Blog
Sat
15
Nov
2014
CANCELLED - WVSARCO meeting on 11/16/2014

The WV Search and Rescue Council meeting scheduled for Sunday, November 16, 2014, has been cancelled.
The Council will meet in December as planned.
Mon
27
Oct
2014
WVSARCO Meeting, Sunday, November 16, 2014, Flatwoods, WV at 10am

The WV SAR Council will meet on Sunday, 11/16/2014, at 10 am.
As usual, the meeting will be in the WV Rural Emergency / Trauma Institute - RETI Training Center. Conference room on the 3rd floor.
I look forward to seeing you all.
Thanks, Rita
DIRECTIONS
I-79 Exit 67 Flatwoods, WV
Up the hill past the Days Hotel
Go past jail on left
Turn left after passing the Braxton County Emergency Services
Thu
23
Oct
2014
WVSARCO Meeting will not occur at SAREX on Sunday, 10/26/2014

The WVSARCO meeting that was postponed from 9/14/2014 and planned to occur at the SAREX on Sunday 10/26/2014 will not be held due to unforeseen circumstances. Notice of the new date and
time will be made as soon as arrangements have been finalized. Thank you for your patience.
Mon
01
Sep
2014
WVSARCO Meeting 9/14/2014 has been Postponed

The WVSARCO meeting scheduled for Sunday, September 14, 2014 has been postponed.
Notice of the new meeting will be posted once the details are finalized.
Wed
11
Jun
2014
WV SAR Council Meeting, Sunday, 6/22/14 at 10am, Flatwoods, WV

WV SAR Council Meeting, Sunday, June 22nd, 10 am, Flatwoods, WV
Due to the low turnout for the WVSARCO meeting on June 8th, there was not a quorum to conduct business.
Therefore, the Council will meet on Sunday, June 22nd at 10 am in Flatwoods.
As usual, the meeting will be in the WV Rural Emergency / Trauma Institute - RETI Training Center. Conference room on 3rd floor.
DIRECTIONS
I-79 Exit 67 Flatwoods, WV
Up the hill past the Days Hotel
Go past jail on left
Turn left after passing the Braxton County Emergency Services
Wed
30
Apr
2014
CANCELLED - FUNSAR in Elizabeth, WV (Wirt County)

The FUNSAR class that was to be offered in May in Elizabeth, WV has been cancelled due to the low enrollment.
Thu
24
Apr
2014
STAGING AREA for SAREX

The Staging Area for the SAREX is located along Rt 39 East of Richwood on Kennison Mountain. It is approximately one quarter of a mile West (on the right at a forest service gate) of the Intersection of Rt 39 and the Scenic Highway Rt 150. The Wildlife Center is across from the intersection.
Coordinates: 38 10 51N 080 15 35 W
UTM:
Zone: 17
Easting: 42 25 950
Northing: 5 64 814
Fri
04
Apr
2014
WANTED: Equestrians for SAREX

We have three openings on the equestrian search team for the SAREX in May. If you are at least a SARTECH III and are an experienced rider, contact Mike Kelley at 304-643-2688 or mrkelley@zoominternet.net for more information.
Mon
17
Mar
2014
16th Annual Upper Ohio Valley Fire & Rescue School March 29 & 30, 2014
ATV Rescue
Instructor-Tim Arthur
This course will teach skills necessary to access, stabilize and transport the patient once they have been found. Topics include patient packaging and helmet removal, ropes and knots, basic hauling and lowering systems, using GPS, and elements of patient transport utilizing ATVs and UTVs. The second day will be spent outdoors practicing the skills learned on the first day. Each student will need clothing appropriate for the anticipated weather. Students must be at least 18 years of age.
ALL PATICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO BRING AN ATV or UTV, DOT HELMET AND EYE PROTECTION. FULL PROTECTIVE GEAR REQUIRED.
Mon
17
Mar
2014
TACTICs April 25-27, 2014 in Canaan, WV

Over the last 4 years, TACTICs primary objective has been and always will be that “Training Saves Lives”.
In 2013, 233 emergency service workers (FD, EMS, LEO) lost their lives in the line of duty. How do we lower those numbers? How do we do everything possible to make sure that Everyone Goes Home?
At TACTICs we strive to offer innovative and progressive training to prepare all branches of the emergency services for the job they do. Our goal is not just to train until we get it right, but to train until we can’t get it wrong! We are proud to have been offering this quality training for 5 consecutive years.
Join us for our 5 year anniversary and be part of the TACTICs experience!
We have Rob Speiden's team in teaching Basic SAR and a Land Nav Class again this year and many other classes for emergency service workers.
Sandy Green, Chief
Canaan Valley VFD
IC - TACTICs
Basic SAR Rob Speiden 16 hrs
This course is designed for law enforcement and emergency services personnel who are the first responders to a search and rescue (SAR) incident. The intent of the course is to provide enough tools to adequately evaluate an incident and to take appropriate initial actions.
Basic Land Navigation Rob Speiden 8 hrs
This course will provide a thorough classroom introduction to compass use and map reading. Practical field exercises will improve your understanding of using topographic maps in conjunction with a compass to navigate accurately and confidently.
Sun
16
Mar
2014
FUNSAR in Elizabeth, WV (Wirt County)

FUNSAR Class
When: May 9-11 and May 17-18, 2014
Where: Elizabeth, WV (Wirt County)
Cost: No cost for class but see note below.
Instructor: Mike Kelley
Contact: Bo Wriston
Email: wirtcooes@gmail.com
Phone: 304-629-3735
There is no cost for the class, but students must bring a complete SARTECH II pack with them to class. Details on the contents of this pack may be found at http://www.nasar.org/files/education/NASAR_SARTECHTM_II_MINIMUM_PERSONAL_EQUIPMENT_LIST_11_2004.pdf.
Sun
16
Mar
2014
Working Group - Insurance and Workers Compensation

The Council is continuing to study the complex liability insurance and workers compensation/accident and sickness insurance issues facing search teams in West Virginia. Please contact Rita if you are willing to work on this.
Sun
16
Mar
2014
Inland SAR Planning Course

On March 10-14th, United States Air Force personnel from the National Search and Rescue School conducted a 5 day Inland Search and Rescue Planning Course for search managers from West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland and Washington, D.C. The course was hosted by the Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department.
Sun
16
Mar
2014
Documents to Review before June 8th Meeting

Please see the Policies & Procedures page for documents that will be discussed and voted on at the June 8, 2014 meeting.
1) Conflict of Interest Policy DRAFT
2) Communications Plan DRAFT
Sun
16
Mar
2014
WVSARCO Meeting June 8, 2014 at 10 am

WVSARCO Meeting June 8, 2014 at 10 am RETI Training Center (Rural Emergency Trauma Institute) Flatwoods, WV
Sun
16
Mar
2014
SAREX 2014 May 2-4 Cranberry Glades/Plum Creek Area

All search teams that want to participate are welcome, including out of state teams.
Respond: The number of team members from each team who plan to participate should be forwarded to Mike Kelley, WVSARCO Treasurer, at mrkelley@zoominternet.net or 304-643-2688 no later than April 11, 2014 so that arrangements can be made for adequate food and other resources to support the exercise.
An interagency search and recovery exercise to be held in cooperation with the West Virginia Air National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, WV Search and Rescue Council, WV Department of Homeland Security, Forrest Service, and county (Pocahontas and Greenbrier) EMS, emergency management, and law enforcement officials.
Scenario: A rocket, launched from Wallops Island, VA suffered a malfunction shortly after launch. A satellite, with unknown nuclear and/or hazardous chemicals aboard, reentered the atmosphere to the west of the launch site and broke up shortly after entering West Virginia. The debris field is extensive and widely scattered. NASA has requested the assistance of all available search resources to recover as many pieces of the destroyed satellite as possible.
Objective: Ensure that all search and rescue resources within the state can work together, communicate effectively, and successfully complete a wide-area search mission.
Information: Primitive camping will be available. All meals on Saturday (including a MRE lunch) will be provided. Sunday breakfast will also be included. Pocahontas SAR will handle staging and site registration.This is an announced exercise, in order to obtain maximum participation for all organizations. Incident Command will be handled by the Forest Service. Search management organization and execution will be coordinated by Bill Kersher, WVDHSEM. A UH-72 Lakota and a UH-60 Blackhawk will be on site for both inspection and participation in the drill.