Responding in the aftermath of a disaster: The Surge Capacity Force
The size and impact of Hurricane Sandy will be remembered for years to come and the significance of the storm will not be lost to the Coast Guard civilian volunteers who were part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Surge Capacity Force. Following Hurricane Katrina, a need was recognized for the federal government to be more responsive in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Thus, the surge capacity force was created.
Do you have a disaster supply kit?
September is National Preparedness Month and with Hurricane Isaac fresh in our minds, safety and preparedness couldn’t be more relevant. Whether you live in an area always at risk for a natural disaster, or a community that rarely has one, everyone should have a disaster supply kit.
2012 Atlantic hurricane season begins
The 2012 Atlantic hurricane season officially began last Friday, but two storm names have already been crossed off the list. With two named storms occurring before the season even started – Alberto and Beryl – Craig Fugate, administrator of Federal [...]
Hurricane season is almost here… Are you ready?
While the Atlantic hurricane season doesn’t officially start until June 1, scientists at the Climate Prediction Center are predicting moderate chances for a tropical depression or a storm to form in the Caribbean during the next two weeks. The chances [...]
Race to deploy
Written by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Anderson, Deployable Operations Group. When the call went out for port security unit reservists to activate for Exercise Patriot Hook, a 96-hour clock to deployment was started. Patriot Hook is an annual exercise [...]
National Strike Force trains for all hazards
The National Strike Force is one of the U.S. Coast Guard’s highly capable and experienced maritime crisis management teams. Standing ready to deploy to any hazard, any time, any place since 1973, NSF personnel have responded to many historic incidents [...]
Disaster can strike at any time. Be prepared.
Over the past several weeks, we were reminded that disaster could strike at any time. The eastern seaboard had days to prepare for Hurricane Irene but was caught unaware when an earthquake struck just one week prior. Yet, in either [...]
NOAA predicts above normal Atlantic hurricane season
With the June 1st beginning of the 2011 hurricane season looming in the not-too-distant future, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its forecasts for major storms in the Atlantic, Eastern Pacific and Central Pacific ocean basins earlier today. While NOAA [...]
Coast Guard joins Red River flood response
With contributions from Chief Warrant Officer Lionel Bryant and Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard Brahm Coast Guard personnel, airboats and aircraft continue to assist in a multi-agency response to heavy flooding that started last week along the Red River in [...]
2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season expected to be an active one
June 1st marks the beginning of hurricane season. NOAA officials warn us to expect an “active to extremely active” hurricane season in the Atlantic. For the 2010 hurricane season, NOAA is predicted anywhere from 14 to 23 named storms (top [...]
