Coast Guard Monitors and Prepares For Isidore

The Coast Guard is advising all mariners to take safety precautions while it works with local, state and other federal agencies to prepare for Isidore. The service is constantly monitoring the storm and coordinating any necessary response with emergency and law enforcement officials. "We're working with city, state and other federal agencies to develop a storm safety and response plan, while our crews are standing by to be able to affect rescue operations after the storm," said Capt. Bradford Black, chief of operations for the Eighth Coast Guard District. The best safety measure is to keep away from the water completely. "We're (Coast Guard) urging boaters to stay off the water and consider moving their boats inland to safe mooring away from coastal areas," said Capt. Jake Korn, chief of search and rescue for the district. The Coast Guard is recalling essential personnel to fulfill any search and rescue, aids to navigation and environmental safety missions following the storm. A Damage Assessment Team from Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit Miami is prepared to deploy to the scene of any damaged Coast Guard units along the Gulf coast. An Emergency Response Team from Coast Guard Integrated Support Command St. Louis is standing by to respond to any Coast Guard unit that requires assistance. The emergency contact number for the Eighth Coast Guard District Command Center, which responds to distress calls along the majority of the Gulf coastline, is (504) 589-6225. The emergency contact number for the Seventh Coast Guard District Command Center, which responds to distress calls along most of the Florida coast, is (305) 415-6800. The phone number for the Coast Guard's Emergency Response Center is 1-800-424-8802.