CASART History

CASART History

Volunteers solicited for initial organization through Press Releases - Adirondack Express 2/18/03, Hamilton County News 3/4/03 & Posters

50+ people signed up for the team by 5/1/03

First Basic Wildland Search Skills training 5/31/03 – 35 people attended & certified

First Organizational meeting 6/26/03

Mission & By-Laws approved
Officers & Directors elected
Committees formed
Milestones:

Mission Established – Provide a search and rescue team to assist and aid NYS DEC Forest Rangers in search and rescue operations.
Incorporated in NYS as a not-for-profit corporation 9/4/03.
Purchased initial liability insurance with coverage beginning on 10/01/03.
Applied for recognition with the IRS on 11/21/03 and received confirmation on 01/07/04 that they have made an advance ruling determining CASART to be a publicly supported organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3).
Joined the New York State Federation of Search & Rescue Teams (NYSFEDSAR) 01/24/04.
Logo designed by Doug Groh & Patch created 01/13/04. 100 patches paid for by a donation from the Herkimer County Spirit Committee.
Second Basic Wildland Search Skills training 5/08/04 – 29 people attended & certified
Tracking training held at Vanderkamp camp in Cleveland, NY 06/04-06/04. Administered by nationally recognized veteran of the US Border Patrol, Joel Hardin. Mike Caltigirone, Roy Reehil and Rob Winter attended from CASART.
6 GPS units paid for by a $900 grant from the Adirondack Bank Charity Golf Classic 06/14/04.
24 blaze orange vests for Field Members 06/25/04.

Class on Clothing, Equipment & Map & Compass presented to Cub Scouts in Old Forge 10/19/04.
Crew Boss Course held on 11/06-07/04 hosted by CASART in Inlet. 22 people attended, 11 CASART and the others were from Team 5-1, LASAR and Oswego County Pioneer SAR.
Trailer donated by the Power Authority of the State of New York 08/16/04, restoration and retrofit for use as a field ICP completed by volunteer members on 05/13/06 and a generator purchased to provide electric power in the field.
"Introduction the Human Tracking for Search and Rescue
Volunteers" was held on 09/19/04, taught by Roy Reehil, 5 CASART members attended.

6 Hand held radios and 6 Chest Packs purchased 03/05.
$3,500 Grant received from the State of New York Community Projects Fund to reimburse CASART for the purchase of GPS Receivers, Hand Held Radios and Chest Packs 06/05.
Purchase of a base station radio has added to the capabilities of the trailer for remote communications.
Purchase of a computer and projector and donation of a printer and scanner has enabled the team to print maps of search areas and make copies in the field and present PowerPoint based training to the team and the "Hiking Safely" seminar to the public.
"Hiking Safely" seminar, a community service program developed by CASART to educate the public about proper outdoor clothing, basic survival equipment, nutrition, hydration, the dangers of hyperthermia & hypothermia, land navigation skills with map & compass, special things about the Adirondacks & good environmental practices. Offered 06/12/04, 07/17/04 & 08/14/04 through ADIRONDACK EXPLORATIONS and offered 07/07/06 and 08/04/06 at the Old Forge Library, 07/14/06 at Indian Lake and 07/20/06 at the Woodcraft Camp near Rondaxe Lake.
Generous financial support from individual and business donations, contracts with the Towns of Arietta, Indian Lake, Inlet, Long Lake & Webb & grants have made CASART a viable community service organization.
68 Active Members come from most of the surrounding central Adirondack communities of Big Moose, Eagle Bay, Forestport, Inlet, Ohmsteadville, Old Forge, Otter Lake, Raquette Lake, Thendara, Woodgate as well as communities outside the Adirondacks, 64 DEC certified BWSS, 12 DEC certified Crew Boss, 5 NYS Licensed Guides, 5 EMT, 7 AED certified, 2 RN, 1 LPN, 3 WFR certified, 30 BFA certified & 15 CPR certified.

ACTIVATIONS

First activation 10/11/03 - 73 year old Alzheimer’s victim Search & Rescue successful Bald (Rondaxe) Mountain, Herkimer County, subject rescued.
Second activation 11/8/03 - 40 year old Search & Rescue successful Camillus Forest Unique Area, Onondaga County, subject rescued.
Third activation 11/30/03 - 42 year old Search & Recovery Rock Lake area north of Stillwater Reservoir, Herkimer County, subject found deceased.
Fourth activation 05/30/04 - 8 year old & 5 year old Search & Rescue Rensselaer County, subjects rescued & CASART deactivated just prior to deployment.
Fifth activation 09/07-10/04 - 74 year old male Search & Rescue West Sand Lake in Rensselaer County, search terminated 09/11/04. Considered a criminal matter.
Sixth activation 10/20/04 - 52 year old female Search & Rescue Walton, Delaware County, subject not found.
Seventh activation 11/18/04 - 20 year old male Search & Rescue Canton, St. Lawrence County, subject found deceased.
Eighth activation 01/11/05 - 63 year old male Search & Rescue Hudson Highlands State Park, Putnam County, subject not found. Found a month later deceased.
Ninth activation 10/24/05 - 68 year old male Search & Rescue Norway, NY, Herkimer County, searched six (6) days, subject found deceased, possible criminal matter.
Tenth activation 11/29/05 - 41 year old female Search & Rescue Vischer Ferry, NY, Saratoga County, searched two (2) days, subject found hospitalized in North Adams Regional Hospital, Massachusetts.
Eleventh activation 12/03/05 - 80 year old male Search & Rescue Wells, NY, Hamilton County, searched one (1) morning subject found deceased just prior to CASART arrival.
Twelfth activation 01/26/06 – 61 year old male Search & Rescue Weedsport , NY, Cayuga County, searched one (1) day, subject not found. Found a week later deceased.
Thirteenth activation 03/31/06 – 82 year old male Search & Rescue Star Lake, NY St. Lawrence County, searched one (1) morning, subject found alive just prior to CASART arrival.
Fourteenth activation 04/26/06 – 45 year old male Search & Rescue Indian Lake, NY, Hamilton County, searched five (5) days, subject not found.
Fifteenth activation 06/17/06 – 45 year old male Search & Rescue Moose River Plains NY, Hamilton County, searched eight (8) days, subject not found.
Sixteenth activation 06/30/06 – 70 year old female with Alzheimer’s Search & Rescue Plessis, NY Jefferson County, searched seven (7) days, subject not found.
Seventeenth activation 10/17/06 – 45 year old male Search & Rescue, North Wilmurt, NY, Herkimer County, searched one (1) morning subject walked out on his own.
Eighteenth activation 05/17/07 -- 87 year old male Search & Rescue, DeKalb Junction, NY, St. Lawrence County, searched one (1) morning, subject found deceased.
Nineteenth activation 06/06/07 -- 57 year old female Search & Rescue, Raquette Lake, NY Hamilton County, searched two (2) days, subject found deceased.
Twentieth activation 01/06/08 -- 47 year old male Search & Rescue, Waterville, NY Oneida County, searched two (3) days, subject not found.