28th November, 1994


			Task Report for the
	Porteau Cove Search, Howe Sound, British Columbia.

Wednesday 16th November 1994

Lions Bay SAR received a request from the Squamish RCMP to conduct a land search in the region of Porteau Cove to Murrin Park, along Howe Sound. This request originated with the Vancouver Police who asked that a ground search be conducted to help with their investigations.

Thursday 17th November 1994

A preliminary field survey was conducted by members of Lions Bay Search & Rescue and the Coast Guard Auxillary to identify potential search areas along Howe Sound. 36 search areas were identified and logistic calculations peformed to priorize these search areas.

A planning meeting was held with the Coast Guard Auxillary, Lions Bay SAR, Lions Bay Emergency Social Services, the Lions Bay Area Co-ordinator, the Squamish Area Co-ordinators, the PEP Vancouver Region director and Surrey SAR to develop an action plan for searching and support services. 

Friday 18th November 1994

ESS procured food trucks from the Salvation Army and Surrey SAR prepared a computerised registration system for Saturday's search and support activities.

Saturday 19th November 1994

Approximately 45 members of six Vancouver Region SAR teams, 2 boats and 10 members of the Coast Guard Auxillary and the Coast Guard hovercraft conducted a coastal and highway region search between 1km south of Porteau Cove to approximately Murrin Park to the north. A support team of approximately 15 persons provided food, registration, Parks Branch, media and family-relations services to the operation. 

The weather was quite poor with low cloud, heavy rain and fresh snow down to sea level. 38 cms of snow and slush fell during the operation. The search teams completed all of their assignments, which comprised of coastal segments, many areas adjacent to Highway 99 and regions within Porteau Cove Park and Porteau Camp. Two grid-searches were conducted to an estimated 70% POD, based on previous grid-search field calibrations. 
Once all of the marine and land search assignments were completed it was concluded, in co-operation with the Squamish RCMP, that a complete and thorough search had been conducted of all the area assignments. The search was then terminated on the recommendation of the SAR Manager, Coast Guard Auxillary and the RCMP. The media, in the form of CBC, BCTV and U-TV filmed and broadcast the search on the evening news.

Prepared by


Martin Colwell.
SAR Manager,
Lions Bay Search & Rescue