A simple game of hide and seek could save a life.Sniper is one of Vermont Urban Search and Rescue (VT-TF1)’s trained K-9s. He and his handler, Tyler Cootware, have been inseparable since 2019, working search and rescue in Vermont and across the country, even on the frontlines of historic storm recoveries like Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and Florida.”We’re trained to find live humans in collapsed situations,” Cootware said. “When Sniper is working, we’re hopeful we can find someone that’s still alive. Unfortunately, on that trip, it came to the point where we were fully recovered.”On Wednesday, NBC5 got a behind-the-scenes look at Sniper on the clock. Smashed cars, fallen debris, and mountains of rubble. Each is a scenario the pup could face.”Sniper goes on the pile, runs the pile, finds a victim, and we’ll do our best to get access as quickly as possible to that victim and start providing high-quality medical care right there while they’re still trapped,” said David Weiss with VT-TF1.After another summer storm Thursday, July 10, Cootware recollects his rescue missions in 2023 and 2024 when Vermont became victim to 2023 and 2024 historic flooding.”All of a sudden, July of 2023, we’re cruising a boat down State Street in Montpelier. It was one of those moments where you reflect, like I never thought this would happen,” Cootware said.Sniper and the team were called into action on July 10 for a rescue in the Northeast Kingdom.”In this case, those flash floodings happened a little bit quicker than we were expecting, so they sent out the alert and we got as many people to our headquarters as possible, and we were out the door,” Weiss said.Luckily, they were not the only ones to answer the call and first responders were able to contain the situation.Cootware said with this pattern of summer floods under the belt, VT-TF1 is ready for anything.”I was like, this could never happen in Vermont. Sure enough. Two years in a row, three years in a row,” Cootware said.If you or your loved ones were affected by flash flooding on July 10, resources are available.
A simple game of hide and seek could save a life.
Sniper is one of Vermont Urban Search and Rescue (VT-TF1)’s trained K-9s. He and his handler, Tyler Cootware, have been inseparable since 2019, working search and rescue in Vermont and across the country, even on the frontlines of historic storm recoveries like Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and Florida.
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“We’re trained to find live humans in collapsed situations,” Cootware said. “When Sniper is working, we’re hopeful we can find someone that’s still alive. Unfortunately, on that trip, it came to the point where we were fully recovered.”
On Wednesday, NBC5 got a behind-the-scenes look at Sniper on the clock. Smashed cars, fallen debris, and mountains of rubble. Each is a scenario the pup could face.
“Sniper goes on the pile, runs the pile, finds a victim, and we’ll do our best to get access as quickly as possible to that victim and start providing high-quality medical care right there while they’re still trapped,” said David Weiss with VT-TF1.
After another summer storm Thursday, July 10, Cootware recollects his rescue missions in 2023 and 2024 when Vermont became victim to 2023 and 2024 historic flooding.
“All of a sudden, July of 2023, we’re cruising a boat down State Street in Montpelier. It was one of those moments where you reflect, like I never thought this would happen,” Cootware said.
Sniper and the team were called into action on July 10 for a rescue in the Northeast Kingdom.
“In this case, those flash floodings happened a little bit quicker than we were expecting, so they sent out the alert and we got as many people to our headquarters as possible, and we were out the door,” Weiss said.
Luckily, they were not the only ones to answer the call and first responders were able to contain the situation.
Cootware said with this pattern of summer floods under the belt, VT-TF1 is ready for anything.
“I was like, this could never happen in Vermont. Sure enough. Two years in a row, three years in a row,” Cootware said.
If you or your loved ones were affected by flash flooding on July 10, resources are available.
