6 missing adults, children found alive in Nevada

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP, Excite

By MICHELLE RINDELS and SCOTT SONNER

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A member of a search team on Tuesday found a couple and four young members of their families who had been missing in the frigid mountains of northern Nevada since Sunday, authorities said.

The people were taken to Pershing General Hospital after they were found in good condition.

Sheila Reitz of the Pershing County Sheriff's Office said a member of the public searching on the ground had located the people. Further details were not immediately available.

"The mood where I'm at's ecstatic," said Col. Tim Hahn, who commands the Nevada Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, which had six planes searching for the group. "We are thrilled beyond words."

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20131210/DAAJNOGG0.html

---

This undated family photo provided by the Pershing County Sheriff's Office shows Shelby Fitzpatrick, left, and Chloe Glanton. Rescue teams were working against the clock and the brutal cold Monday, Dec. 9, 2013, in the search for a missing couple and four children who went to play in the snow in the remote mountains of northwest Nevada but didn’t return after a night of sub-zero temperatures. Pershing County deputies said aircraft and crews on the ground were searching in the mountains about 100 miles northeast of Reno for 34-year-old James Glanton, his 25-year-old girlfriend, Christina McIntee, and the four children: a 10-year-old, two 4-year-olds and a 3-year-old. (AP Photo/Family Photo via Pershing County Sheriff's Office)

[kracer20]

1. No Cell Service

While watching a report on this during lunch, they repeatedly said there was no cell service so they couldn't call 911, or "ping" their cell phones to get a location.

It made me wonder why authorities don't have mobile cell towers that can be brought in to the general area where people may be lost to help find them.

Anyone heard of such technology?

[Xipe Totec]

4. Depends on the cell phone provider.

I get good reception in the White Mountains with Verizon, but anybody that has AT&T service is pretty much borked.

Having said that, the P^6 rule always applies:

Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

[ladjf]

5. Yes. Some police forces are utilizing portable cell phone towers. nt

[SkyDaddy7]

9. correct but they only use those for...

collecting data on the public not helping people...Seriously, what does the public think law enforcement is for "to server & protect"?? LOL!!

[LeftyMom]

11. Huge swaths of rural Nevada (which is almost all of Nevada) have terribly spotty cell service

The terrain in some parts of the state is challenging, and the population outside of the major cities is very small.

Hell, there are parts of Nevada where you can't get utilities connected. Not one house in the middle of nowhere, actual towns. The population density just doesn't make the math work once you're out of sight of a highway.

[rollin74]

2. a little more info here:

Authorities say they have found a family alive, missing since Sunday afternoon near Lovelock after their 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee crashed in an embankment.

Pershing County authorities tell us James Glanton and Christina McIntee and four young children were in their Jeep Sunday afternoon when the vehicle went off an embankment and rolled over. As a result, the family camped near the Jeep, started a fire and waited for help to come. Authorities say they had food and water supplies.

http://www.ktvn.com/story/24170526/missing-pershing-county-family-found-alive-in-good-condition

[LeftyMom]

12. Unless I'm mistaken, that's one more child than a Grand Cherokee has seat belts for.

They're damned lucky those kids are all alive.

[XemaSab]

15. Come on

Back in MY day we could fit 9 kids to a station wagon, with two in the tail gunner seats.

[Bucky]

3. I love a happy ending

Not enough of those in the news lately.

[ccsar]

6. Good news.

As someone with 20+ years Search and Rescue experience, ALWAYS tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back. "Out there" is a big place to start looking for someone. In as little as 2 or 3 hours there is a pretty big search area (figuring 360 possible degrees of travel) to start with. Figuring even 40 MPH, that's 120 miles anyplace within that circle. Without a known general area to look in. it's a mighty tough job.

[bigdarryl]

7. There will be a movie made on this story

Glad the family is well.

[gvstn]

8. Saw a very brief mention on CNN.

They were doing a "little off-roading" and their Jeep tipped over. Umm, that is the wrong way to "play in the snow" when you have 4 little kids in the car. I am very glad they are safe but that was poor judgement if true.

I did learn a neat trick from the segment. They apparently built campfires and used them to heat stones/rocks that they then used to heat the vehicle interior to stay warm. That is very clever.

Congratulations to all the searchers. Job well done.

[laundry_queen]

14. I agree about their judgment.

I'd never leave my kids with them ever again, that's for sure.

Super glad everyone is safe though.

[politicaljunkie41910]

10. Now that we know that they are safe, how could they be so stupid?

Why would you take kids that young to a remote area, 90 miles out to play in the snow on what was known to be extremely low temperatures? Two of the missing children belonged to the sibling of one of the adults. This could have had a much different ending. With that type of judgment, I'd never leave my kids in their care again. Also what did it cost for two day search and rescue operation. Geez.

[ccsar]

13. Most gererally

the majority of folks involved in a Search and Rescue operation are volunteers. With the group I was in, we operated under the County Sheriff. He had a Deputy specifically assigned to SAR among other things, and the Deputy would be well versed in SAR operations, taking continuing training, schooling, etc. The volunteers are the same. We train all year. With other close by groups, ourselves, at a State level and even at a national level once a year if we can get away. What it comes down to is it costs us money to come out and look for you. Clothing, specialized gear, gas, lost wages, etc. This is in no way a complaint. I did it for 20 years and still would had my body not slowed down too much (NF2). As far as actual cost, the Deputies or other law officials will likely be on overtime, and aircraft don't come cheap. The only times I've ever thought it might be nice to get paid for the lost time would be when someone tells the wife they're going hunting (even giving the general area they will be for realism) then go spend a few days with the girlfriend. Not a lot of fun missing a couple days work for someone who isn't lost. As far as cost a search can be as little as the cost of a few tanks of gas, or many thousands of dollars with aircraft and food for say 50-75 searchers foer a few days. I would guess these folks were pretty well prepared for a short while at least, and knowing to heat up rocks tells me they had some outdoor experience. And I don't have a problem with them having taken the trip. Just that it sounds like the response time could have been cut quite a bit had they told someone the general area they would be.