Lost Person Behavior
The West Virginia Emergency Management Division is proud to offer a Lost Person Behavior class.
The Lost Person Behavior Course is a two-day classroom workshop (16 hours) based on Dr. Robert Koester’s Lost Person Behavior research and is designed to support search planning for both ground searchers and command staff. Students will be introduced to the latest information and research re-garding the lost person behavioral profiles, including important subject background information, implications for search and rescue, search statistics, behavioral statistics, and how to plan a search for each subject type. Particular emphasis is placed on the newer research concerning people with Alzheimer’s, desponden-cy, intellectual disabilities/psychosis and abducted children. The instructors present opportunities to work several practical scenarios that leave attendees with basic knowledge, skills, and confidence to create a strategic and tactical plan for their next missing persons operation. Before arriving in class, students will benefit from downloading the free Lost Person Behavior App into their phone/tablet and gaining some famili-arity with SARTopo via the free CalTopo app/online platform. Students will receive Dr. Koester’s LPB book, a LPB workbook, and the Endangered and Vulnerable Adults & Children handbook.
Instructor: Natural Awareness Tracking School, LLC
Dates: February 28 – March 1, 2026
Times: 8am – 5pm
Preregistration is required.
Bookings
This event is fully booked.