This past week, 14 Michigan county sheriff dive teams, including those from Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola and Lapeer, took part in a multi-day emergency drill and training exercise at the Straits of Mackinac.
From Monday, October 21st, to Wednesday, October 23rd, this large-scale training focused on critical dive operations and included valuable input from Baltimore County officials, who shared their experiences from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse recovery efforts.
Participants worked collaboratively in various underwater recovery scenarios, including personnel and vehicle recoveries, lift bag operations, evidence collection, search patterns, and the use of advanced technology such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), drones, and underwater side scan sonar. These operations were conducted both day and night, providing teams the opportunity to prepare for a range of real-world conditions.
Sanilac County Sheriff Paul Rich wishes to thank those who helped plan the exercise, as well as the Southeast Michigan Dive Group, the mutual aid network Sanilac County is a part of. By being part of this mutual aid network, it’s assured that, in times of need, teams from across the region can come together swiftly, bringing the latest technology, specialized equipment, and highly trained personnel to any incident.
