The Coast Guard is deploying members and assets from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater in preparation for Hurricane Dorian response in the Bahamas.
Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters and crews along with health service technicians are being staged on Andros Island to be able to have a rapid post-storm response.
JUST IN: ZNS reporter Lloyd Allen is on the ground as U.S. Coast Guard choppers bringing injured persons in Abaco has just arrived.
Stay tuned as the story develops.#HurricaneDorain #Dorian2019 #ZNSStormWatch #ZNSOnline #Bahamas pic.twitter.com/SNWWFCyFb5
— ZNS Bahamas (@ZNSBahamas242) September 2, 2019
Happening now! Usa Coast Guard Helicopter arriving in Abaco,Bahamas to transport Critical injured ppl to the 🇺🇸 as Abaco Clinic is overwhelming crowded with ppl who need assistance and also it’s being used as a shelter to house thousands #HurricaneDorain pic.twitter.com/hlZZ072kq1
— MVP (@mvp242) September 2, 2019
As Hurricane Dorian approaches the Florida coast, the Coast Guard is warning the public of these important safety messages:
- >Stay off the water. The Coast Guard’s search and rescue capabilities degrade as storm conditions strengthen. This means help could be delayed. Boaters should heed weather watches, warnings, and small craft advisories.
- Evacuate as necessary. If mandatory evacuations are set for an area, the public should evacuate without delay. Coast Guard personnel and other emergency responders may not be able to evacuate or rescue those in danger during the storm.
- Secure belongings. Owners of large boats are urged to move their vessels to inland marinas where they will be less vulnerable to breaking free of their moorings or to sustaining damage. Trailer-able boats should be pulled from the water and stored in a place that is not prone to flooding. Those who are leaving their boats in the water are reminded to remove electronic position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) and to secure life rings, life jackets, and small boats. These items, if not properly secured, can break free and require valuable search and rescue resources be diverted to ensure people are not in distress.
- Stay clear of beaches.Wave heights and currents typically increase before a storm makes landfall. Even the best swimmers can fall victim to the strong waves and rip currents caused by hurricanes. Swimmers should stay clear of beaches until local lifeguards and law enforcement officials say the water is safe.
- Be prepared.Area residents should be prepared by developing a family plan, creating a disaster supply kit, having a place to go, securing their home and having a plan for pets. Information can be found at the National Hurricane Center’s webpage.
- Stay informed.The public should monitor the progress and strength of the storm through local television, radio, and the Internet. Boaters can monitor its progress on VHF radio channel 16. Information can also be obtained on small craft advisories and warnings on VHF radio channel 16.
- Don’t rely on social media. People in distress should use 911 to request assistance whenever possible. Social media should not be used to report life-threatening distress due to limited resources to monitor the dozens of social media platforms during a hurricane or large-scale rescue event.
For information on Hurricane Dorian progress and hurricane preparedness, visit the National Hurricane Center’s webpage.
UPDATE 10:30 p.m. EST: Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews, forward deployed to Andros Island, medevaced 19 people from the Marsh Harbour Clinic to Nassau International Airport, Monday.
Four Jayhawk aircrews completed five medical evacuations of 19 people, ranging in ages from children to elderly, from the Marsh Harbour clinic to Nassau emergency medical personnel at the Nassau International Airport in various medical conditions.
As Hurricane Dorian began to make it’s way toward the Bahamas, the Coast Guard pre-positioned several surface assets in Key West and positioned Jayhawk helicopter crews on Andros Island to be able to respond to the devastation created by Hurricane Dorian.
The Coast Guard plans to continue its search in the Bahamas at first light Tuesday.
