Video: An Inside Look Into Search and Rescue Missions

[syndicaster id=’5860922′]

NORTHEAST MISS. (WCBI) – The search and rescue missions we’ve seen in North Mississippi are complex and require a lot of planning.
First responders have one goal; to find the missing people but it has to be a team effort.There have been two active searches in North Mississippi. One in Pontotoc County and the other in Monroe County.
One search was on land and the other in the water.
This is what rescue crews train for but there’s always an element of danger.

Monroe County Emergency Management Agency Director, Robert ‘Bunky’ Goza, knows how to respond to disasters.
He also knows how to lead a search on the Tombigbee River.
The training is similar. However, there are many elements to consider while searching for missing people.

“Then we have to worry about the safety of our responders and also the comfort and well-being of the family members here with their loved ones,” said Goza.

A number of state and local agencies pitch in to help.

Some have specialized skills, such as the dive team. Other agencies help coordinate rescue crews, telling them where to go and others volunteer their time to lend a hand where it’s needed.

Goza says networking with other agencies benefits during emergencies.

“In our line of work as responders, is to build relationships with other agencies that have techniques and specialities to help us in our situations. We have a local search and rescue team that does a fantastic job for us but also they train along with other responders around the state,” said Goza.

While both land and water searches are mapped out, there are some differences between the two.

“More of a land based search, we actually do a grid and do a walking grid search pattern, whereas the water rescue, we concentrate on the banks along the outside in case the victim does go to the side we search the banks real well, but work on sonar techniques,” said Goza.

While the crews come together from across the area in a matter of hours, bringing knowledge and manpower, they have one goal.

“We all have one common thing and that thing is the love of people and take care of each other, so this is what we exercise for, we train for, we plan for,” said Goza.

Various search and rescue teams spend several hours a month training on the land and in the water.