Travel during storm leads to two search and rescues

There were two back-to-back search and rescue efforts over the weekend, as the region was hit with a storm that made for poor visibility and dangerous travel conditions. Four men — two traveling from Nome to Brevig Mission and two snowmachining between White Mountain and Nome —were rescued safely on Monday.

According to Nome Volunteer Fire Department Search and Rescue Chief Jim West, Jr., Thomas Olanna and Zack Okitkon were reported overdue on Sunday afternoon. Olanna and Okitkon were traveling from Nome to Brevig Mission on one snowmachine, leaving Nome around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. At the time he was notified, however, West said that the weather was so bad that he didn’t feel comfortable “putting guys out on the trail.” He decided to postpone search efforts until Monday afternoon, when the weather was scheduled to clear.

Just as members of Nome SAR gathered at the Fire Hall on Monday to launch the effort, West received a call about a second pair of overdue travelers. Tyrone Buffas and Marty Williams had left White Mountain around 5 p.m. on Sunday evening, in the middle of the storm. They were traveling to Nome on two machines.

Ultimately, both pairs got lucky, West said. All men were successfully located and no injuries were reported. Olanna and Okitkon had turned around and were discovered around mile 42 of the Teller road, near a shelter cabin.

The duo coming from White Mountain were found near the Topkok shelter cabin. Buffas and Williams had encountered overflow and were unsure how to cross, and then their machines had run out of gas.

Nome SAR delivered gas and the White Mountain SAR group helped them get back to the village safely.

While both outcomes were good, in light of these two incidents West encouraged people to carry some form of electronic communication, such as an inReach, when traveling. “That takes the guesswork out of it,” he said, since the devices can transmit the exact location. Without this information, it’s “like trying to find a needle in a haystack,” West said.