Rescue signalling – Ground-to-Air emergency code

There are a number of techniques that you can choose to use if you are in distress in the outdoors, depending upon your location and the severity of the situation. This can include shouting for help, calling for help using your phone or taking refuge on someone else’s property. However, if you are in the wilderness and a rescue party is expected to come and retrieve you, then there is a five-symbol standard ground-to-air emergency technique to signal various critical messages to the aircraft and rescue team.

These rescue codes will first and foremost alert the rescue aircraft about your precise location along with the information of any injured personnel requiring urgent help. The five ground-to-air emergency symbols are as follows:

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Hurricane Charley 2004

Hurricane Charley occurred between 9 and 14 August 2004. Hurricane Charley strengthened rapidly just before striking the southwestern coast of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. Charley was the strongest hurricane to hit the United States since Andrew in 1992 and, although small in size, it caused catastrophic wind damage in Charlotte County, Florida. Serious damage occurred well inland over the Florida peninsula. Inundation up to 4.2 feet above ground level was observed along portions of Florida coast. Maximum sustained winds up to 78 knots were recorded during this Hurricane in the United States. There was a total of 10 fatalities in the United States with about $7.4 billion property damage [NOAA, 2004].