Eight GPS Phones help Keweenaw first responders find people in distress
The GPS phones, resting in their waterproof case. Image courtesy of the Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office.
EAGLE RIVER — The Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office is making use of a $5,144 Destination Development Award from Visit Keweenaw. Distributed ahead of summer, the office purchased eight GPS satellite phones to be used by officers and members of Keweenaw County Search and Rescue.Verizon is the sole carrier in Keweenaw County that offers reasonable coverage, specifically providing signal at Brockway Mountain and the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge. Due to the geographical layout and elevation differences across the peninsula, phone signal can be impossible to find. Keweenaw County Sheriff Curt Pennala says these GPS units can acquire a longitude and latitude on 911 calls and use them to locate people in distress.
“Our number one concern is that while recreating in Keweenaw County that people do so in a safe manner and when they do get into trouble, we have the resources to help them,” said Pennala. “Response time is what we are always trying to decrease, with the simple motto of time saves lives.”
Pennala says these new devices operate without a cell phone signal and can be used to increase the efficiency of search and rescue operations. It’s important to note the Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office serves more than 3.8 million acres of wilderness in Keweenaw County. Officers and members of the search team received training on the new phones.
Training on the new GPS devices. Photo courtesy of the Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office.
“Keweenaw Search and Rescue not only serves Keweenaw County, which is some of the most remote land in the state,” said Pennala. “We also assist and have been assisted in searches in adjacent counties where the devices will be used. The GPSs are used in the field for rescuers, helping guide them during a search and helping locate lost persons.”
With new technology, Keweenaw Search and Rescue will have the upper hand on future missions. This purchase was made possible by a Visit Keweenaw Destination Development Award. Houghton/Keweenaw nonprofits or municipalities can apply for up to $20,000 in funding for relevant projects. Applicants must apply for something that will boost the visitor and resident experience in their communities. Examples include interpretive signage, trail developments or technological improvements to improve the value of a destination. Visit Keweenaw is happy to support the Keweenaw County Sheriff project and increase the number of protections in place for visitors and residents in the area. Applications for consideration are due annually by the beginning of March and are expected to be completed by September of the same year.
