have one)
- Don't trust others' stated expertise or knowledge of a trail that you have not walked before
- Do not be overconfident in your abilities

I read some posts about missing hikers and false shortcuts and wanted to share a similar experience summiting Lone Peak in Utah with a few coworker friends one summer. My mistakes were: I did not check the weather, bring enough water and food, and I did not bring a map.

We started at about 7:00am from the trailhead and submitted 5-6 hours later, early in the afternoon. From the peak we could already see the thunderheads building out west over the Oquirrh Mountains. I did know how fast the storms blew in and convinced the other two to start heading down.

We made some good progress but as we were slowed in a boulder field, the storm hit us like a cannon. We got to be part of quite the show. The sky turned dark green and we were whipped around like flies by downbursts on an exposed ridge, all the while lightning peeled across the sky.

Nearly deaf from thunder and very disoriented, It didn't take long for us to panic and run for cover heading downhill in a slot canyon.

Continued thread

No current imagery of the area that person is in. $759 for new imagery, but the time will be 2-3 days (or longer) to acquire, which is not great when you've been missing for 3 days. That said, there is water at the bottom of the canyon, you won't starve to death as long as you stay hydrated and don't hurt yourself. You might locate someone if they are smart enough to be out in the open with reflective/bright colors. (ps. tip: BRING AN EMERGENCY BLANKET WITH YOU HIKING ALL THE TIME... Can't miss it from a helicopter) #SearchAndRescue #SAR #hiking #Waterman #AngelesNF

Continued thread

Here's one of the typical places people go wrong... Instead of turning left on the trails back towards the road, they end up going past the trail and down into the canyon on the right. The guy I located from his selfie, and I have at least two others (maybe 3?) marked... one was an Eagle Scout and went all the way left and survived, the other was a fatality. There are probably others. The hard part for crews (and hikers) is it is a big area, not easy to be seen in the trees, can't hear people. #Waterman #SearchAndRescue #SAR #hiking