Coast Guard Incident Command Center prepares for Ike

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Matthew McGovern
  • Air Force News Agency
KATY, Texas (AFPN) --  A Coast Guard Incident Command Center was stood up in preparation for Hurricane Ike Sept. 11 in Katy. 

Approximately 300 Coast Guardsmen from the Houston-Galveston sector are organizing to respond to post hurricane conditions with 25 foot response boats and helicopters prepositioned from Brownsville, Texas, to Lake Charles, La. 

Hurricane Ike, 195 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, is expected to hit the Gulf Coast Sept. 13 and is currently a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds at approximately 105 mph near the center as of 10 a.m. CDT. Sept. 12.

"The hurricane is a water event and that's what we do," said Coast Guard Capt. Bill Diehl, commanding officer of sector Houston-Galveston response team. "We conduct water response and our helicopters with hoist capabilities and rescue swimmers become very valuable in rescuing people right after the storm." 

On the water, the response boat teams will survey damage and look for anyone in need of assistance. 

"We protect the port and life at sea; that's our mission," said Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Yamaris Barril, a marine inspector from a Coast Guard Vessel Assessment Team. 

"We are privileged, not everyone gets to do this," Lieutenant Barril said. 

The Coast Guard anticipates gale force winds to make landfall within 24 hours and Captain Diehl said he feels prepared. 

"We're ready. We're going to know where to go and what to do," he said. "We are talking to our local partners and elected officials so we know what their plans are and we can complement each other and link up with everyone so that the public gets the best service we have."

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