There is a group of drone operators who are organizing across the nation to do search and rescue operations via drone. The images (incredible) are put on line for viewing and if something is seen it can be investigated. They are working on several cases and just posted reaching out for operators in Ashley's area. The page is called Wings of Mercy.
Oct 4 2018
"The missing, Oct. 3
Drones offer hope to families of missing | The Star
I want to thank the Star for its investigative story about the missing women of B.C. My cousin Ashley Simpson is one of those women. She disappeared without a trace from her home in Salmon Arm, B.C., two and a half years ago.
As the story reported, her disappearance has devastated her family. Her mother, Cindy, and father, John, have had their lives ripped apart, and yet they have gathered the strength to continue to search for her and raise awareness and money for the families of the missing and murdered in Canada.
Last year, John Simpson began raising money to buy drones to search the areas where Ashley disappeared. He realized there was a need for technology that could be used to search places too dangerous or overgrown for searchers.
Since then, a volunteer group of skilled drone pilots, called Wings of Mercy, have joined forces to help after official searchers go home. This week, pilots will conduct another aerial search in the area where Ashley disappeared. The drones can capture in detail grids of the difficult terrain, which can then be examined by forensic professionals.
Drone technology has great potential for search-and-rescue efforts, which are often funded poorly or not at all. It is also far less costly than sending in an army of investigators.
It is our hope that we can turn our tragedy into hope for the countless families who feel abandoned, and give families all over North America hope that they might finally discover what happened to their loved ones.
Rose Simpson, Ottawa"