As the search for 6-year-old Willa Rawlings continues in the Tonto Basin, one local woman has taken it upon herself to help the family in locating their child. Willa has been missing since her family’s car was swept away by floodwater during an outing at Tonto Basin on Nov. 29. The bodies of brother and her cousin who were also in the vehicle were recovered.
Joseph City resident Rachel Berge, who is a 17-year veteran EMT and a former member of the Navajo County Search and Rescue, heeded the call when a former associate of hers, Logan Egnor, asked if anyone would go with him to aide in the search for Willa in the waters of the Tonto Basin.
Because she is an experienced kayaker, Berge said, “I contacted him on Facebook and asked if they needed help.” Egnor was quick to accept so Berge gathered her kayak and headed down to the basin. Search and rescue teams scoured the area and Berge said that there were other kayakers helping the day prior to her arrival but not very many.
As Berge kayaked through the basin searching for the missing child she was in direct contact with Egnor from the Incident Command Station while on her nearly five-mile grid search. “There were three other kayakers there, but we were all on our own.” Berge explained that although there were various organizations there, like her, a portion of the volunteers, including the other kayakers, were there on their own volition.
Berge described her surroundings as, “murky” and “desolate” as she rowed across the lake on her search. Berge said there were a mix of emotions during her quest, from fear to hope back to fear. “I wanted to find her, but I didn’t want to find her,” said Berge, adding that there is just no way to explain her emotions at the time.
After so many years in emergency services Berge, who works at Holbrook Emergency Medical Services, is no stranger to trauma. When she was asked how she felt this differed from the scenarios she faces at her job everyday she said, “With EMS, we’re called, we know what we’re doing. We have a patient and we take care of the patient. This was different because I wasn’t there to render medical help.” Her purpose was to be a part of the effort to help the family find closure.
Over the years, Berge has demonstrated her compassion and respect for life by contributing to the efforts of hers and surrounding communities. In 2002 she and her husband Paul Berge ran an animal shelter out of their home until 2006 taking in 157 cats, 38 dogs and two potbelly pigs over the course of our years. Around the same time, Berge was also a member of the Navajo County Search and Rescue for nearly a year and a half before they relocated and it became difficult to participate as much as she hoped.
Since then, Berge has continued her volunteerism and philanthropy through various other causes. Berge participates in the Run for the Wall, a cross country motorcycle ride dedicated to the support and recognition of all veterans, as often as her schedule will allow.
She also invites her community in Joseph City to share her enthusiasm for Halloween every year at her home where she and her family outfit their home from top to bottom with elaborate decorations.
When Berge was asked why she jumps at these opportunities she modestly said, “I just like to help people.”
Those efforts have made a true impact on the people and the pets she’s come in contact with, becoming a role model of service for those who know her and for those in her community.
