Date: January 19, 2010 

Contact: Lt. j.g. Alan Baker
(586) 239-6748

U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit crew conducts medical evacuations in support of the Haitian Earthquake Relief operations 

DETROIT - A local U.S. Coast Guard aircrew, from here, has been flying around the clock in support of earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

Flying the HH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter, yesterday’s mission involved evacuation of several trauma patients from the small village of Milot, which is nestled in the mountains 60 miles north of Port Au Prince. U.S. Coast Guard and United Nations security was required in the small village, as mobs of local residents rushed the helicopter as it landed.

Avionics Electrical Technician 2nd Class Duane Zitta handled the loading and care of the patients, and on several occasions had to assist in marshalling the crowd away from the turning helicopter.

Multiple trips from the village to awaiting Coast Guard Cutters in the bay resulted in the successful evacuation of nine trauma patients throughout an arduous six-hour flight. Patients included a small girl and a young boy with severely injured legs.  Click the below links for pictures of the Detroit Coast Guard aircrew.

PICTURE #1     PICTURE #2 

For additional informaiton, contact Lt. j.g. Alan Baker, U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit Public Affairs, at (586) 239-6748.     

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard: Proud History.  Powerful Future.

Date: January 6, 2010

Contact: Lt. Jerry Butwid
(920) 743-9448, phone

Salvage operations underway in Egg Harbor

EGG HARBOR, Wis. - A towing vessel partially sank while moored at the Egg Harbor Municipal Marina.  Members from the U. S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment (MSD) Sturgeon Bay are working closely with the owners of the towing vessel to ensure quick and safe salvage operations.  The exact time and cause of the sinking is unknown at this time.

The primary concern is to safely refloat the towing vessel while preventing a pollution incident.  The vessel’s fuel tank vents have been capped to minimize the pollution risk.   Additionally, sorbent and containment boom have been deployed around the vessel to contain any pollution that may occur.  A small amount of oil product has been released, however there are no signs of pollution outside of the containment boom.

The owner of the submerged towing vessel is currently drafting a salvage plan to be reviewed and approved by the U. S. Coast Guard.  The salvaging of the vessel will commence once a plan is approved.  After the vessel is safely removed an investigation will follow to determine the cause of the sinking.

Local residents are instructed to keep away from the salvaging area due to the risk of personal injury.

It is the Coast Guard’s responsibility to respond quickly, effectively and safely to all reports of pollution on all navigable waterways in the United States, including Lake Michigan.

For further information, contact the Coast Guard MSD Sturgeon Bay Assistant Supervisor, LT Jerry Butwid at (920) 743-9448.

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard: Proud History.  Powerful Future.

Date: Nov. 16, 2009

Contact: Lt. Nathan Noyes
(231) 922-8273

Coast Guard locates lost hunter

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City searched and located a lost  50-year-old hunter near Ruby Creek in Oceana County, Monday morning, after he failed to return to camp the previous night. 

The Coast Guard helicopter crew quickly located the hunter in the early morning light and then successfully guided ground parties in to provide assistance.  

"There's no better feeling than knowing that you helped save someone's life and that is what we train to do each and every day," said Lt. Chad Eckhardt, Air Station Traverse City HH-65C pilot.

Every year the hunting season has the potential to present unforgiving weather, including colder temperatures and freezing precipitation.  Conditions can change dramatically in a very short period of time.  Hunters should know their limitations and be in good physical health if heading out into the wilderness and unfamiliar areas. 

The safe rescue of the hunter emphasizes the importance to properly prepare for your activity, the environment your in, and any possible situations that may arise.  Make sure you leave a detailed hunting plan with family or friends, and always hunt or hike with a partner.  Be well prepared by having a detailed map of the area and a means of communication like a cellular phone or 2-way radio, and carry a box of matches, a lighter, a flashlight, or other fire making/signalling signaling device.  

Detecting a missing person on the ground can be quite difficult even from an aircraft overhead.  To better the chance of detection by rescuers, the following survival equipment is strongly recommended:  

• Cold weather survival gear
• 2 Way VHF-FM radio and/or cell phone 
• Matches, lighter, or other device for making a fire
• Handheld GPS (Global Positioning System)
• Bright Orange Reflective Clothing
• Flashlight, strobe light, or other light-producing signalling device

The Coast Guard urges all hunters to take a hunting safety course and always dress and prepare for emergency situations that may happen. 

For more information on this story, contact the Public Affairs Officer at Air Station Traverse City, Lt. Nate Noyes at 231-922-8273. During non-business hours, please contact the Air Station Operations Center at 231-922-8212.

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard: Proud History.  Powerful Future.

Date:  October 22, 2009

Contact: LT K. Salzmann
(414) 349-5109 cell

Cooler Temperatures Bring New Hazards

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Although the summer boating season may be behind us, many boaters continue to frequent the waters of Lake Michigan.  The Coast Guard would like to remind boaters to take additional steps to ensure safety during cooler weather.

As the temperatures begin to drop and winter storms start wrecking havoc on Lake Michigan, boaters should remember that chances of hypothermia increase.  Hypothermia starts when a person’s core temperature drops below 95 degrees; this can occur rapidly in cold water.  Also, the weather can change quickly and endanger unprepared boaters.

“We are in an interesting time of the year on Lake Michigan as there are still a few nice days ahead of us and boaters may want to capitalize on them.  It is important for boaters to remember that as water temperatures drop, hypothermia becomes a true danger,” said Capt. Luann Barndt, Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan.

To better prepare for time out on the water, the boating public is encouraged to take extra care to increase their safety.  These steps include the following:

1. Leaving a float plan with family or friends,
2. Wearing a Coast Guard approved life jacket,
3. Outfitting your boat with a marine-band radio and GPS,
4. Ensuring you have lifesaving equipment onboard such as flares and a Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB),
5. Dressing for the cold with additional layers, and
6. Always being aware of the weather forecast and mindful of changing conditions.

The Coast Guard would like to remind the boating public that these extra safety measures can greatly increase your chances of rescue and survival if an emergency situation should occur.  

Boaters are also reminded to ensure their vessels are well secured to the pier.  The stronger winter winds can easily break loose a vessel from an unsecure mooring.  The Coast Guard will conducted searches on unmanned vessels that are adrift; these searches can cost taxpayers thousands of dollars and divert valuable Coast Guard assets.

For further information or media inquiries, contact the Sector Lake Michigan Public Affairs Officer at (414) 349-5109.

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard: Proud History.  Powerful Future.

Date: Aug. 7, 2009

Contact: LT K. Salzmann
(414) 747-7085 office
(414) 349-5109 cell

Coast Guard assists boat taking on water

STURGEON BAY, Wis.- U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan received a distress call from a vessel taking on water off of Green Island in Green Bay Friday at approximately 8:29 a.m. 

Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay dispatched a 25-foot small response boat (RB-S) and a 41-foot utility boat (UTB).  When the Coast Guard crews arrived, there was one-and-a-half  feet of water in the engine room. 

"When our boat crew arrived on scene, we saw that the two people onboard had taken the extra precaution of putting on their lifejackets," said Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Larry Hall, 25-footer coxswain.

After placing a pump onboard the boat and safely dewatering, the crew towed the boat safely back into Menominee.

There were two people and one dog onboard the 33-foot boat when the call was made over channel 16 on the boat’s marine band radio.  Sector Lake Michigan’s command center directed Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay to respond to the call.

The Coast Guard would like to remind the boating public that the law states that boat operators must have a Coast Guard-approved lifejacket for every member on board their vessel.  The Coast Guard suggests boaters go a step further, such as these two individuals did, and wear the life jacket at all times when on the water.  There is often little to no time to reach for a stowed lifejacket when an accident occurs.

The Coast Guard encourages boaters to invest in a VHF-FM radio as their primary means of alerting distress on the water.  Communication via VHF-FM radio provides superior alerting capabilities over cellular phones and is monitored 24/7 by the Coast Guard. A person in distress is a call away from swift rescue with a marine band radio.

Additional information on life jackets (PFDs), can be found at http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/equ_pfd.htm

To learn about regulations and additional marine band radio information, go to http://www.uscgboating.org/SAFETY/fedreqs/equ_radio.htm

For further information, contact the Sector Lake Michigan Public Affairs Officer at (414) 747-7085.

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard: Proud History.  Powerful Future.

Date: Aug. 4, 2009

Contact: Lt. K. Salzmann
(414) 747-7085 office
(414) 349-5109cell

Coast Guard assists in rescue of three people, searches for one other person

MANISTEE, Mich.- The U.S. Coast Guard commenced a search for a missing fisherman after the boat he and three others were in capsized Monday evening while fishing offshore Manistee.

Coast Guard Stations Manistee and Frankfort launched boats and rescue crews toward the last believed position of the boat.  A Coast Guard HH-65C helicopter was launched from Air Station Traverse City.  

The capsized vessel was located by the 30-foot response boat crew from Station Frankfort.  A Benzie County marine unit rescued the pair clinging to the boat and took them to awaiting Emergency Medical Services.

The search continues for the fourth person that was not found holding onto the boat.  Coast Guard units that remain searching include HH-65C helicopters from Air Station Traverse City and Air Facility Muskegon, a 47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB) from Station Manistee and a 30-footer from Frankfort.

Station Manistee received a telephone call at 3:51 a.m. Tuesday from a person stating he and three others had capsized the previous evening.  The reporting source swam to shore to make the call to the Coast Guard.  He reported the three of the four persons were able to grab life jackets when they capsized, but the fourth person did not.

The Coast Guard would like to remind the boating public that boat operators must have a Coast Guard-approved life jacket for every member on board their vessel.  The Coast Guard suggests boaters go a step further and wear the life jacket at all times when on the water.  There is often little to no time to reach for a stowed life jacket when an accident occurs.

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard: Proud History.  Powerful Future.

Date:  July 31, 2009

Contact: Lt. K. L. Salzmann
(414) 747-7085 office
(414) 349-5109cell

Coast Guard rescues two from breakwall

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – U. S. Coast Guard Station Michigan City rescued a grandfather and his grandson that had become stranded on the breakwall at approximately 11:30 a.m. Thursday. 

Station Michigan City responded to the scene with a 25-foot response boat-small (RB-S).  The crew of the 25-foot Coast Guard boat were able to place the raft in tow and recover the two people from the breakwall. 

"Both of the individuals were wearing lifejackets, which helped keep them afloat, as they swam to the breakwall," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Sean Sewell of Station Michigan City.  "Without those life jackets, the situation could have been much more dangerous with an out of control boat."

At approximately 10 a.m. Station Michigan City received a call over VHF-radio channel 16.  The reporting source stated that there was a 10-foot rubber raft with an outboard motor circling out of control near the breakwall.  The two people from the boat were reported to have made it safely to the breakwall but were stranded there.

Boaters are required to carry a Coast Guard approved lifejacket for every person aboard.  The Coast Guard recommends boaters wear their life jackets at all times when on the water.  There is often little or no time to reach for a stowed lifejacket when an accident occurs.

The Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary suggest that all boaters take a free boating safety course. These courses cover aspects of boating safety including boat handling and reading the weather.  The Coast Guard Auxiliary also offers a "Water 'N Kids" class.

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard: Proud History.  Powerful Future.

Date: July 23, 2009

Contact: Lt. K. Salzmann
(414) 747-7085 office
(414) 349-5109 cell

Brookfield native becomes a U.S. Coast Guard officer

MILWAUKEE. – A Brookfield native took the Oath of Office as an ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Thursday morning.

Stephanie Waller, as a Cadet in summer 2008, spent two weeks at the sector to experience several aspects of the service and become familiar with all of its missions.  Subsequently, she sought a commission as an officer in the Coast Guard upon her recent graduation from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kingspoint, N.Y.

In August, Waller will attend a four-week training program to better prepare her for her future career as a military officer in the Coast Guard.  Upon completion of her training, her first assignment will be in the Prevention Department at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans.

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard: Proud History.  Powerful Future.