SAR DOGS, K9 Search and Rescue, North Carolina CERT

Side-Scan Sonar Purchased!

- by jthorpe On Apr 01, 2008 - 1:16 AM

Side-Scan Sonar Purchased!

Apex NC - Thanks to your donations, NCCERT has completed the purchase of our side scan sonar system. In addition, training on the system is scheduled to begin in April.

Law enforcement and Search and Rescue personnel are frequently called to search for drowning victims. These searches typically consist of dog teams, dive teams, underwater cameras etc. Underwater searches using divers can be very dangerous depending on a variety of factors such as water depth, wind and weather conditions, current and obstructions.

While sometimes the search area may be very small, they can also be huge. Large areas like this can be difficult to search using traditional techniques. Side scan sonar has been proven to be very accurate and can reduce search time by hours or even days. In addition, the chance of finding your "target" is significantly increased. An added benefit to this is safety of your rescue teams because divers don't usually need to be deployed until you've "hit" with the sonar system.

Two great tools for this type of work are dogs and sonar. In a large search area, a dog can be used to decrease the search area. Once smaller search areas are marked, side scan sonar can be used to pinpoint the location of the target. Dive teams are then brought in to bring the target to the surface.

NCCERT made the decision to purchase this system based on those facts and now that we have completed the purchase of side scan sonar, the safety of our personnel will be enhanced. In addition, we have an exponentially increased chance of providing closure for those families who are missing their loved one.

NCCERT would like to thank the tremendous effort of not only our team members but also those who have given time and money to make this purchase possible.

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NCCERT Seeks Donations for Side-Scan Sonar System

- by jthorpe On Dec 06, 2007 - 12:01 AM

NCCERT Seeks Donations for Side-Scan Sonar System

The North Carolina Canine Emergency Response Team is currently seeking donations to help better prepare and equip our volunteers and rescue team. NC C.E.R.T. is a search & rescue, disaster and cadaver search team comprised of 100% volunteers located throughout North Carolina. State agencies, police and fire departments rely on our canine search team to help find victims that are missing. NC C.E.R.T. receives on average up to fifty calls a year. Our volunteers commit hundreds of hours a year to training and responding to help save lives and bring closure to missing person’s cases.

NC C.E.R.T. is a 501(c) 3 organization that is funded solely by donations. In addition to providing highly skilled rescue services to Emergency Management, Law Enforcement and Fire Departments, NC C.E.R.T. provides education and public awareness of search dogs and rescue operations. All volunteers are responsible for buying their own equipment, which can cost thousands of dollars. Donations we receive are used for vehicle upkeep, trainings and toward the purchasing of new equipment.

In addition to land searches, NC C.E.R.T. has search dogs that assist in water rescue. We are currently seeking donations to purchase a side - scan sonar for water related recovery. This sonar unit will give us the ability to search the bottom of ponds, lakes and other waterways for missing persons or missing items requested by law enforcement agencies. The cost of this unit is approximately $32,000.

Donations of any amount help to save lives. The purchasing of the side scan sonar will make searches for missing persons quicker and safer for our team and fellow rescuers. Along with being deployed statewide, we are also routinely deployed to states along the East Coast. The side - scan sonar will make NC C.E.R.T. one of the few volunteer organizations in the United States to have the ability to offer this service without cost to the requesting agencies.

Thank you for your time and caring.

Checks can be made payable to:

NC C.E.R.T.
P.O. Box 222
New Hill, NC 27562

1 Reply | 2,878 Views

Borders Gift Wrapping Nov 24 and Dec 1

- by jthorpe On Nov 17, 2007 - 7:11 PM

Gift Wrapping at Borders

NCCERT team members will be gift wrapping purchased books inside the Borders bookstore at Beaver Creek Commons, Apex. Dates are as follows:

Saturday, November 24 and Saturday, December 1, from Noon until 8pm.

Gift-wrapping is free but donations will be gratefully accepted. Please come out to support the team.

UPDATE: See more about our fund raiser here...

http://www.nccert.org/vb/showthread.php?t=467

0 Replies | 2,336 Views

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