Pacific Northwest Coast Guard members to deploy to Gulf Coast for Hurricane Rita response

Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District

DHS USCG BANNER

Press Release

Date: Sept. 22, 2005
Contact: Petty Officer Mike Zolzer
206-220-7237

PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST GUARD MEMBERS TO DEPLOY
TO GULF COAST FOR HURRICANE RITA RESPONSE

SEATTLE – Coast Guard members from Washington and Oregon are preparing to deploy to the Gulf Coast in anticipation of Hurricane Rita support operations.

Thirty-one members from Coast Guard Air Stations’ Port Angeles, Wash., Astoria, Ore., and North Bend, Ore., will be deploying to the Gulf Coast.

A C-130 aircraft from Coast Guard Air-Station Sacramento, Calif., will pick up the pilots and aircrew this afternoon and transport them to Sacramento where they will remain ready to deploy to the areas hit by Hurricane Rita.

Air Station Port Angeles is sending five flight mechanics and two rescue swimmers. Air Station Astoria is sending four helicopter pilots, four flight mechanics and two rescue swimmers. Air Station North Bend will be sending five helicopter pilots, eight flight mechanics and two rescue swimmers.

This response comes after 58 Coast Guard members from Oregon and Washington have already been deployed for Hurricane Katrina relief. Twenty-nine members remain in the affected region for Katrina relief and 15 more Coast Guardsman from the Pacific Northwest are scheduled for deployment.

To hear a broadcast version of this release by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kurt Fredrickson click on the following link:

http://www.piersystem.com/clients/uscg-13/45379.wav

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The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America.

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