Schuyler County Search & Rescue Exercise
Posted: 11.10.2012 at 5:28 PM
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LANCASTER, MO -- The Schuyler County Health Department has been promoting health and protecting the community for over 30 years, and Saturday morning it was no different.

The Medical Reserve Corps of Lancaster put on a search and rescue exercise. The turnout was a little less than expected since deer season is underway, but that didn't stop a few people from strapping on their worker vests and taking the Lancaster streets.

Phil Beeler, Lancaster Fire Chief, told KTVO Saturday's event is the second one in Lancaster.  "We're looking for a young adult and small child," Beeler said. "We're supposed to have a dog crew here and we have a scent from the child. Hopefully the dogs will find and track down."

The young adult and small child were not real people-- they were simulated dummies to help volunteers experience a real life emergency.

Medical Reserce Corps Coordinator, Kathryn Magers tells KTVO this is not the only exercise they do. "So we came up today to do some search and rescue as one of out many practices," Magers said. "We've been put on standby before, for a search and rescue event. She tells us the MRC helps out in any disaster. "Anytime we are needed, we're there," she said. KTVO took the streets with the volunteers as they searched for their victims.

There was no age group for Saturday's community-wide event.  "I brought my 12 year old son here today," Magors tells us.  "He's going to go out with us and hopefully help find some of our victims."

In less than ten minutes, they did just that. The volunteers found their young adult in a truck and they immdiately went into recuse mode.

Search and rescue is not the mrc's only mission, throughout the year they host many practices and remain on standby if a natural disaster were to occur.