The weekend had been filled with fun, good friends, lots of schips and rain. Over 9 inches had fallen locally since Wed night with several Flash Flood watches in effect. It didn't dampen the fun of the Spring Fling with schips, but it had brought tragedy in the northwestern part of the state.

The first call was to come to see my mentor, Sande. I was off to talk to her about getting on the Nationals team. And to give her hugs of support for the coming problems she has to face later in the year. The second call was to come help recover a small 2 year old boy early the next morning. His mother had driven into a flooded crossing and they had all been swept away in the raging river. 

Life did a switch. I am not sure what Rainbo and Andy thought of my change of personality. Poor friends. I think they saw Pat shifted into warp drive<G>. They went off to bed, I started to pack and get things ready for the 5:30 take off. 

The mornings are NOT my thing, but everyone got up and out by 5:30AM. The drive was long and beautiful with signs of the storm damage everywhere along the way. Twisting and turning, we drove through the green lush mountains of north Arkansas. Kathy, my co pilot, read the map and told us when to turn. She also was my radio man and talked to all the other cars following to keep us together. 

We arrived at and reported in to Base Command. It was a well run operation with total sign in and assignment sheets. I was very proud of the way things were run. But I had to push the issue to get going ASAP for the dogs sake. It was going to get warm later. 

The drive to the site was short, and after pulling into a ravaged field to reach the first landmark, we had a long talk about the disaster and dangers still there(read SNAKES). The we divided into two groups. Sharon and I to be River Right and Justin and his dad Ray to be River Left. They took a Golden along with them from a unit on the MO. border. I never did
get her name<G> but the dogs name was Sandy. 

At first we just roamed about the washed out bridge to check the debris piles. I was shocked at the size of the tangled trees. It was everywhere and very deep. Fox looked small and lost in the depth of the trees. It was going to be a long day. 

Once we had arranged for the Left Bank team to cross in a small boat, Sharon, with Taylor, and I with the two free running schips headed up river. They darted in and out of every clearing. Stopping to check piles or running off to the shore to taste the water. I got my first scent alert along the top of an overhanging bank..Fox stopped and hung over the edge. Magic almost pushed him in. But after a quick check, they moved upstream into the scent. There was a marker there from other searchers.

At a wider spot where they could get down into the water, Taylor and Magic ran back and forth in the shallows, biting the water and lifting into the air. There was definitely something human here. But no one gave an alert, just interest and moved on up stream. I radio checked in with Kathy to make sure she was doing ok at camp. 

It was really hard to navigate the banks and snakes were everywhere.  Displaced by the flooding, we had to watch our steps. Sharon had the first scare as we moved inward to check dry land piles. I was closer to the water edge when she spotted a speckled king snake. A good guy and we left him be. But it was a warning that other lurked along our path.

As we came to a large culvert under the road, we had to climb up the hill onto the road to get around it. The scent hung in the air all about and I took the time to investigate and call in the left bank crew to check closely all piles on their side of the river as the Magic and Taylor were in the water looking up at the sides of the banks.

The river edge was now very steep and rugged with schips and human sliding all over the sides. I really though we all were about to go for a swim, but it opened onto a rocky bar in the middle of the water. Magic gave the first real water alert and Fox was right into the water behind him. I awaited Taylor's interest, and called back to the Swift water teams to come check it.

The bank on the river right was steep over hanging cliff. About 10 to12 feet above the water it made getting to the rushing current impossible for us. It was simple to check the water flow at the bottom of the chute, but getting into the target zone was beyond our ability.

Magic was so interested, he walked out into the current and did a water water ride to the stone bank on the other side. I was standing with my heart in my mouth as he rode the rushing currents. But he came when called, using the currents to steer his way safely to the shore. It was sure he had scent, and was checking it out, to enter the flooding river. 

I am never sure what he will do in water, and several times have had to bail him out..but this time he was right in his own element. Before I could react, he did it again to the delight of the swift water workers. 

I re climbed the bank and let Fox lead me to the over hang to check a large sycamore tree. Its roots still part way into the bank, its large top lay across the water onto the rocky bar in the middle of the water flow. 

Both schips climbed out onto the root ball and walked the trunk over the flow! It was to dangerous for me, so I called them back. They came and moved up stream. I was sure I had human scent, but let the swift water team check the water under the tree.

It was deep with a "pool" beneath the root system. I marked it for a dive with them after we had carried on upstream pass the recovery zone of the little girl. I had to make sure it was not just residue scent from her body that had been recovered late afternoon the day before. 

As we continued upstream, I had a report from one of the other searchers that Taylor had "hit" on the place the girl had been recovered. I had been at water edge, so I sent Fox out over the piles and sure enough he was digging and exploring the same "nest" where Taylor had shown such interest. But he didn't down and no grumble was offered as a way to alert me to the scent. Just interest. I was now far more certain I might have something at the downed tree. 

As we started up stream we were called by radio to come in for a report and to have some lunch. It was now after 2 and I had nothing with me to check my sugar levels. I turned and reported back to the upper camp. I was sure the dogs could all use the break. I was in touch with River Bank Left and Kathy making sure we all had food, then sat and enjoyed the rest and company. Then the camera crews came rolling in...time to move on. 

I had to be sure of the lower scent, so Sharon I continued to walk upstream for another 1/8 of a mile. The dogs had no scent and ran in and out of the water. I had to climb over the corner of a fence and swing out over the current to reach the next field. Both schips and Taylor took the easy way, going under the fences. I now had a camera aimed at us and we
walked along with company. I had been told by radio not to answer questions on the search, but this young man was so nice, very friendly and very much interested in the search dogs. I gave him basic information on how they worked. He was right behind us as we checked the narrow current ridge and found no scent. I explained why we were going back and stopped to talk to the swift water crews as I passed.

About that time I had a call for our change of mission. Could I go in a boat and check with the schips at the spot we had scent?

Yes. I reported back into the second level base camp I had just left. The boat and team to help awaited us. It was going to be an interesting trip.

As I climbed in, I talked to the swift water team about how to let the boat swing into the current, steering us into the swift course and under the ledges. The water was not deep, just very swift. The schip I chose to work was Magic. Fox as now very tired and needed a break. He was to wait with Sharon on shore as back up. Ray, Justin and their dogs would follow us shoreline wise as we worked.

The first push off gave me a rush. Adrenaline pumped as the boat was caught in the center current. I settled Magic into the front seat and he went to work. I stopped worrying about the way I was going downstream:  Backwards, and concentrated on the search. These Swift Water guys were GREAT! and I felt totally safe with them walking the rapids handling the ropes that controlled my life. 

We floated along at a good pace, checking everything. Magic showed interest, but no alerts. I rounded the bend, checked the over hanging rocks and moved into the swiftest part of the current. For the first time  Magic got excited and started to stand on the edge of the boat rail. I made them go slower, and he struck the sides and pawed at me..his nose going over the edge and into the banks just inches away. I stopped my float, asked them "Is this where the sycamore tree is??" 

"Won't Tell" Said the big guy with a smile. I agreed that was best and asked them to drag me back UP stream to be lowered again slowly. They complied. Magic was hanging on the water this time and as soon as he passed the same spot he hit the edge with a paw and sat to BARK. I said "Hold and Mark!" Now I was sure we had human and very close by. 

As I asked again where we were in relation to the tree, one of them pointed to the off shore sand bar. There it lay in the middle of the rocks! They had come along and removed the storm debris with a large front loader and moved the place the body had rested. 

I put into shore where Magic ran to the tree to check it out. Ray, Justin and the other Lady came to sit on the shore to await as the diver suited up. I asked Ray Allen to recheck me with Hunter. Both dogs showed heavy interest at the base of the tree, and Hunter was barking and downing at the water edge. I called back to Kathy and Sharon to check in, and request Sharon come up to double check us.

Slowly they searched under the water. It was filled with silt and mud from the disturbance of the clearing, but most important, the pool beneath the root was gone. 

The dragging of the tree from the bank had caused the bank to cave in and fill the underwater pool. There was a 50% chance the body had floated free downstream, and 50% it had been buried in the mud as the bank had caved into the water pool. 

I couldn't chance he had washed loose, so I got Sharon into the boat to double check with Taylor as the Diver checked the bottom. He too was interested, but very nervous with the boat bouncing around on the rocks.  

I took tired Fox back to the edge of the bank and he walked out onto the old log ,off onto the lower bank. I could see the edge was crumbling. It would be a longgggg drop into the fast rushing current below if he fell.  I called as he downed and grumbled at me. As he jumped back onto the old log, the bank let go and fell the 8 feet into the water. My heart was beating way to fast. I reached out to hold him close. 

As I surveyed the rest of the ledges, I stepped off to the right and reached for him. I lowered him onto the same ledge and he checked it all the way to the right. He passed me again to climb back onto the old log.  I grabbed him and he grumbled as I asked him "Where?" 

I wouldn't let him go back down to the edge, and placed him up on the top of the bank as I reached for the offered hand that pulled me back up top too. I had a second opinion. And with both schips and Taylor saying it was there, I reported it to the IC, and went back to rest my self and schips. 

The newspaper guy was there to ask questions. I told him I could not give out info, but would answer anything about the dogs. I talked for about 5 minutes when they called me back to work in the boat. It was time to finish the trip back to the lower base camp. 

It was the same all the way down the next 3/4 mile. Swing left, check, right, check each pile along the bank. Nothing. Magic and now Fox sat quietly and looked at everything. They showed renewed interest at the culvert again, and it dawned on me it was sewage drainage coming from flooded homes. It lay deposited in the shallow water pools in the culvert. That settled, I moved them off to check lower in the river. 

As Magic stared intently at something, one of the Swift Water guys called it to my attention. I told him the log sticking up was probably carrying scent to them. It was part of the debris they had pulled loose upstream while checking the deep hole at the bank. He went to get the limb and the schips vacuumed it for all it was worth...then ignored it. It was not the body, just the scent for which they were searching. They went back to work. 

As we came in site of the base camp, I was glad to see Kathy and Ray's wife, Edna. I could see they were standing by the chairs at waters edge on the low crossing at the rocky sandbar. I didn't realize it till later, they were the "watchers" we had been told about. Their job was to see if the body washed downstream! Kathy as part of my support team had been put to work!! 

I was really tired. The nice guy in charge asked me how long till my dogs and I could go back to work. I told him Fox was finished, but give me 15 minutes and Magic and I would be ready again (then died inside as I was so tired). 

Once again it was now 5:45 and they brought us food to eat. I had topped up on salad, diet bars and yogurt. The Pizza as it arrived was beyond my eating. I was to tired even for my favorite food. I waited as everyone ate. 

As soon as we finished, I asked permission to move on DOWNRIVER just to double check the lower part in case the baby had gone through the broken bridge. I gathered up Magic and we headed off. He was rested, full of run

and went straight to work. Ray with Hunter, Sharon and Taylor followed me into a tangle of trees and weeds that had matted into barriers. The sheer size of the trees was daunting. Yet we managed to get through and to search all along the water edge. As we made about 20 minutes into this walk we hit a dead end. The way was blocked by deep pools and current to deep to walk through. 

Once again we had the wonderful support of the Swift water crew, who walked each pool and check every nook and crannie. Nothing was there. I turned our searching crew and headed back to camp. Our day was 99% over.  All we had left was to report back to main staging area, Debrief, and clock out. 

When we got there, it was loaded with foods, friendly supportive people and places to sit and swap tales. I went in to change my wet boots, gather some healthy foods, and talk to the powers that be. I found several dog crews, most of whom I knew. We exchanged views, talked of scent zones and moved back to our own units on the way home. It had been a long day. 

I am not sure what Kathy thought of the "other" Pat Boggs. But I was so glad for her company. The 3 1/2 hors back was done with radio's and gab between the cars. We talked about thoughts, images and hopes they recovered the baby boy. I was so tired and the schips had crashed hours back. We still had to finish the drive, get gas and unload.

At the Conway construction on I 40, I knew I was done. To tired to drive, I was thankful I had Kathy to help me. I turned it over to her, guided her to the correct exit, turned her on to the right road and crashed into a brief sleep. As we approached the turn into my road, I seem to surface, guide her into the right place and climbed from the car. A quick shower for us, the dogs fed, we all went to sleep as our head hit the pillow.  The reports and unloading could wait till tomorrow. 

As a post scrip, we have not recovered the body. I have called, talked to the sheriff's office, but they have not dug up the bank yet. They did have another walk the length of the river where he might be, but so far we have not heard anything at all. I know Magic was right. But with the tree moved, the body could have moved downstream or been buried. The sad part is we might never know as they don't call us to tell us what the ending is.

Many have been lost in the past few weeks of rain swollen water. In Texas, Arkansas, and states north as the storm passed. The dangers of Flash Flooding is a real problem we often ignore. The sad part is the loss of the children. 6 of them in just the few short weeks of April. 4 in Texas, 2 in Arkansas. I heard again today of some north of here..I think Minnesota. 

Please make sure you understand the pressure and the power of raging current. A slow 4 miles per hour is 66 pounds of pressure. NEVER drive into water if you can go around it. The next time you see a report on the weather channel, remember the story here and don't enter that water covered road...not even if you think its shallow. Only 12 inches at 10 MPH (over 400 pounds pressure) can float a car off the road bed where the water is much deeper. 

"Don't Drown, Go Around!! " 

I can not even imagine what this young mother shall carry around for the rest of her life. I hope somewhere in this story you remembered to send up a few prayers for her. Its a terrible burden she carry for the coming years. She was trying to save them, but tripped in the current and dropped them both. 

And if you didn't see it, that nice young man with the camera who loved Magic was from the Weather Channel<G> and we did get a flash spot on National TV!! Ahh but then Magic loves his fan club<G>. 

One again I thank you for reading to the end. I love sharing my SAR life with the schips with my friends here on the list.

Copyrighted 5/2004
Pat, Ch Sniff, Ms Sheba, and the Sarschips
Little Rock, Arkansas
 

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