Sheriff's Corner

Hello from your Sheriff! We recently had a successful Search & Rescue (SAR) mission that highlighted the amazing efforts of responders and the modernized capabilities of the Sheriff’s Office.

In the late evening of Thursday March 20, Wahkiakum SAR was activated by Deputy Lucas Getman in response to an overdue and potentially lost hiker that was separated from her party ina wooded and wetland area. Deputy Getman coordinated the mission and search teams that consisted of responders from Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Pacific County, Washington State Patrol, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Other resources and responders via the WA State Emergency Management Division were on standby.

Emergency Management Coordinator Austin Smith and Emergency Technology Coordinator Beau Renfro set up a mobile Incident Command post (IC) in the area. The IC consisted of newly implemented mobile satellite internet technology that provided strong and reliable on scene Wi-Fi to all searchers in an area that otherwise had no signal, a computer with Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) to track and log the status of those involved, a printer that provided searchers with up-to-date mission information, and phones that provided direct communications with involved agencies. This equipment also provided mapped tracking of search teams via the CalTopo phone application.

The IC was setup in about 20 to 30 mins and ready before search teams were deployed. This newmobile IC setup is not only useful for SAR missions but can be utilized in any emergency requiring on scene incident command and/or remote dispatch communications, and greatly increases the capabilities of the Sheriff’s Office response to natural disasters.

Deputy Getman continued to lead the mission through the next morning for the first search to begin while Smith ran the IC and Renfro provided logistics. A Coast Guard helicopter spotted the lost hiker after she lit a signal fire within an area designated for the second search. The hiker was then contacted safe and sound by the ground teams.

I thank all of those involved, especially the volunteers from the SAR teams of Southwest Washington who so bravely sacrifice their time for others in need. SAR is an honorable service that provides fulfilling and exciting opportunities to help our community and beyond. If you are looking for ways to help your community, learn new and valuable skills, and feel a calling to a bit of adventure, then please apply to be a volunteer with Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team!

Stay safe, Wahkiakum County!