Note to Editor: The rescue account described below involves two hunters in Alaska, who called for help by activating a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). Since January 1, 2008, NOAA reports that 49 people have been saved in 29 PLB rescues in the United States. PLBs have become highly visible to the public since a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) waiver ruling went into effect in July 2003 approving the sale and use of PLBs for land use in the lower 48 states. PLBs were permitted in Alaska for several years prior as a system test and resulted in dozens of lives saved.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – DECEMBER 10, 2008 – At the urging of a close friend, hunter Russ Morrison accepted the loan of a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for a hunting trip on Kodiak Island, Alaska. It was a decision that saved his life.
Morrison, 53, and his son, Kevin, 28, are both avid outdoorsmen well versed in survival skills. Kevin is a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter crewman based on Kodiak Island.
On October 25th, the men had to put their safety skills to the test on their first day out when frigid hurricane-force winds whipped up. They were planning to camp and hunt from their 23-foot boat anchored in Sheridan Bay on Kodiak Island. The island, known as “The Rock”, has few roads crossing the remote, rugged terrain. Hunters frequently use boats or float planes to access the island’s many coves.
The fierce winds would not let up and kept pounding the small craft into the shallow bay bottom. Fearing for their safety in the boat, they tied it off, waded to shore and huddled, soaking wet, under a life raft. The sun was setting and temperatures were quickly dropping below 30 degrees. The winds and blowing snow made it impossible to start a fire. They faced a severe threat of suffering from hypothermia.
At 8 p.m., they concluded their circumstances were dire and they needed rescue. Russ activated his friend Bill Vogel’s TerraFix™ 406 GPS PLB. Around 8:30 p.m. at home in Soldotna, Alaska, Vogel received a phone call from the USCG Station Juneau saying they just received a satellite emergency distress signal from a beacon registered to his name. He verified that his friends were carrying his PLB on a backcountry hunt. The USCG contacted the Morrison family for more specifics, and then launched a search.
Just after 10 p.m., the Morrisons heard a helicopter overhead. They watched as a USCG Jayhawk attempted to maneuver for a landing. The raging winds blew the chopper sideways up the bay. It came back around and skillfully landed on the beach 200 yards from the survivors. The SAR team greeted their fellow crewmember Kevin Morrison and his father, and evacuated them to the USCG Station Kodiak, where they were met by their wives.
Two days later, the hunters returned to the bay and retrieved their boat. Russ said he was glad Vogel loaned him the beacon. “The Coast Guard was able to exactly pinpoint our location even before we popped flares. Time is pretty important when you’re in those kinds of conditions. I was real impressed by the accuracy of the PLB,” he said. “It was nice and compact, and easy to carry and turn on. I plan to get one for myself.”
Vogel, 65, said he purchased the TerraFix™ PLB after seeing news stories about protracted searches for climbers who disappeared and later were found dead. He researched PLBs and chose an ACR Electronics TerraFix™ because he has owned an ACR strobe light for 25 years and knew the company made quality products. Also, Vogel said he did not want to pay an annual subscription fee.
Vogel said a PLB is the best insurance policy one can have. “As outdoors people, we have a responsibility too. Having a PLB gives the SAR teams an edge in finding you. It really levels the playing field. It’s the only way to get help in a life-threatening situation.”
ACR Electronics, Inc., www.acrelectronics.com, a Cobham plc company, designs and manufactures a complete line of safety and survival products including EPIRBs, PLBs, AIS, SARTs, Strobe Lights, Life Jacket Lights, Search Lights and safety accessories. The quality systems of this facility have been registered by UL to the ISO 9001:2000 Series Standards. Recognized as the world leader in safety and survival technologies, ACR has provided safety equipment to the aviation and marine industries as well as to the military since 1956. The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and employs 200 at its manufacturing facility.
Contact: Leslie Sheffield
prseitz2@bellsouth.net
954-970-3394