Coast Guard Continues Response to Hurricane Ike

September 15, 2008

Coast Guard Jayhawk 6031 from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C. flys over flooded areas in New Iberia, La., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. Coast Guard helicopter crews began flying over flooded areas looking for signs of people in distress after Hurricane Ike reached the Gulf Coast causing tremedous devastation to many areas in Louisana and Texas. Photo credit: USCG

The Coast Guard rescued 95 people as part of post-Hurricane Ike operatikons. In addition, 103 were brought to safety on Friday afternoon by helicopter crews from The Coast Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas Task 1, and the California Air National Guard before the hurricane hit.

The Coast Guard is continuing its responses to Hurricane Ike on Sunday. Assessment teams, which were staged inland at the Coast Guard Continuity of Operation (COOP) facility in Katy, have deployed to the field. They will conduct waterway assessments on small boats to identify areas of concern in the ports and in the ship channel. In addition, the teams will assess aids to navigation to identify any repositioning of buoys.

On Saturday morning, as weather conditions began to improve, Coast Guard helicopters that were repositioned at air stations throughout the gulf region, were ordered in to the Houston-Galveston area to join other agencies to begin search and rescue. Ninety-five people were rescued yesterday. In addition, 103 were brought to safety on Friday afternoon before Hurricane Ike hit by helicopter crews from The Coast Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas Task 1, and the California Air National Guard.