I posted this update on mdunc's thread, but thought maybe more folks would see it if it had its own thread.
Below is an update from Lori Scott this morning. As you can see, she is becoming very frustrated with the Marshall County officials. Once again, I beg for anyones assistance in cutting through the red tape that is blocking efforts to resume this search.
February 9, 2009
I plead for your help today. We are being denied outside help from Marshall County DES until KY takes over which will not begin on Thursday. During this process, we have been plagued with poor weather, but our best weather opportunities came on Sunday (yesterday), and again today. But, again, Marshall County DES would not send a simple Mutual Aid Agreement Request to outside counties willing to come to our aid. They refused outside help. They even refused the outside help of Boone County, KY on 3 occasions. We have multiple reports of refused help from these counties, because DES coordinators would not send a simple mutual aid request. We have had finger after finger pointed in another direction, stating someone else is in charge. ItÂs just one big finger pointing circle. No one knows who is in charge.
We had spoke with Boone County through the Seth Foundation and had them get their equipment and teams ready. All they needed was a simple Mutual Aid Agreement request from Marshall County DES. However, it took the DES coordinator 48 hours because of their lack of dedication and follow-through to send a simple one page FAX for that request.
I am distraught at this point. I desperately need some answers. There was absolutely no excuse that can be given to me for officials to not be on the water yesterday with the perfect weather conditions and again today with perfect weather conditions, no wind, good water surface conditions. We have not had a single official boat on the water since the day the ice hit. However, TrevorÂs dad, Clay, and the other fathers, uncles, and friends have been on the water daily. The ice never stopped them. We have installed side scan sonarÂs on family and friends boats to keep this recovery mission going. I am a tax paying citizen and I have been denied help.
I want you to know that not one call, not one attempt, came from Marshall County DES since 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, (the evening prior to ice storm). I know Marshall County was tied up handling the warming shelters, but again, there were outside counties and agencies willing to come in and assist but were never granted the mutual aid request. This is not a time consuming process to issue that request. I talked to the coordinator and they simply did not do it. They were trying to pass it off to someone who didnÂt have the authority to issue the request. Marshall County DES coordinator, even tried to hand it off to Graves County, which I explained to him was not logical or legal. The home county must issue the mutual aid request, unless the state is involved. If the State is involved, then that request must come from the KY DES Coordinator. However, the ball was dropped by BOTH of these two individuals. We have dealt with so many politics, so muchy Âred tapeÂ, and so many ego trips by Marshall County that it sickens me. This is because Marshall County does not care about the return of these boys. They are just waiting for our boys to ÂsurfaceÂ. Now, the very soonest that the state of KY can step into assist us will be Thursday.
I need you to be asking a lot of questions from your representatives, our Governor, our DES people. The rescue squads are not given the equipment they need, the funds they need, or the training they need to perform missions of recovery. They are not prepared, not because of the individuals but because we have POOR leadership who have not acted upon implementation of disaster preparation. ItÂs called being prepared. ItÂs called Âthinking aheadÂ. ItÂs called Âusing your headÂ!! Other surrounding areas around us have experienced drownings and recovery missions and seem to know what is expected, what equipment is needed, and how to establish grids and who needs to run these incidents. But, again, the State of Kentucky is operating in the Âcave man eraÂ. They are behind other states and only make excuses. We pay taxes, and they use it up. We pay taxes and they donÂt use it Âto be prepared for what might happen!
I am sure if this were Mike MillerÂs son in KY Lake, we would have had 40 boats out on the water looking for him. I am sure if this were Gov. BeshearÂs son in KY Lake, we would have had 40 boats on the water looking for him, and not just from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., but 24/7. There were some good days where no one showed up on the water until 11:30 a.m.!
We have not been afforded respect from Marshall County DES. Daily communication should have been afforded to myself and Rebecca (MacKenzieÂs mother). But Marshall County lacks ethic period! Of all the taxes paid into Marshall County, with a huge beautiful lake area, why not?
I contacted the Seth Foundation last night. I contacted Gene Ralston last night. Sheila from the Seth Foundation is attempting to put a team together to leave today to assist us, but it whoever we can get to come, and whatever equipment is available at the time they leave. Gene Ralston is putting together his equipment and driving from Idaho, but realistically probably cannot be here at the site until Thursday.
God bless the volunteers and the rescue workers who are all volunteers. The volunteers all hold full time jobs and they donÂt have equipment to assist. But continue to pray for the cold-hearted, poor leadership of Marshall County DES and our Marshall County ÂleadersÂ. I have seen absolutely no leadership, no planning, no coordination, no respect, from them.
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they can find those boys now. Van, looks like you may have speeded up things a little bit 
Anderson Services LLC
