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Sunday, November 20, 2005 10:39 AM
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News Release
| Auxiliary participates in major inter-agency disaster drill |
Date:Jul 10,
Contact: Aux. Wayne Spivak |
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary joined a number of local agencies on Saturday in conducting a joint emergency response drill on the Hudson River in New York.
The exercise involved the simulated rescue of ferry passengers, a man overboard drill and an underwater hull search.
The USCG Auxiliary members provided perimeter security, transported "victims" to waiting units on shore, and ferried personnel and the media between vessels.
"While this exercise was pre-planned, in light of this weeks terrorist attacks in London, it underscores local governents and the Coast Guard's resolve to prepare for and respond to events that may occurr here in the United States", said the Director of Auxiliary for the First CG District Southern Region USCG CDR Elizabeth Young.
USCG Auxiliary Facility “Launch5” acted as mobile "incident command center", and was also the platform for the interagency divers. "The operation was seamless, its a real privilege to be involved in a drill of this magnitude with so many talented people" said Auxiliarist Greg Porteus, coxswain/owner of “Launch5”.
In addition to the Coast Guard Auxiliary, ten Westchester County fire, police and EMS agencies and seven Rockland County fire and police agencies participated. Also involved in the drill were the New York Waterways Ferry and New York State police departments.
"We conduct drills and exercises to assure the safety of all participants in the event of a disaster, whether they are the victims or the rescuers ," said CDR Young.
"Today's exercise was designed so that participants who might be called to work together in the event of an incident on the Hudson River can practice their skills in a controlled environment."
Organizers said it was the first such large scale drill in the area. The exercise attracted considerable media with several area television stations videotaping the event for their newscasts.
Organizers deemed the exercise a success, noting that volunteer agencies and career response agencies successfully mustered their equipment and practiced important emergency response procedures.
The exercise was designed by Neil Sweeting, program administrator of the Westchester County Office of Emergency Management.
PHOTOs are available at http://www.auxpa.org/releases/auxaction/071005/071005-photo.html
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer's who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education. The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Its 30,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions. For more information on the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit us at www.cgaux.org. ### |
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