This is part two of a five-part series about the recipients of the Impact 100 grants for this year.

Impact 100 Focus Category: Environment, preservation and recreation

Website: LASAR.net

Phone: 251-747-1451

Summary: “Purchase 25 handheld radios, six mobile radios with accessories, software and installation to be compliant with United States Homeland Security

Communication is key in locating a missing child, an Alzheimer’s patient or when a tornado, hurricane or flood hits Baldwin County. This project will insure prompt response to saving lives.

Lower Alabama Search and Rescue (LASAR) is a nonprofit, volunteer search and rescue unit in Lillian that received one of the five $92,000 grants from Impact 100. LASAR plans to use their grant money for necessary technology as required by the Department of Homeland Security.

On Sept. 9, 2001, not only did our country experience a terrorist attack in one of our largest cities, but there was also a problem with rescue efforts. There was no communication between agencies about rescue efforts. The fire stations couldn’t communicate with policemen who couldn’t communicate with the FBI who couldn’t communicate with other security units. This new requirement is for all rescue units to have inoperability systems, or P25 radios. These radios allow all agencies to talk with one another at any time.

“This system is top of the line, first run technology that’s pretty expensive right now,” says LASAR Commander Ray Hogans. “As a public service agency, we’ve got to have it. Thanks to this grant we’re going to be able to outfit our vehicles, personnel and boats with this equipment. We are very fortunate for Impact 100 and the work these ladies are doing. Thanks to them we are going to have some good communication equipment.”

Deputy Commander Rick Miller says because the organization is designated as nonprofit, the organization doesn’t get any federal or state funding.

“Without this grant, we would be having car washes, pancake dinners or whatever to get these radios and come into compliance,” Miller says.

Lower Alabama Search and Rescue was founded in February 2001 as an organization to help others. They cover the area from Highway 59 to Florida and from the Gulf of Mexico to Interstate 10. There are two other rescue squads in the area, one in Daphne and one in Bay Minette. Whether LASAR is responding to their primary area or secondary area, the entire county is part of their total coverage area, according to Hogans.

“Beyond that, we’ll go anywhere in the state of Alabama,” he says. “If they call us, we’ll pack up and go.”

And it doesn’t stop with Alabama either. LASAR has traveled to New Orleans, Texas and parts of north Alabama to respond.

Whenever they are called, whenever they are needed, LASAR is ready to respond.