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Office of External Affairs |
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| News Release |
Date: Sep. 14, 2008 |
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Coast Guard continues response to Hurricane Ike |
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KATY, Texas - The Coast Guard rescued 95 people yesterday 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. "The Coast Guard's number one priority continues to be search and rescue. However, today's focus will begin shifting to assessment," said Capt. Bill Diehl, Sector Houston-Galveston commander. "We recognize that getting the port open as quickly as possible is a top priority. Once we determine what we need to do to get it reopened, we will send aids to navigation teams in the reset any buoys that may have been knocked out of position." 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.
### Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790. |
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