Southern Technical Aquatic Resource and Rescue - STARR

08/19/2025

TROPICAL UPDATE: Another tropical wave has entered the chat. We have a lot to watch but a lot of time to monitor. We are now into the peak of hurricane season so make sure you have your plans and preparations ready to go. WVUE FOX 8

08/18/2025

🌀Hurricane Erin with some pretty impressive waves - at about 130 miles north and east of the center, a buoy has recorded significant wave heights up to almost 28 feet.

Who’s got a boat???🛶

08/18/2025

08/17/2025

08/15/2025

There are no threats to the northern Gulf Coast over the next week

08/15/2025

08/14/2025

Just when you thought Fentanyl was the most deadly drug along come another.

Here is one that is more deadly that is beginning to enter the United States.
Nitazenes are a class of potent synthetic opioids that were developed in the 1950s as a potential alternative to morphine. However, they were never approved for medical use due to their high potential for overdose.

Nitazenes are significantly more potent than traditional opioids like morphine and even stronger than fentanyl. Some forms of nitazenes can be hundreds to thousands of times stronger than morphine and 10 to 40 times more potent than fentanyl. Ironically, the Nitazenes that is being seen entering the United States is 250 to 900 times stronger than morphine, and the most potent nitazene is up to 4,300 times stronger than morphine.

Appearance and use:
Nitazenes can be sold as a white powder, crystalline solid, or brown/yellow powder. They have also been found in various other substances like he**in, ketamine, and synthetic cannabinoids. They can be ingested in various ways, including injection, smoking, snorting, or swallowing.

Effects:
The effects of nitazenes are similar to other opioids, including euphoria, relaxation, pain relief, and sedation. However, due to their high potency, the risks associated with use are significantly higher, leading to:

*Dizziness
*Nausea and Vomiting
*Confusion or Disorientation
Slowed breathing and heart rate
*Small pupils (miosis)
*Increased risk of overdose

08/14/2025

Alaska's capital of Juneau is bracing for what could be record floodwaters due to rainwater and snowmelt flowing downstream from a basin dammed by the Mendenhall Glacier.

08/14/2025

Training, training, training! We love training! Today STARR provided a Swift Water / Flood Rescue Refresher course to 4 public agencies with a total of 18 personnel. Members from Lafayette Police Department, West Lake Fire Department, St Tammany Parish Fire District 2 (Madisonville), and St. Tammany Parish Fire District 4 (Mandeville).

The morning weather was great to do the lecture review of hydrology, terminology, rescue options, and lessons learned from recent flooding and swift water. From there it was off to the water to do scene assessment, risk & benefits analysis, and environmental risks. Then on to a nice brisk swim.

First was the offensive entries, defensive swims, back to offensive swims. Next, it was on to everyone’s favorite, the throw bag drills. Just like in every other class, we had that one who threw their bag straight up and into the willow tree behind them. However, that didn’t stop these individuals from not only having a good laugh, and continuing to improve their throw bag skills.

From the initial throw bag and into the second line option where students practice their “flaking” skills. Of course with each throw accuracy got better. Once those skills were mastered, it was onto tethered swim and victim tow swims. Then it was the strainer drills where students practice their defensive and offensive approach to strainers.

After lunch students practiced their knots and rope skills. Beginning with water knots, figure 8 on a bit, butterflies, and tensionless hitches. With knots refreshed it was now time to practice that tension high line, tag lines, butterfly net, the Z-Drag (3:1), and ending with the VooDoo hitch. Now it was time to put practice into motion with students moved into 2 teams, students were given a scenario and constructed a high line, tag line, with a butterfly net.

After these rope systems were constructed it was time to put them to the test. Keeping two individuals on river left and right, the other 14 students were sent upstream and got to see first hand how these rope systems work with large groups of victims. Before breaking down the rope systems each student was tethered to the line and required to perform a blowout drill.

As the day comes to a close, it was time to do one shore and two shore entrapment drills. Dividing into two groups everyone got get a role as the rescuer, victim, and IC. Next was to refresh those swallow water crossings. As each group performed the line of breast, line of stern, and Flying V it was time to wind things down.

Today for 18 individuals from 4 different agencies it was a great day of training and refreshing so many skills while some felt as if they learned a few more skills. All of us at STARR want to congratulate each one of the students for their professionalism, dedication, wellness to go the extra mile, and making today a great training day.

Also…. Bailey made some great desserts that didn’t take long to devour.