While they were all the same generic type of rescue scenario, each one had a different twist thrown into it so as to challenge the team in new ways each time; such as the surprise scenario sprung on the group by Capt. Dankers and both Lt. Winchells later that night. The last day was spent out on the slightly less intimidating 90 foot cliffs learning about and putting to practice a crash course on rock climbing.

All in all, it was an amazing trip, with each day presenting new adventures, challenges, and learning experiences.  From the morning wisdom search that Capt. Dankers used to kick-start each day to the scenario debriefings, there was always a chance to glean something valuable and work on applying it.

-Corporal Daniel Creedon

]]> http://www.alertacademy.com/alert/blog/2011/09/02/tech-rescue-goes-to-arkansas/feed/ 5 http://www.alertacademy.com/alert/blog/2011/05/31/tornado-relief-in-joplin-missouri/ http://www.alertacademy.com/alert/blog/2011/05/31/tornado-relief-in-joplin-missouri/#comments Tue, 31 May 2011 14:43:26 +0000 hsmith http://www.alertacademy.com/alert/?p=2022 Relief efforts are in full swing in this hard hit city, and a twenty man ALERT team is also involved.  The scope and severity of the devastation is truly hard to imagine and the clean up has barely made a dent.  The death toll continues to rise and thousands more are affected by loss of their property.  Our team is mostly focused on chainsaw work, cutting up clearing yards, and helping out wherever needed.  Please pray for the many people affected by this disaster in Joplin, that Christ’s love and mercy would be made evident to them in this time.

- Stephen Winchell, ALERT Sergeant Major

Thirty-four ALERT men and officers left for Alabama this Sunday to assist in the relief efforts for the massive tornado that ripped across the state, killing hundreds and damaging thousands of homes.  Two days of work tarping damaged roofs, clearing storm debris, and cutting up twisted trees leave us tired at the end of the day, but eager for more.  Working in conjunction with Samaritan’s Purse in the Birmingham area, we will be continuing through at least Friday, and despite the large amount of work a crew of ALERT men this size can accomplish, there remains much to be done.  Please pray that the work we accomplish, the hymns we sing, the Bibles we sign and distribute, and the words we share will encourage people and turn their focus back to the One who came to love and serve us.

Here are two perspectives from ALERT men currently on deployment:

Being a part of helping serve the people of Birmingham, Alabama in tornado relief has been a real blessing.  People watched the tornado come in and have first-hand stories of God’s protection in times of struggle.  It also has been really neat to see believers from all over the country come in to serve complete strangers with a selfless heart of love.  Many of the people are elderly and unable to do the work themselves and are very grateful for the help.  I look forward to seeing how God will use us as we serve for His glory in the days ahead.

RFC Matthew Hartlaub
Delevan, Wisconsin

What aspects of this deployment have stood out to me so far?
It’s very humbling to be served a hot breakfast from the ladies at the church you’re staying in, when you know that they woke up much earlier than you to prepare it and that they themselves are personally dealing with the aftermath of the tornado.

It’s sobering to meet people whose lives have been so fundamentally shaken by the storm. People like John, who worries for his family, as trees which once provided peaceful shade now hang precariously over his home.

It’s an encouragement to work alongside fellow Christians, men who have traveled from Pennsylvania, Florida, and other states, as well as with my brothers from ALERT.  As well as sharpening and supporting each other, it’s encouraging as each of us is seeking to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the men we’re working alongside.

It’s a challenge, at the end of a long, hot, humid day, when you’re tired and you itch from the insulation and poison ivy not to become self-focused and complacent.

Humbled, sobered, encouraged and challenged, we are blessed as we are given the opportunity and honor of displaying Christ’s love toward others. Working to meet their physical needs, even as we seek to meet the deeper spiritual needs that lie in the hearts of every man, woman and child.

Sergeant Samuel Wearden
ALERT Medical Instructor

First Group

The first week started out rough with about half of the group having colds. Despite this setback they all did well and were ready for SRD by week two.  During the first week they got to enjoy the pristine waters of Crystal Lake and Winston Park Lake.

Week two – SRD. Most of them were pretty nervous about searching in the alligator infested canals with minimal visibility, but after several days of searching in the canal they were ready to go look for cars. On the last day they found two cars.

Second Group

This group got off to a better start because unlike the first group they were healthy when they arrived. Other than the healthier start everything went about the same for the second group. They did Open Water and Advanced Open Water the first week and Special Response Diving the second week. At the end of the second week we went back to where the first group had found the two cars and searched again. This time we found a Corvette that had been dumped there during the two weeks since the first group had been there.

Isaac Lemelin (left) Cody Price (right)

Dive Master Mark Sowash (left) preparing to observe his two students, Nathan Mellas and Connor Dahl, (right) in their search skills.

It was great to see them all improve each day as they get more used to the public safety side as opposed to the sport diving side.  They all enjoyed their training and progressed more and more each day.  At the end of the week they had a chance to put their skills to the test and do a search for vehicles.  They searched 2 lakes with a depth of 60′ and visibility of about 25′.   Two vehicles were successfully found – 1 had been reported stolen in 2008.

Nathan McGrath (top) converses with his dive buddy, Jeremy Yoder as they practice a search they must master to gain the title of public safety diver.

Jordan Harvel (Instructor for CETI Dive corp.), a graduate of ALERT Aquatics, oversees the in-water skills in the shallow end of the pool.

With a class of 25 students and 7 Dive master/Instructors the week went well and everyone adapted quickly from class room teaching to in water practicals.  Each day the students dove twice to get the appropriate amount of time underwater to be able to be certified.

Jed Backus shows his students the correct way to find their regulator in case of it being pulled or knocked out of their mouths.

They all did extremely well.  The dive masters worked fast and quickly taught all the appropriate skills for open and advanced SCUBA, including underwater navigation, night diving and deep diving.   The students all excelled each day to learn the required skills in hopes of completing the required certifications to make it to a public safety diver this next week through NAPD.

Josh Thomson removing an air hose from the air bag so the pipe can be moved to its desired location.

Divers Colin Price (right) Josh Thomson (center) and Mark Sowash (left) inside their recovered boat.

The boat was lifted in two stages, one just to get it close to the surface and off the bottom and the second to get the sides out of the water.  (In order to bail water out of the boat so it would be independent of the lift bags.)

The lifting pontoon holds all of the needed gear so it is a short swim to get what is needed no matter the lift.

This pontoon contained all the gear needed to make a safe controlled lift of any vehicle, small boat, small aircraft, or anything needing to be lifted. It was easy to move and the swim to get more gear short and fast.  It was able to be lifted while the divers were standing right next to the object, and keeping an eye on the lifting process.

Agency’s involved: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , Whitehouse FD and Smith County Sheriff’s Office.

We are glad to report that they did find the victim later the next day.

This past week (July 12th through the 16th) we had Marina Diver training held in Louisiana. We road tripped down Monday morning and started class that night. The following day we went out the Lake Pontchartrain to the 24 mile long bridge and did pylon inspections.

Between the 24 mile long bridge.

We each inspected several pylons to get a handle on what the work is like.

Mark Sowash swimming to the bridge pylon to conduct an inspection.

We cleaned a fishing boat, a pontoon, and a yacht.   All were in bad shape and had not been kept up, so the work took longer than usual.

Josh Thomson (far left) Colin Price (middle) and Mark Sowash, in front of the 40 ft yacht they cleaned Thursday, July 15th 2010.

They all did well and all students passed their practical skills with flying colors.