Search and Rescue training starts Friday

By on Thursday, June 1st, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

UMATILLA COUNTY – Umatilla County Search and Rescue is hosting the 2023 Eastern Oregon Regional Training beginning tomorrow (Friday) at 1:30 p.m. The training will continue through Sunday. Volunteers from a number of counties as well as the Civil Air Patrol have signed up to participate in the scenario-based training.

The base camp for participants is at Camp Meadowood Springs near Tollgate. The training scenario has been selected, but is not being released in advance so that the training can be as realistic as possible.

Participants will be presented with a scenario, and they will problem solve as they progress. Mentors are embedded in each group who will monitor and provide guidance if needed. The goal is to have the participants aware of how more complex incidents requiring search and rescue should be managed as well as to improve field skills. In addition to the mock scenario training, classes for specific skill sets are also being offered.

More than 60 people are participating in the training. In addition to the host Umatilla County SAR, there are personnel from Baker, Wallowa, Union, Grant, Harney, and Gilliam counties and the Civil Air Patrol.