Search and Rescue and Survival expert Mr. Harry E. Oakes Jr are bringing PRE-Disaster Survival Courses forward to the public.
With 39 years of Search and Rescue experience behind him, Harry has developed the Help Us Find You Search and Rescue Safety program which has been taught to children and adults around the world on how to survive if they ever become lost in the wilderness.
To date Harry's won 4 national and 5 local awards for his safety programs that have saved 16 lives that we know of.
Pre-Disaster Survival takes the survival training one step further.
As everyone is well aware of, disasters are becoming more frequent.
Hurricane Katrina showed everyone that our government couldn't manage resources properly to insure the public's safety in their time of need, to save their lives.
Thousands of innocent men, women, and children as well as pets died needlessly in Katrina as well as other disasters.
Hundreds if not thousands could have been saved had FEMA and other resources used their Incident command system properly and used outside SAR resources properly. Because of our government's proven short comings when it comes to rescuing victims in disasters both human and animal, many people have turned to private training to learn how to survive disasters to keep themselves, their families, their employees safe.
Excerpts from a recent interview with Harry Oakes by reporter Steve Windsor.
STEVE; ""Harry you're responded to and assisted in managing SAR teams around the world in earthquakes, floods, fires, bombings, terrorist attacks, hurricanes, and tornados. What have you learned from this experience?
HARRY; Hi Steve, one of the most important lessons I've learned while working directly or indirectly to assist in the disasters. Northridge, and S.F., Ca. Philippines, both of the 1999 Turkey quakes, 2010 Haiti quake, and the recent 2011 Japan earthquakes as well as the Hurricanes in Honduras and here stateside in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. Also the terrorist attacks in Oklahoma City Bombing as well as the support role we performed during 911, 95% of the population isn't prepared for a major event.
Because of this I've taken our survival course one step further and am now bringing it directly to business and to the family homes, neighborhood safety fairs, etc.
We have received hundreds of emails, letters, and telephone calls from people who are scared. They understand they don't have the training to survive and they want to learn the best possible way for their families to survive and major disaster.
STEVE; So what are you providing that others aren't?
HARRY; we are coming directly to the family's home and work environment and performing a pre-disaster study. We teach the individual homeowners as well as the large and small business owners what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong in order to survive a major disaster.
STEVE; what do you mean?
HARRY; I'll inspect the house and see what items need to be secured like water heaters, major appliances, TV's, etc. that could fall and injure a child, home owner or pet. We'll show the individual and their families what items should be kept at home, in their vehicles, in their work space to help them survive a major event.
We'll discuss where the best place to store survival equipment in the home as well as outside the home.
We also come to their home and teach families and individuals how to spend a weekend in an actual survival situation. Mock disaster. There's no running water, no electricity, no cell or home phones, their vehicles aren't drive-able, and now they and their family including their pets must survive outside the home.
They will have to set up tents, sleeping bags, activate a stove to boil water, set up and use a temporary toilet, and washing area. As well as take care of basic first aid and food needs for the family and pets.
We also perform this same tasks for schools, colleges, dorms, hospitals, public institutions, as well as private corporations.
We'll come into their work and school environments and show them on a major level how to survive a major event and help their employees, students, visitors, and staff.
STEVE; has this program been accepted by the public?
HARRY; Yes we're booking some of our programs three months in advance. The earthquake in Japan was a huge wake up call for most folks watching it on TV.
STEVE; How does someone contact you to book a speaking engagement or special instructions for their family or business?
HARRY; Through our regular contact information.
International k9 Search and Rescue Services
PO Box# 1472, Longview, Washington 98632
Office: 360-414-8093 Email: searchdog@iinet.com
www.k9sardog.com
STEVE; is there a cost for this service?
HARRY; Yes depending on how far we have to travel the client must pay for our transportation costs, and training costs. They can contact our office for our rates. They are very affordable and will improve the chances of survival for the persons involved by 95%.
STEVE; As always, good luck in this next project.
HARRY; Thank You".