What did it cost to search for 2 runners in forest, and rescue 1 by airlifting her ou

[BonoVox]

Wow very cool! Congrats to the reserve deputies of the OCSD!!!!! Did I also hear that the Search and Rescue group has a large contingent of PSRs as a part of it? Anybody hear if any of them were involved?

Either way good job to the volunteers of the OCSD and to any and all sworn personal too! But I highlight volunteers in a time with tight budgets! Too bad the PSRs were slapped in the face and had their ID badges taken away from them by the Appointed Sheriff.


How much did it cost to rescue ultrarunner? | cost, officials, helicopter, hours, county - News - OCRegister.com


Friday, September 25, 2009
How much did it cost to rescue ultrarunner?
What did it cost to search for 2 runners in forest, and rescue 1 by airlifting her out?
By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ
The Orange County Register
Comments 39| Recommend 3

We all pay for it through taxes, in case we should need it, even though few people will ever need to be rescued out of a canyon hanging from a helicopter on a rope.

Most folks are not asked to reimburse government agencies for the cost of rescue efforts, which can use up time, personnel, resources and time. In the case of two ultrarunners who were lost this week for about 72 hours in the Cleveland National Forest after going on a 30-mile run, officials said they will not be asked to reimburse the county.

When folks are asked to reimburse their costs, it usually involves a crime or severe negligence on their part, said John McDonald, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's department.

Still, the question lingers, how much did it cost?

Video images from a local television station showed Maria "Gina" Natera-Armenta hanging from a helicopter after she was spotted Wednesday afternoon, attempting to shade herself under a rock from the hot sun. Officials with the Orange County Fire Authority lowered one person down, who then lifted her on the rope and took her to safey.

The cost: About $4,800, said Battalion Chief Kris Concepcion of the OCFA.

The helicopter that found Natera-Armenta was in the air for about 90 minutes in order to conduct the rescue, Concepcion said.

When officials at OCFA contract their helicopter out to other agencies, the total cost billed is about $3,200 an hour, he said. That cost includes fuel, personnel, insurance, overhead and maintenance of the craft, he said – bringing the estimated cost for a 90-minute flight to $4,800.

Before she was spotted, however, officials with the Orange County Sheriff's Department were flying the department's helicopter for about four hours and 35 minutes, canvassing the vast forest for a sign of the ultrarunner.

That comes at a cost of $450 to $480 in fuel costs per hour, depending on the price of fuel at the time, said Ryan Burris, a spokesman for the department.

Using the lowest of the two figures, the cost of that flight is about $2,025.

However, sheriff officials point out that reserve deputies, who were used during the search and rescue, bring a large savings in personnel hours and costs.

Reserve deputies, which volunteer their time and are not paid, are used often during search and rescue operations, unless the person being looked for is a criminal or dangerous, authorities said.

Twelve reserve deputies were used on site during this week's operation, officials said, as well as four off-site who were working on logistics.

Between 100 to 125 hours were used in the operation, officials said. Because reserve deputies were used, the county saved about $7,768 in personnel hours, Burris said.

The tally: $6,825.

[Keith92555]

If I were one of the runners whose butt was saved by the perserverance and hard work of the OCSD, I would GLADLY hand over the $6800 to pick up the tab. It could easily be argued that they were negligent to be doing an ultrarun in that area. We'll have to see where this goes. Good job OCSD deputies! Could've turned out a lot worse for those two.

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by Keith92555

If I were one of the runners whose butt was saved by the perserverance and hard work of the OCSD, I would GLADLY hand over the $6800 to pick up the tab. It could easily be argued that they were negligent to be doing an ultrarun in that area. We'll have to see where this goes. Good job OCSD deputies! Could've turned out a lot worse for those two.

Well you saved some $$$$$

Because reserve deputies were used, the county saved about $7,768 in personnel hours, Burris said.

Not bad, that amount of savings = one full time deputy on the streets for a month, maybe more?

Again not bad for a day or two of operations.

BTW within the confines of Orange County, I personally have no problem with rescuing anybody for anything. Just because our leadership at the OCSD has wasted so much $$$$ does not mean we charge every citizen when the OCSD services are needed.

[MWG]

Originally Posted by BonoVox

Wow very cool! Congrats to the reserve deputies of the OCSD!!!!! Did I also hear that the Search and Rescue group has a large contingent of PSRs as a part of it? Anybody hear if any of them were involved?

Yes. PSRs also responded.

[X-ffdo]

Any time you have helicopters involved the cost will be steep!

[Mtn. Medic]

Sounds reasonable to me. Price out a 30 minute air ambulance ride to a trauma center following an accident. Last I looked it was somewhere near $17,000 up in this neck of the woods.

[RomanDad]

This is the reason WE HAVE GOVERNMENT......

Not the BULLCRAP we spend most of the taxpayers $ on.

[X-ffdo]

Ok. To expand on my previous statement reference helicopters, this is the deal.
You send out the available fixed wing units, they are usually comprised of volunteer aircraft unit members. (They usually volunteer their time and aircraft in exchange for fuel cost, so these are air unit sheriff aviation volunteers, who are bona fide trained members of the unit)
That brings units cost down to less that $100.00 an hour per asset in the air. The helicopter cost is many, many times fold, depending on equipment.
When the target is spotted, then you send the helicopters for the extraction portion. This makes it a lot cheaper than current practices.
Civil Air patrol uses similar method and the entire cost structure it is lot more cost effective. They also have coordinated ground teams. They look for downed pilots.
So the point is, there are ways to shave cost, if you are willing to coordinate.
The problem is that you have to combine efforts. Some outfits see this as a problem. It is a matter of communication, coordination and not keeping the operation in house, a "turf" problem.
As long as the money is there, who cares!
It is always the same enemy, "Us".

[louva]

Originally Posted by Mtn. Medic

Sounds reasonable to me. Price out a 30 minute air ambulance ride to a trauma center following an accident. Last I looked it was somewhere near $17,000 up in this neck of the woods.

My air ambulance ride was about 8 minutes and cost $11,600. That was for the ride only

[Rob P.]

Originally Posted by Keith92555

If I were one of the runners whose butt was saved by the perserverance and hard work of the OCSD, I would GLADLY hand over the $6800 to pick up the tab. It could easily be argued that they were negligent to be doing an ultrarun in that area. We'll have to see where this goes. Good job OCSD deputies! Could've turned out a lot worse for those two.

Interesting. You think that you and I should pay again for services that our taxes already pay for?

Do you realize that our taxes are supposed to provide and support the programs like these? It is only when our taxes are misused to pay for perks and bonuses and high wages that the coffers run dry. Once that happens there are no funds to provide the services that we have already paid for.

Think of it this way, should you be required to reimburse the fire dept if they come put out a fire at your home IN ADDITION TO paying your State & local taxes? A "charge for services" sort of thing? If that's the case, then why is the FD supported by the Gov? Wouldn't the FD (and PD and other gov services) be more a business enterprise if they charge for their services on as "as needed" basis?

If that's the case, then why pay taxes for these services and why are our taxes going up to provide more services? I think it's time to put down the Kool Aid and start thinking about what you are getting in return for what you are paying for.

[protectmine]

Originally Posted by MWG

Yes. PSRs also responded.

majority of personnel on that assignment were volunteer Search and Rescue members made up of Reserve Deputies and PSR's.

[Shumba]

OCSD Search & Rescue is probably +33% PSR's and most of them are to a skill level equal to or greater than the sworn/Reserve LEO members. Actually, everyone is assigned to a unit in SRRU (Search & Rescue Reserve Unit) and trains/participates to a level they chose. The greatest thing about OCSD SRRU is that it doesn't matter if you are PSR or Reserve Deputy, what matters is your skill level/experience and that is what the command staff goes by when allocating resources on a mission. It really is a great team and I believe that S&R is the only Reserve Unit that the State fo CA requires a Sheriffs Dept. to have.

The only time it is necessary to distinguish between PSR's and Reserve Deputies is when it is an active crime (tracking a suspect, active abductions, etc.) but even then, most of the Level III deputies can't participate either (only Level I and II"s).

If you ever thought of giving back to your community in a fun way that can really make a difference, being a PSR in SRRU should be at the top of your list.

And, NO, I'm not assigned to SRRU, but do know alot about them and many of their team members.

[spc]

Welcome aboard Shumba. Great first post.

spc

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by spc

Welcome aboard Shumba. Great first post.

spc

+1

Welcome

How did you get the Rice Paper icon so fast?

[protectmine]

Originally Posted by Shumba

OCSD Search & Rescue is probably +33% PSR's and most of them are to a skill level equal to or greater than the sworn/Reserve LEO members. Actually, everyone is assigned to a unit in SRRU (Search & Rescue Reserve Unit) and trains/participates to a level they chose. The greatest thing about OCSD SRRU is that it doesn't matter if you are PSR or Reserve Deputy, what matters is your skill level/experience and that is what the command staff goes by when allocating resources on a mission. It really is a great team and I believe that S&R is the only Reserve Unit that the State fo CA requires a Sheriffs Dept. to have.

The only time it is necessary to distinguish between PSR's and Reserve Deputies is when it is an active crime (tracking a suspect, active abductions, etc.) but even then, most of the Level III deputies can't participate either (only Level I and II"s).

If you ever thought of giving back to your community in a fun way that can really make a difference, being a PSR in SRRU should be at the top of your list.

And, NO, I'm not assigned to SRRU, but do know alot about them and many of their team members.

great post! welcome