Wrangell Search and Rescue wins statewide award for landslide response

The Wrangell Search and Rescue team has received a statewide honor for its days of tireless work after a massive landslide flowed down the mountain at 12-Mile last November, taking out two homes, killing six people and cutting off power and highway access for dozens more.

The Wrangell team received the Mel Nading Search and Rescue Award for 2023. The award was established to honor Alaska State Trooper Pilot Mel Nading, who died in a crash during a mission to rescue an injured snow machine operator in the Talkeetna Mountains in 2013.

Alaska Search and Rescue Association announced the winner of the annual award this month. The association is a nonprofit organization that supports volunteers who perform search and rescue efforts across the state.

The 2022 winner was the Juneau Mountain Rescue Squad, which performed five mountain rescues in 48 hours.

The Wrangell squad received a plaque and $1,000 that can go toward equipment or training, said State Trooper Sgt. Josh Boyle of the Kodiak post, who announced the award last week.

The Wrangell team was honored “in recognition of their exceptional search and rescue efforts” after the Nov. 20 slide, “despite the adverse weather conditions … showcasing a commendable blend of teamwork, bravery and selflessness despite hazardous conditions marked by super-saturated soil and ongoing slide activity,” the commendation said.

“Wrangell Search and Rescue volunteers exhibited resilience and dedication,” aiding the lone survivor of the tragedy and recovering five of the victims. “Persevering through challenging conditions, including darkness and inclement weather, the team demonstrated remarkable commitment and unwavering dedication to their mission,” the award statement said.

“Beyond their immediate rescue efforts, Wrangell Search and Rescue, in collaboration with the Fire Department, demonstrated exceptional community support by coordinating deliveries of vital supplies, including food, medicine and fuel to residents cut off from town resources.”

Alaska Wildlife Trooper Chadd Yoder nominated Wrangell Search and Rescue for the award, Boyle said.

Yoder, who transferred from Wrangell to Ketchikan early this year, also was honored for his work responding to the landslide. He was named 2023 Trooper of the Year for the Southern Detachment and received a commendation for bravery for his actions.

 

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