20100619

Module 3: Rescue Plan

Review these resources:
Now pretend that your entire ski area is tilted up more by about 10 degrees and also receives about 200" more snow than it actually does, along with significant wind loading. (Check this website to see if your ski area's steepness stats are included.)

Assume that the infrastructure, equipment, staff, training, plans, etc. already exist for explosives control work and open/closure decisions.
Your assignment is to develop a very simplified start of an outline for in-bounds rescue plan in case something goes wrong.
Remember, this could be a result of either a post-control avalanche on an officially open slope (don't worry about the lawsuit implications!) or skiers/riders "poaching" pre-control closed slopes (do worry about the hangfire to rescuers!).

Elements to include:
  • A marked-up copy of the ski area trail map showing potential avalanche terrain, rescue gear caches, and continuously staffed patroller locations.
  • What patrollers will be considered capable of responding to a rescue in avalanche terrain (e.g., what level of training)?
  • What equipment will patrollers be required to have with them at all times?
  • Who will make the decision on whether the slope is safe for rescuers?
  • Very simplified diagram applying the organizational structure you learned in your FEMA ICS course.
Ideally all this should be contained in a single pdf file, to be emailed to Instructor of Record (by the deadline noted in the student checklist), who will then email the presentation to your fellow students.
Be prepared to provide a very brief oral presentation on the key points of your rescue plan to your fellow students during the Module 3 Rescue Session.

And finally, for inspiration of sorts, the picture below is from Holiday Valley in Western New York:


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