Disaster Missions  
     
 

Click on the following links for information on a few of  our disaster missions:

Report on the mission to Honduras 11/98.

Reports on missions to Turkey in 8/99 and 11/99.

Oklahoma City Bombing

I.K.9.S.A.R.S. was asked to respond privately to search for missing Americans in Haiti. Throughout the disaster responses we received very little support to get I.K.9.S.A.R.S. teams to Haiti. Below are photos taken during the disaster. The St Croix USVI teams were able to respond. Throughout the event Harry Oakes worked as a Coordinator and consultant to the event.

Lessons to be learned from Haiti earthquake.

As in all the disasters we respond to here is what is faced by rescue teams.

Click On Any Photo Below To See A Larger Version
Apt. this shows the destruction of an apt complex. Here the vehicles were spared. This is why it's important to have disaster supplies stored outside your apt in a rubber maid garbage can. Food, Water, Clothing, First aid, camping supplies, emergency tents, sleeping bags, etc. Also back up supplies stored in your vehicle.
Bodies. In major disasters such as Haiti there isn't time to stop and identify each and every victim through fingerprints, dental records, photographs.
Mass graves are dug and bodies dumped in and buried. This was done in the Philippines, Honduras, Armenia, Turkey, as well as the Haiti disaster.
 
Bodies. Often the smell is overwhelming. We focus on locating the living. Victims buried and still alive. We'll let the local folks deal with their dead.
In the Philippines two men were found alive after two weeks. In Turkey we found 14 alive. Four after 10 days. In the Haiti quake one man was found alive after 3 weeks.
Bringing out a victim. 80% of rescued victims are rescued by neighbors, co workers, family and friends. We search for the other 20 %.
Confined space cameras, listening devices, as well as search dogs play an important part in searching the rubble. Here a confined space camera shows a person still alive buried under the rubble.
Down town. Where to start searching?
Hillside rubble. Besides the rubble, gravity poses it's own challenges.
People from all over the world respond. Here an Red Cross worker from International Red Cross carries a child.
Pancaking of structures happens a lot in disasters. There are times we'll find victims in the VOIDS of the structures. I've actually found more victims alive in these type of destroyed structures then in anywhere else.
People looting. This poses it's own hazards to search teams. People are desperate for food, medicine, water, and will kill to get it.
Photo # 12. Roadway note the power lines down as well as the destroyed vehicle from debris. These offer dangers in searching as well.
Photo# 13. Rubble. This is a typical search area. We'll talk to the surviving witnesses and let them show us where they last saw their family, friends, neighbors then we'll start an assessment to see how safe it is to search the pile. We'll start by working the perimeter, then the top, then as we deem it safe, we'll tunnel inside to search the voids for survivors.
This is the scary part. Many times we're inside the pile when aftershocks hit.
We also face rats, snakes, hazardous materials.
Searching for victims. We'll work in shifts. It's exhausting work emotionally and physically.

The following is a list of disasters to which IK9SAR personnel have responded or consulted:

List of Disasters we've assisted in is on file with
our office for review.
Write to searchdog@iinet.com or if you get an error message send to my personal email at harry98632@yahoo.com

When a disaster strikes we offer our services. Often we've been asked to
bring in our search dog teams but we couldn't afford the last minute air
fares. For Indonesia, and Thailand, local area airlines wanted to charge
us $10,000.00 per dog team.

We don't have those type of funds. So we couldn't afford to respond.
If you want to donate AIR MILES for a missing person, missing pet or
disaster search, please advise us.

If you want to gift money to be applied to a disaster response account,
you may send your gift of money to IK9SARS C/O disaster Response Acct.
P.O. Box# 1472, Longview, Wa. 98632

NOTE: We are NOT a 501-C3 organization. We are a paid professional K-9 SAR
Dog team that during times of disasters, donates our time, skills and
money to assist those in need.

  
  Disaster Responses Mr. Harry E. Oakes Jr.

International K-9 Search and Rescue Services. P.O.Box# 1472, Longview, Washington 98632 USA. Office: (360) 414-8093 Mobile: (503) 705-0258.
Web: www.k9sardog.com Email: harry98632@yahoo.com 

86-001 Clack. Co. Mt. Hood Climbing Accident-OES school incident. Team leader PMR-Team#23 Day#2 and T#2 Day #3. Assisted in locating and recovering two dead adults, 7 dead children. Molly, Gyles,Karen and Leader Ralph Summers survived. Total 48 Hours 145 Miles.

89 Armenia Earthquake USSR. Four of MWSD teams geared up and placed on S/B. We were able to send two teams in from Alaska with Seattle King Co. Disaster teams. We also sent 3000 dollars worth of medical gear we gathered through donations in with NW Medical teams.

San Fransisco, California Earthquake. DEM Sacramento Calif. Placed team on S/B. Total 24 Hours 0 Miles. S/B.

06-16-90 90-007 Ohio, Shadeyville floods. H. Oakes coordinated with Fire Dept. on who to bring in and how to use Search dogs effectively for locating bodies. Total 4:30 hours. 0 Miles.

Philippine Earthquake Team: H.Oakes SAR Dog Ranger. We flew as part of the Seattle King Co. Disaster team. We located 25 sites where 59 dead victims were recovered. Per Lt. From SOG Special Forces Task Force. Also assisted in grief therapy and first aid of injured. Total 240 Hours 17,566 Miles.

91-011 Coasta Rica Earthquake Disaster Standby. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Ranger. Results: LA Councelate put our team on S/B. Total 34 Hours 0 miles.

92-172-014 Airplane Crash. Yakataga, Alaska. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Ranger on sb. I was asked to coordinate SAR Efforts from here. I was faxed a map and plotted aircrafts altitude and course and PLS. Gave CAP search areas. Total 14 Hours 110 Miles. N69469.

01-17-94 94-267-005(A). Northridge Ca. Earthquake. Mutual Aid Cleared assigned areas by Orange Co. SAR. Found dead pets Apts that were burned out. Also assisted in Grief therapy. Team: H. Oakes/Ranger J. Burgett / Brandy. Total 164 Hours 2810 Miles.

06-08-94 94-321-058 Bogata-Columbia S/B Earthquake 250 DOA 850 missing. Total 24:30 hours. H. Oakes /Ranger.

94-354-091 New Guienea Island Volcano and quakes. Standby per Wash. DC Embassy. Total 47 hrs. 80 Miles prep. Teams: H.Oakes/Ranger.

01-16-95 95-408-004 Disaster Kobe, Japan, Earthquake. I acted as NW US Delegate for our SAR team and arrainged to have 25 members from N.W.MED Teams and 4 USAR MWSD Teams to respond. United donated tickets. Japan refused help from all US Sources. Total 54 hours 650 Miles. .

4-19-95 95-458-054 Oklahoma City Bombing-Disaster Response Federal Building Bombing Murrah Bldg Bombing. Teams: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Valorie alerted in four areas. Fire dept told me later they found 4 dead kids & 6 adult body parts. Totals: 258 Hours 4866 Miles Assisted in Grief therapy on scene and at the hospital for survivors.

95-614-209(B). 12-06-95 Grief Therapy Tangent, Ore. with employees of Hessel Corp. regarding corporate jet that crashed. Team: H.Oakes /Valorie K-9-1. Results: Went very well. Total 5 Hours 250 miles.

96-673-029(A). 02-08-96 Clark Co. SB Floods. Clark Co. DEM. Picked up disaster supplies. Total 24 Hours. 150 Miles.

05-02-96 96-725-081 Pierce and King Co. Disaster Earthquake Standby. All teams. Total 12 hours 0 Miles.

08-26-96 through 09-10-96. 96-821-177 (A). Deschutes Co. Skeleton Fires, Bend, Ore. Drove to Bend, Oregon for Skeleton Fire Support Mission. Meeting with Humane Society of Central Oregon. Ref: Missing animals and livestock from fire. Grief Therapy for victims who lost their homes and pets. We also located 41 live pets and livestock and 14 dead from fire. Total: 250 Hours 1000 Miles.

10-05-96 96-839-195(J). Marion Co. Grief Therapy Safeway store. Re: Mariah Pelker Ingram. Murder case. Total 5 Hours 100 miles.

11-22-96 96-897-253 Puerto Rico Bombing. Gomez and Oakes on S/B. Offered services to local EMS. FEMA on scene. MWSD placed on s/b. Total 2 hours S/B.

12-19-96 96-905-261(B). Mult. Co. Grief Therapy for Hessel family Jocelyn Brown Gresham, Ore. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Results: Worked with the mother and her three kids, two girls Aspen and Tiana and, one boy, Dustin. ref: Their fathers (ART's) death in the Hessell plane crash last year at this time. Total 2 hours 10 miles.

12-13-14-97 97-1129-206 Mult. Co. ARCDAT#3 Response #1. GT. Apt. Fire.2210 NW Everett St. Apt# 210. Totals: 3 hours 60 miles.

12-14-97 97-1130-207 Mult. Co. ARCDAT#3 Response #1. RP: Cecille Weiner DOB 01-24-70 2210 NW Everett St. Apt.#208. Portland, Ore.We found cat hiding west end of basement crawl space. Totals: 2 hours 60 miles.

04-20-98 98-1172-036 Mult. Co. Apartment Structure fire. 6th and SE Morrison Portland, Ore. Room 302 RESULTS: As a combined effort between the Oregon Humane Society and the Portland based, International K-9 Search & Rescue Disaster Response Teams for People and Pets, the two agencies met at the site of the large apartment fire on 6th and SE Morrison St. today at 2:30 PM. Oregon Humane Society Officer Randall Covery and Search & Rescue dog Valorie K-9-1 being handled by her handler Mr. Harry E. Oakes Jr. obtained consent from the building owner and searched the fire gutted remains of the building for any live and dead animal victims. Oregon Humane Society Officer Randall B. Covey entered along with Harry and Valorie to document any finds and recover any animals found. The first, second and third floors were searched. When SAR Dog Valorie entered the apt ruins of Apt# 302 rented by Ms. Maureen McCarter (who can be contacted through her son, Kevin 283-8823. Pager 273-7400), SAR Dog Valorie alerted in the corner of the bed and there we located the dead remains of Mareen's pet hamster. SAR dog Valorie then continued her search and alerted in the closet. There under numerous wet clothing articles were two cats, in shock but still alive. PETS: "Teddy" 7 yo . and "Jessie" 5 yo were recovered by Humane Society officer Randall Covey and Harry Oakes and transported to the Pacific Vet clinic hospital for treatment for shock and smoke inhalation. "This combined search effort was extremely successful and we worked very well together," said Oakes while on scene with officer Covey. Oakes also stated," This just goes to show you what team work can do". Ms. Valorie is the hero here said one of the building safety workers who was also present when the finds were made. "Without her finding and saving these cats, they would had died". Ms. Valorie and Harry are back at home now resting. A well deserved rest. Good Job Valorie. Totals: 4 hours 60 miles.

05-01-98 98-1175-039 Mult. Co. ARC Fire Apts. Eastman Parkway & SW Birdsdale in Gresham. Assisted 6 people. No pets lost. Total: 2 hours 5 miles.

11-07-18-98 98-1301-165 (F). Hurricane Mitch in Honduras. Found total of 29 dead humans. Fire dept verified findings. Worked on grief therapy for victims who lost homes and family members.

02-04-99 99-1337-014 Armenia Columbia Earthquake offer to assist. Totals: 1 hr. 0 miles.

08-16- to 08-29-99 99-1448-127(A). Turkey Earthquake. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Results: Flew to Turkey worked total of 14 days traveled 15,000 air Miles. 500 ground miles. Found 41 dead humans and 4 humans alive in rubble. Grief therapy for kids who lost their parents.

09-21-99 99-1471-150 Taiwan Earthquake. Offered services to LA Councelate. Team on Standby.

09-30-99 99-1479-158 Mexico Ref: Earthquake. Offered services to Portland Conselate. Team on Standby.

10-31-99 99-1503-182 NY Atlantic Ocean Egyption Airliner 900 crash. Offered services to NTSB and USCG. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Results placed on SB.

11-13-to 11-23- 99 99-1510-188 A-B. Turkey Earthquake #2. Team: Harry E. Oakes Jr. SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Totals: 80 hours 16,700 miles. Found 29 dead humans and 8 alive.

12-17-99 99-1532-210 Offered assistance to Venezuela ref: Floods. Totals: 1 hr. 0 miles

01-15-2000 2000-1549-011 China Earthuakes offer of services to Councelate office in NY/Wash. DC. Totals: 2 hrs. 0 miles.

02-07-2000 2000-1564-026 Mult. Co. House Fire ARC Response. RP's. Thelma Sherer 12934 SE Claybourne St. Ptld, Ore. 97236 ARC Case#5246131. DAT#3 response. RC 0430 via pager. 0500Hrs. Enroute.0520Hrs On scene. 0730Hrs. Cleared scene. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Totals:4 hrs. 60 miles.

03-29-2000 2000-1604-066 Fort Houston, Texas, Two Tornados hit. Offered services through HPD by emails for missing persons / pets.

06-06-2000 2000-1641-103(A). Mexico Disaster Offer to help Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Results: Pending. Totals: 1 hr. 80 miles. Overhead management for sar dogs.

01-26-2001 2001-1782-013(A). Ahmedabad India Earthquake 7.6 Offer to assist in India Earthquake. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Results: Sent email and fax to SF Councelate offering assistance. Results: Pending. Teams on S/B.

01-29-2001 2001-1782-013 (C). India Earthquake response. "Your airport of destination will be Ahmedabad Visa and quarantine requirements can probably be waived as done for other dogs who are already there. CG@IndianConsulate-SF.org Monday, January 29, 2001 12:52 PM Subject: RE: Re: Earthquake Team:H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. M. Keating SAR Dog Yogi K-9-2. K. Desylvia ST#1.

09-11-2001 2001-1964-194(A). New York World Trade Center Towers Terrorist Explosions. Teams:H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. M. Keating SAR Dog Yogi K-9-2. Results: Offered services by email and fax to EMS. Also did TV interview by telephone for Tulsa OK news crew ref: Disaster. Total:16 hours. 10 miles.

09-11-2001 2001-1965-195(A). Pentagon, West Virginia Explosion. Teams: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. M. Keating SAR Dog Yogi K-9-2. Results: Offered services by email and fax to EMS.

01-22-03 2003-2623-035(A). Earthquake 7.6 COLIMA, Mexico Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Results: Did email and fax consult. Team placed on SB. Totals: 1 hr. 0 miles.

05-04-29-03 2003-2792-102(A). Disaster aid. Urgent Humanitarian Call my name is Dr. Fatima Al-Abdali a member of a Voluntary Committee for POWs n Kuwait. My contact Nos. is: Tel: (965) 3981529 (965) 9080506 (965) 6685333 Fax: (965) 3983614 e-mail: This is an Urgent Humanitarian call for your good self and other specialized Rescue Teams for Missing. Our sons and daughters are in Prisons in Iraq and trapped underground at different levels. Sadam Regime had built on these traps some sewage systems, concrete walls, and basements are filled with water and closed with mysterious doors. We need trained dogs, pumps for water suction, sonar equipment for detection, and drills to break the concrete walls and locked doors to reach them. We had sent many civilian and military teams to Iraq but not specialized, they only have information and maps about those suspected prisons. Please this is a very urgent call. We will arrange for all your requirements. We need your urgent support and response. Thank You Dr. Fatima Al-Abdali POWs Families Committee 25/4/2003 Kuwait Dear Sir, We are a group of Families of POWs and Missing Kuwaitis (about 600 persons), who are held in Iraqi Prisons since 1990 after the Invasion of Kuwait. As you know Iraq has been liberated from Sadam Regime since the 20th, of March 2003. Until this moment we dont have any information about our sons and daughters in Iraq. We appreciate if you can send us the mechanism and the procedure of having your help and service to search and rescue our POWS. We can arrange through some NGOs, the Government and the Parliament here in Kuwait. Dr. Fatima Al-Abdali Team: H. Oakes SAR Coordinator I.K.9.S.A.R.S. Results: Sent copy to Pdx FBI.

05-06-03 2003-2799-109(A). Tornados Kentucky, Tn. Offered services to Hondo. Team H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Results: On S/B. Results: Pending. Totals: 1 hr. 0

05-21-03 2003-2812-122(A). Albgeria Earthquake. Offer to help. Teams: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. M. Keating SAR Dog Yogi K-9-2. Results: Pending. Sent councelate in Wash. DC an email offering to help. Pending. Totals: 1 hr. 0 miles.

08-16-03 2003-2889-199(A). ARC DAT6 Mult. Co. Callout 0410 House Fire 700 NE Glisan Gateway Apts. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Totals: 2 hours. 50 miles.

09-18-03 2003-2926-236(A). Hurricane Isabela teams on s/b. Team: H. Oakes. Results: Pending. Coordinated SAR dog teams.

2003-2953-263(A). San Diego Ca. Fires. Offered services

05-28-04 2004-3143-118(A). Haiti Floods. Working w/ E.Goggins on sending teams from USVI St. Croix to assist. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1.

12-26-04 2004-3334-334(A). Indonesia Disaster. Teams: M. Keating ST. H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. C. Umphrey’s SAR Dog Thor K-9-7. Results: Pending.

03-28-05 2005-3438-093(A). 8.5 earthquake in Indonesida. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Results: Pending.

08-28-05 2005-3596-250(A). Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans Emergency Management Ofc Results: Worked on logistical support. Pet rescue through LSU.

10-08-05 2005-3626-280(A). India / Pakistan Earthquake. 7.6 Teams: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. M. Keating SAR Dog Yogi K-9-2. Results: Sent email to Embassy LA, Ca. Offered services.

10-08-05 2005-3626-280(A). India/Pakistan Earthquake. 7.6 Teams: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. M. Keating SAR Dog Yogi K-9-2. Results: Placed on standby. Couldn’t afford to pay our own way and had to cancel.

01-31-06 2006-3740-030(A). Cowlitz Co. ARC Callout S/B for Flooding assist. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Results: Packed Water Rescue SAR gear. Call came in to stand down.

02-17-06 2006-3753-043(A). Philippine Mud slides. Couldn’t afford to pay our own way so we didn’t respond.

03-18-06 2006-3772-062(A). Kaui, Hawaii Broken earthen dam search for victims. Team; H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Results: Sent consulting information to Governor’s office and office of Emergency Management.

04-09-06 2006-3790-080(A). Cowlitz Co. DAT Response. Trailer Fire. 1255 Alabama St. Longview, Wa. 98632 DAT responders. H. Oakes Bob Galivan. Results: Met at ARC Longview. PU ERV. Drove to site. Set up client w/ Clothing and motel for two nights. Took photos of scene. Gave out one comfort kit and one GT Doll.

07-16-06 2006-3968-257(A). Himalayas South America Oscar Cordova re: Jose Antonio Delgado Oscar Cordova. 21,000 foot avalanche. Victim has radio contact w/ Base. They need help. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Results; Started working on getting permission to go over there. Sent letters to US Air Force asking for an emergency air drop. Contacted LANGLY-AFB .

10-29-06 2006-4145-445(A). S. Ca. Wildland Fires. Offered services to area re: missing pets f/ Fire disaster. Southern Calif Humane Society Administration Ofc. Team; H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1. Results: Offered services to LA Fire command center. Team placed on S/B.

11-07-06 2006-4158-458(A). DAT ARC Flooding Assisted at Shelter First Presb. Church Kelso, then went to S Smith 210 Ostrander Rd. Tommy 2 yo male dsh Tazzy 6 yo female dsh Found 1 doa chicken f/ Drowning. Five stuck. While Scott the director of HSCC and I were trying to rescue the chickens we rescued 2 cats stuck inside a flooded home. We ended up rescuing the cats.

07-05-07 20074560-315(A). Nevada. Fires. Overhead management consulting for pet rescues.

10-23-07 2007-4771-535(B). S. D. Fires. www.volunteersandiego.org The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA 5500 Gaines Street San Diego, CA 92110 Overhead consulting.

12-06-07 Pacific County Floods. Responded with Animal rescue team and grief therapy teams.

05-12-08 2008-5131-250(A). China Earthquake. Sichuan province including the capital Chengdu. Offered to assist. China refused ALL USA assistance.

04-07-09 5808-168(A). Earthquake, Italy. Did consulting work with Embassy and UN.

01-12-2010 Haiti Earthquake. Did overhead management, consulting. Teams requested in by private parties to Hotel Montana to look for missing Americans.

I.K.9.S.A.R.S. Harry’s Yahoo 360 blog re SAR.
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-aczg0BU5erSlJvtwUKlYqssO

Photos of Harry’s search dog teams in action.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/searchdog/page1/

Before your child comes up missing, identify them. If a child is missing, send us the information. We search for missing children and adults.

Write us at searchdog@iinet.com and we’ll send your our free child id kit.

If you know of anyone who is missing a human or pet family member please feel free to pass on our web site to them. Thank You.

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