TomCats
recent activity in Louisiana.
- The system used in our search and rescue efforts
consists of three sensors, as follows: an infrared heat
sensor, an ultrasound sensor (a microwave range
instrument), and a ULF sensor (an ultra low frequency
radio wave operating on the lower edge of the
sound/magnetic wave boundry).
- These sensors are used as follows: IR is a broad scan
to identify objects of interest. Once an item meeting the
requirements is located, the other two sensors are
focused on those objects foridentification and
elimination purposes.
The ultrasound instrument can detect shape and
movement which are not visible to the IR sensor due to obstructions.
The ULF device and detect sound at
extremely low frequencies.
- None of these alone provides enough accuracy, for a
positive ID, but the three together, with a skilled
intrepreter, can identify single living warm-blooded
animals as small as a cat, groups of smaller animals
such as rodents and birds.
- A small stable airplane carries the IR sensor, and flies a
defined grid. The video is streamed to a mobile ground
station, which then directs a helicopter carrying the
other two sensors to any hot location.
- This data is monitored by a pair of interpreters.
The result of their analysis determines when and
where the initial rescue team should direct its efforts.
This team consists of an armed police officer, at least
three EMT trained people and a communications
technician (usually a second police officer)
This team can further call on several resources for
assistance.
- Additional assistance may be additional medical
personal, veterinarians, addition security, firefighting
personnel, and eventually, will include evacuation
personnel (ambulance, helio, etc)
- Initially, our efforts resulted in the rescue of one
elephant an calf, 18 horses, 4 mules, 9 donkeys,
one bear, 733 dogs, 715 cats, 2 rabbits, 41 birds,
16 White-tailed deer (being fed insitu)
234 currently living human beings, and 11 who have
died since rescue. This is the latest info I received.
- 16 interpreters were envolved in teams of 4
(one a trainee) on 3 hours shifts around the clock.
A shift rotation was set along military lines with \
short 1.5 hour shifts at evening meal.
In the near future I will add some rescue tales.
Tomcat (aka Oldsalt)
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