Search and Rescue: Boots on the Ground at Home & Abroad ft. Case Studies from Hurricane Harvey (Texas) & Super Typhoon Haiyan (Philippines)

About the Event
Disaster response is often dynamic and evolving as needs are assessed and resourced. Search and Rescue in the specialized disciplines of ground search teams, flood and swift water teams, and K9 detection teams are the most common responses both at home and abroad. As an individual responding to disaster, it is key to have an accurate and concise understanding of your own skills, both technically and from an emotional/social intelligence perspective. As a leader, it is invaluable to be able to readily assess the skills others bring to the team as well. Learn more about the arena of Search and Rescue and its specialized branches of service. Take away tips to identify and maximize your individual contribution, how to contribute in team environments, and effectively manage the stresses inherent in being a responder. This interactive and engaging session will provide real world connections in both domestic and international contexts of Search and Rescue.

Speaker Bio
Dawn Eli Keller is originally from the Linville Gorge Wilderness area in the mountains of North Carolina, Dawn Eli Keller has more than 30 years of experience in domestic and international special operations response for disaster and mass casualty incidents with a specialty in wilderness/tactical medical response. Deploying nationally and internationally, Dawn’s responses include: Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas 2017, Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines 2013, the catastrophic flooding in Central Texas and Wimberly, Texas in 2015, Hurricane Andrew in Florida 1992, and Hurricane Floyd and subsequent flooding of Eastern North Carolina in 1999. Her first international deployment was the magnitude 8.1 Mexico City Earthquake of 1985 for technical rescue. Dawn has recently been awarded Heroine of Hurricane Harvey by Sentator Ted Cruz.