By SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A new volunteer organization in Reno County is working to fill what its founders see as a gap in Kansas emergency response. Seek1 Search & Rescue, a nonprofit formed this year, will provide trained teams to assist law enforcement and families when people go missing in wilderness, water or rural settings.
“In December of last year, a gentleman by the name of Mr. Foster wandered out from his farmhouse and went missing, and there was a large community effort to go out and search for him,” said Alex Miller, one of the group’s leaders. “Through that process, there was a team of skilled search and rescuers who came up from Oklahoma … and what some of us noticed was this was sort of a hole in the Kansas emergency response space.”
Miller said Seek1 recently received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and has already assisted on three searches over the summer. “Most of our calls [will come] through the sheriff’s or the police department … really anytime somebody goes missing out in the wilderness, we would be there to help,” he said.
The group is focused on building equipment and training. “The first thing that we’re starting with is a command trailer with tracking software,” Miller said. “Once we have our command trailer set up, we’ll move on to things such as drones or ROVs … even boats for water searches.”
When fully operational, Seek1 will train about 30 core volunteers, supported by a wider network of helpers. “Long term, we will hope to have a very expansive network of volunteers who get a blast a text or an email anytime we need that extra manpower for boots on the ground,” Miller said. “Everybody on that team will also have to go through … CPR and First Aid training, ICS training … and SAR tech.”
To support its startup costs, Seek1 will hold its first fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Pleasantview Activity Center, 5015 S. Dean Road in Hutchinson. The event will feature a donation-based dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs, sides, drinks and homemade ice cream, followed by live music from the band Close to Land of Arlington.
“What we’re hoping to do there is raise some funds for continued building out of our gear and our resources,” Miller said. “There are a lot of things that sort of go into building out this team, both physical equipment and training.”
The evening will also include a short presentation on Seek1’s mission and a chance for community members to meet volunteers. “We’re excited to be getting off the ground and getting this organization going,” Miller said.
Those unable to attend can learn more or donate by visiting the group’s Facebook page or contacting the board chairman at 620-899-2909.