Submitted by Town of Haddam
(October 12, 2024) — Volunteers are needed today, Saturday, October 12, 2024, for a Grid Search to find 81 year old Normand Manning, who has been missing since October 6, 2024. The search will begin at 8:30 a.m. Please arrive at Pattaconk Reservoir in Chester, off of Cedar Lake Road, between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. as we would like to start on foot promptly at 8:30 a.m. Emergency management teams and State Police have asked that we have a sign-in and sign-out sheet so we can keep track of every single volunteer.
With a sharp cut off time at 4:00 p.m., everyone should be out of the woods and accounted for. Also, if there are any accidents, or slips or falls, the Fire Department and State Police have ample amount of time to respond. There is a six to seven hour grid planned. If you are unable to physically take part, we ask that you share this notice with as many friends and groups as you can to help us find Mr. Manning.
We will have two separate groups going out Saturday morning to cover more ground. Some will be able to walk paths and roads if not in best physical condition.
Mr. Manning was last seen wearing a white cotton long-sleeved, button-down shirt, dark brown pants. He was last seen carrying a white plastic grocery style bag holding a cinnamon bread from church service that morning. His last known physical location was at 5:15 p.m. Sunday evening October 6, 2024, heading south on the white trail toward Pattaconk Lake, which starts at Old County Road in Higganum and ends in multiple locations, the furthest point being Route 148.
• If you need to park on the side of the road due to the lot at Pattaconk being full, make sure there is enough room for traffic to pass you. In case of an emergency, we need to make sure that emergency vehicles can access all roads! There are many areas along Cedar Lake and Filley Road to pull off and be out of the way. Do not be reckless. Find a good parking spot.
• CARPOOL if possible. There are a limited number of spots to park at Pattaconk Reservoir.
• Please dress appropriately. Wear high socks, hiking boots, jeans and bright colors and dress in layers as the weather will warm up quickly. With a high of 73 degrees, it will be warm hiking. WEAR BRIGHT COLORS, BUT DO NOT WEAR WHITE. White is the color we are looking to spot in the woods.
• Eat a good breakfast and bring a few snacks. There will be snacks at the sign-in area, but we cannot promise there will be enough for all volunteers. Plan accordingly for a long day.
• When you arrive, you must check in at the white table. You will be assigned to a group at that time. DO NOT CHANGE YOUR GROUP.
• Level 1 group will be going from Pattaconk Lake up Cedar Lake Road with people five to ten feet apart, and also off the roadside 50-100 feet on either side. It is possible Mr. Manning made it to the parking lot of Pattaconk and started walking home via Cedar Lake.
• Level 2 group will be deeper into the forest with uneven ground, ledges, marshy patches, and thicker berm. Search leaders want to assemble as many as possible to do a wide sweep search of the area from Pattaconk south to Route 148, using the properties on Parker Hill as the western border and Cedar Lake as eastern border and Route 148 as the southern border. Mr. Manning owns a home on Lake View Avenue off Cedar Lake. It has been checked and the tenant has been in contact with the family, but it is not known if he thought to seek shelter there.
• If you must leave the search for any reason, please do not leave the woods without someone with you. Groups of 2 minimum.
• Check yourself for ticks before you leave at the end of the search and during.
• The search will end at 4:00 p.m. to ensure that we get everyone out of the woods safely before the sun goes down.
If you would like to help we will also need volunteers to keep an eye on the parking lot and the sign-in and sign-out sheets, as well as food and drinks, etc. If you would like to help but cannot attend the search for whatever reason, share this as much as you can and just pray that we can bring Normand home to his family.
IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY: call 911. They will have a direct line to State Police, the and Emergency Team and the Fire Department.
Thank you, from the Manning family. Their phone number is 860-301-4852.
