Hailstone rescue

[Shep]

I would concur that this sort of rescue is only partly about being on the water. In weather like this, the search coordinator might not want people putting on due to the risk of flashing, but people who know the terrain and recognize the sorts of clues we paddlers leave (and don't leave... "No, that pool floaty is not from a WW boater.") are invaluable.

Be safe everybody!
Paul

[Ryan Center]

Well said Heather.

[Ben Rodda]

Any Updates?

I have heard that they have found the father but are still looking for the son.

This late in the day are they still calling for volunteers?

I have plenty of experience. If I left in the next 30 minutes I would not make it down there until 3:30 or 4:00.

[Shep]

Ben,

I know Tom and others appreciate your desire and willingness to help out. If they have in fact found one person (any news of condition?) then that is a very good sign of finding the other. At this point I would stay home, as the roads are only getting worse, and without direct contact with the search coordinators, finding the staging area to check in could be tough. I asked Tom to contact me if they needed a second shift and have not heard anything yet.

Thanks,
Paul
(Member of Washington County Search and Rescue)

[Victor Caballeros]

Ben,

I know Tom and others appreciate your desire and willingness to help out. If they have in fact found one person (any news of condition?) then that is a very good sign of finding the other. At this point I would stay home, as the roads are only getting worse, and without direct contact with the search coordinators, finding the staging area to check in could be tough. I asked Tom to contact me if they needed a second shift and have not heard anything yet.

Thanks,
Paul
(Member of Washington County Search and Rescue)

Paul for me this is home. I am willing to go help if they need extra eyes and ears or someone to look though the woods and roads let me know cause I'm heading that way anyways 479-799-one one two two

[Ben Rodda]

I called the sheriffs department. They are staging at the Baptist church. The lady said that they had found the 67yr old male and he was alive she did not say what his condition was. They were still trying to locate the 17 year old.

Your statement about roads is wise. At this point I am going wait it out and God forbid (due to blessing of course) will be available tomorrow to help out on the river as that is where I feel my strengths are best.

I will continue to check in here for news.

Additionally I can be reached at three 0 three 885 seventy six eighty five

Ben

[The Red Prophet]

Please, keep us posted.
This could easily have been Cheyenne and I.

[prophet]

as mentioned above, as of 2:30 one was found and one still out in the woods. hope they get him in before dark, 2 nights out would be really rough

[Mrs Burroughs]

Just got a call from Tom. He confirmed one is found and one still missing. I'm sure he'll provide more detail when he makes it back to internet access and let you know how to best volunteer. He, Steve Runnels(Paddledog), and Ryan Hughes are on the way back now. Although it may be awhile before they get home, Washington County Search and Rescue is calling on all their members with swiftwater experience to help out in the urban rescue situations currently going on. It's pretty epic out there! On my way home I discovered West Fork Schools are flooded(the kids probably won't be going to school tomorrow), Riverside park has been enveloped by the West Fork(you can barely see the top of the really tall kids playground equipment), Woolsey bridge is covered, and 71 is close to being covered. Be safe!

[Shep]

Heard from Tom. It has become a land-based search now. He is on his way back towards Fayetteville now. Thank you to every one who went, and everyone who was willing to set things to the side, pack their gear and head out. I don't have any more info than what you see posted in this thread, but I'm sure that our involvement has helped this situation.

Thanks,
Paul

[BMuu]

A few of us ran the hailstone today, the water was BIG 7' (sure ate my playboat) when we put in and it was rising fast toward the end, fog was dense and chance of it flashing was high.

About 4 miles from the take out we found the grandfather/sons throw bag caught in a tree in the middle of the river. Stopping was not an option at that point though so beyond keeping an eye out there wasn't much we could do.

My guess is he tried to hike out and wasn't near shore.

Word is he is okay and just got seperated on different sides of the creek from the 67 year old man who made it out.

I hope he is found soon!

[Roger]

Let's hope Kyle's info is good!

[Cowper]

Word is he is okay and just got seperated on different sides of the creek from the 67 year old man who made it out.

I hope he is found soon!

I am SO glad to hear that - thank you for that tid-bit of information. I was beginning to fear the worst. And I second the motion on hoping he is found soon.

[Ate My Lunch]

Wish I had gone up there this morning. Really regret choosing work over at least showing up there. I'm out of Clarksville/Lamar and could have been in Boxley by 0930.

I'm Not the most experienced boater, nor swift-water rescue trained, so I did not submit myself for "the list," but man on foot I can quickly cover heaps of ground, and I'm well equipped to do so over a sustained period of time, regardless of the elements.

Just really feel like I could have contributed to helping the young man out of a perilous situation, and feeling a bit of regret for not at least attempting to do more.

My prayers are with him

[painterbob]

hikers will start again in the morning.... a 17 year old boy wearing tee-shirt and bluejeans still in the woods lost! the command station is set up @ the boxley church. the river is closed. and flooding was bad along all the roads going in, or coming out. beech creek was ready to top the hwy. kings river was almost to the road in kingston. http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php ... 2&comments" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; this is the ditch behind the parking area @ ponca when we took out to night