MENA, AR (News release) – Full airspace over the large search perimeter for missing AFC pilot, Jake Harrell, has all divisions of the Search Operation hopeful for a productive day.
Helicopters from the National Guard, State Police, and US Forest Service will comb a carefully gridded system built in Esri programming by GIS experts. This platform has been used since Jan. 31 to build layers into a single visual aid that includes search areas already ruled out, leads from local residents, Jake’s known flight route, and other information provided by Jake’s cell phone provider.
Ground divisions are also mobilized to complement search efforts by air.
“Today is the day,” says Billy Black, Incident Commander and AFC Investigator on scene in Mena.
Incident Command Headquarters in Mena is buzzing today. Every individual here is encouraged by the best day of visibility experienced to date during the eleven-day search period. The prayers and support of the entire state of Arkansas and country are requested.
The Incident Command structure in Mena continues as a Unified Command effort with the following partners involved: statewide Arkansas Forestry Commission crews, U.S. Forest Service, Polk, Scott, and Montgomery County Law Enforcement, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, local volunteer fire departments, the Red Cross, and the National Weather Service.