Natural disasters are an unfortunate reality in the modern day world. From detrimental earthquakes to disastrous tornadoes, Mother Nature shows time and time again that she has the potential to unleash devastation on an often unexpected scale. The recent flooding in Colorado is one disheartening example, and with a confirmed death toll of at least eight, the only silver lining is the fact that there is only one person still reported missing after the floods. While missing persons are a sad reality behind natural disasters, private investigators have taken the forefront in recovery operations.
The Difficulty in Finding Missing Persons
Modern phone technology makes it seem as if there would never be an issue with locating a missing loved one after a disaster. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. During a natural disaster, two things happen that can result in an inability to use even the most high-end of cell phones. First, natural disasters destroy everything in sight, and this includes cell phone towers and mobile communication infrastructure. Second, a surge in cell traffic can overload the system, and this means loved ones who may only be a call away are unreachable.
Sadly, failed mobile infrastructure isn’t the only difficulty that comes along with locating missing persons after a disaster. Hasty hospitalizations, sudden deaths and hurried evacuations can make staying in contact with loved ones nearly impossible. Many Colorado residents, for instance, were evacuated during the recent floods. When this is added to the fact that many small mountain towns were completely cut off from civilization due to washed out roads, the resultant chaos can make locating anyone a challenge.
Government Help vs Private Investigators
Many people feel as if leaving the locating of their loved one to the government is sufficient. The government undoubtedly does what it can, but when a natural disaster has knocked out much of its infrastructure and the financial costs of recovering and locating missing persons reaches a certain point, they unfortunately can become ineffective.
In 2006, for instance, Louisiana’s efforts to identify over 500 missing or unnamed victims of Hurricane Katrina ran out of money; this left hundreds of families with nothing but more questions and fear. Sadly, with so many potential victims, Louisiana never stood much of a chance. When it comes to private investigators, on the other hand, these professionals are focused on finding only the person they’ve been hired to find. With their attentions focused only on locating specific missing persons, the chances of locating loved ones in good health rises.
The Tools of the Trade
Locating missing persons after a natural disaster is no easy task, but locating people who can’t easily be found by others is exactly for what private investigators were trained. There are masses of search databases out there, for instance, to which professional investigators have access. Unfortunately, when a natural disaster occurs, communication between organizations and government entities often falters. Since private investigators have access to a variety of databases , they can often locate missing individuals who have popped up on even one database.
In addition, the investigative skills of private investigators often eclipse those of traditional government investigators. Without the many levels of legal jurisprudence controlling their actions and their focus only on a minimal pool of individuals, these investigative skills are often enough to bring loved ones home. From finding complete strangers who may have recently seen a missing person to scouring online photos in an effort to locate specific faces, private investigators have several methods of locating otherwise unlocatable persons. These professionals can even locate makeshift hospitals in the chaos and find those who may be injured.
In 2012 alone, there were nearly 700,000 missing persons reported. Over 2,000 of these cases were never resolved. Sadly, too many of these cases stem from those lost during natural disasters. Luckily, new technology and the training that private investigators undergo increase the chances that a missing loved one will be found. The government always tries their best, but in reality, their best often limited by allotted funds, which is not the case with work done by private investigators
