I don't have much to report back, I'm afraid. Not only are there disclosures about specifics, but the cold just got too much for me and I had to go hang out at a friend's house in Paint Lick. Still...
When the search started this morning, it was super cold. Also a difficult drive to Lancaster because the roads were icy and some hadn't been cleared off yet. There weren't many there when the search first started. I've seen searchers with a lot more people. I was disappointed at first, but it got better. A lot more people started trickling in. For some, this was the first time they'd participated in a search. ATVs weren't allowed because of the ground and safety hazards. People signed disclosures and instructions were given out. It started at the church, but some left and were sent to a different area. I don't know where that was since those instructions were given privately. Cell phone pings were talked about and we were told that's one of the reasons why we were starting where we were. It wasn't a random starting point, though the church did give a good central meeting point (and place to park). We could leave nothing behind. If you smoked, you needed to hold onto your butts and not throw them down. Don't spit out any chewing gum. Don't litter at ALL. It was VERY difficult walking over the ground at first. There wasn't a lot of snow, maybe just an inch or so, but the ground was slick. Even in snow boots I was sliding all over the place. The walking was extremely slow going. We had to kind of stay together. If anyone found anything, they had to signal one of the admin over. We were told that nothing should be considered insignificant. Things to look for included clothing, jewelry, accessories and, as one person put it, "human biological matter." (Male or female for all.) While it wasn't right out said, this was conveyed as a recovery search.
I lasted for an hour. It started warming up but I couldn't stay out any longer. I have Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and sometimes the cold just seeps right inside. My husband stayed, though. He said that as the morning wore on and the ground softened and temperature rose, more people showed up. Some had trouble getting out of their driveways this morning so that delayed quite a few. (We did as well. The roads around my house weren't cleared until you got into town.) When he left there were still people looking. That was at about 2:30. They will most likely stay until dark. He would've stayed, too, but he's been out on one search or another almost every day for the past 2 weeks. Only 3 days off. He's starting to get sick.
Seems like people did have a few discoveries here and there, but nothing that had anyone getting really excited. :-( That doesn't mean that nothing of significance was found, though. I don't know about the ones who were on a different grid. Once they left, I didn't see them again.
Oh,and for those who asked...yes, the shoulder of the road was checked. Ravines, culverts, etc.
I have heard that other, smaller and private, search groups have been out as well. Those weren't affiliated with the state or Texas Equusearch so I can't comment on those. I don't know anything about them.
There was talk about trying to organize another one tomorrow since the weather got people off to a rough start today. There was confusion over whether they were still having it today. Maybe some didn't come because they thought it was going to be called off. (I thought it might be, myself, since there was a pretty good layer of snow on the ground around 4am.) They may have another one to try to get the ATVs out.
Sorry I don't have anything else to report. :-( I know this doesn't answer many questions. It might help give you an idea of what the day was like, though. Those who were there were passionate about what they were doing. Everyone appeared to be taking it very seriously.
IMO, more local businesses and civic groups should get involved with this. Volunteers of all kinds are needed in this kind of situation, MOO. Not just people literally walking the ground. Those providing snacks, drinks, hand warmers,etc. In some ways, they're just as important. Oh, yes, and bathrooms were provided. The church did a GREAT job.
