NCHART
Last modified: October 23, 2018Emergency Response Training Lands at Biltmore
SAr team checking maps during a search. Maps and GPS are frequently used during training
In their 24th consecutive year North Carolina emergency response agencies have sponsored a spring search and rescue exercise. With Bloodhounds, all-terrain vehicles and satellite-tracking technology, about 200 people from law enforcement, rescue and fire agencies from across the Southeast joined together over part of Biltmore Estate, training in all fields, to find missing people in the rugged terrain of Western North Carolina.
The search at Biltmore Estate simulates operational conditions for a search mission in an exercise format. A man is “missing” (who actually isn’t missing) but participants in this training exercise are treating it like any other search they would do for a missing child or elderly walk-aways. They establish an Incident Management Team, utilize ground people for foot searches, K-9’s, GPS, maps, Helicopters, ATV’s and multiple other elements that are woven into this systematic approach to finding missing people.
Photos by Steve Dixon/SDixon@citizen-times.com and article by Mike McWilliams
Brian Shoemake in the IM trailer giving instructions
Helicopter during rescue exercise