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Search and rescue efforts for missing 5-year-old, Summer Wells, continue around the clock.
The search has now utilized 120 agencies, from Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina assisting in the search efforts for the girl in Hawkins County.
The Church Hill Rescue Squad issued a press release stating, “Since Tuesday the 15th there has been 1150 searchers on the ground that have logged 13,800 hours. TBI fixed wing flew 21.2 hours. The THP helicopter logged 30 hours of flight. Numerous specialized search and rescue groups to include but not limited too TN Task Force 2, BUSAR, Appalachian Mountain Rescue, Black Diamond, SCSAR, Central Carolina SAR, Great Smokey Mountain National Park, RATSAR, and Search and Rescue Tracking Institute, and numerous K-9 Teams have been represented from these agencies.”
To date, they have covered just over 4.6 square miles with that being over 3000 acres being searched since the night when she was reported missing. The rugged mountainous terrain continues to cause problems. This slows search operations down in these areas but rest assured, while encountering these conditions, we are still searching with an aggressive approach with extreme attention to detail. The terrain and conditions have exhausted crews both physically and mentally.
They are still utilizing local and regional resources, but have called upon and utilizing resources from middle and west Tennessee along with out of state resources to bring a fresh set of eyes and rested bodies. At this time, we are scaling back search operations. Search efforts will continue on a more specialized team basis as needed and directed from local, state, and federal agencies. Just because we may not be seen as such a large present in and throughout the area, rest assured that we have not quit and won’t quit until we find Summer Wells.
An updated release will be issued as new information becomes available. If anyone has information please call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
TBI photos.