This morning Clay County Fire & Rescue was called to the Deep Gap area to search for a possible missing hiker after family members became concerned when they were unable to make contact

Just before noon, firefighters located the hiker and determined there was no emergency. Their cell phone had died, preventing them from checking in with family as planned.

This incident serves as an important reminder to always have a plan before venturing into the woods or onto the trails. Let someone know where you are going, when you expect to return, and have a backup plan in case your phone loses service or battery life.

It also highlights the importance of contacting emergency services as soon as something seems wrong. While there was thankfully no emergency this time, we have had searches in the past where family members waited hours to call for help assuming their loved one had “just forgotten to check in,” only for the person to later be found injured on a trail and unable to call for assistance.

When in doubt, make the call. Early notification can make a major difference in how quickly help arrives.