In south Florida, the Coast Guard made a quiet rescue while storm relief efforts were ongoing in the north.
Two adults and one child were rescued by the Coast Guard after they became stranded when their boat malfunctioned 17 miles north of Fort Pierce, Fla., according to a Coast Guard press release on Saturday.
A stranded mariner used his cell phone to call for help, informing authorities that three people were aboard a disabled 21-foot pleasure craft and needed rescue. The Coast Guard diverted a patrol vessel, a 45-foot Station Fort Pierce Response Boat-Medium to make the rescue.
The three individuals were successfully rescued and no injured were reported.
Video footage of the Coast Guard vessel towing the disabled boat shows the unfavorable conditions in the area.
“We want to remind people that any time you plan on getting underway there are few things you can do to keep safe, like ensuring you have a VHF-FM marine band radio onboard your vessel, wearing your life jacket and having emergency signaling devices,” said Cmdr. Jason Aleksak, Coast Guard Sector Miami search and rescue mission coordinator.
“We continue our normal operations to ensure the maritime community is safe in South Florida while Hurricane Florence relief efforts continue up north,” he added.
The Coast Guard vessel towed the disabled boat to the Fort Pierce Inlet. There, a 33-foot Station Fort Pierce Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement crew finished towing the boat to the Stan Blum Boat Ramp.
Also on Saturday, the Coast Guard carried out the tense air rescue of five people stranded in the water after their boat capsized in Cedar Key, Fla. The victims made the distress call on the VHF-FM marine band radio. All five were wearing their life jackets, and no injuries were reported.
#BREAKING @USCG Air Station #Clearwater aircrew rescues 5 people from capsized boat near Cedar Key, Fla. All 5 were wearing their life jackets, and they had a PPIRB! Audio of distress call and video available for download here > https://t.co/EMZda9Vvm0 #rescue #SavingLives pic.twitter.com/HJktoDL9pP
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 15, 2018
The Coast Guard’s 7th District Southeast is based out of Miami, Fla., and is responsible for patrolling 1.7 million square miles around South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico, and others.
The 7th District has also been involved in relief efforts for areas in the north affected by Hurricane Florence. The branch posted a video on Saturday in which crews loaded up the Cutter Diligence vessel with relief supplies to transport up north to areas impacted by the storm.
The @USCG Cutter Diligence gathers relief supplies in Miami to bring up north to the effected areas impacted by #HurricaneFlorence. pic.twitter.com/rhyBSTuoeh
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 16, 2018
On Sunday, the branch posted images showing a Coast Guard aircraft being loaded with crews and supplies before embarking for rescue operations in the north.
.@USCG air crews from #Clearwater are moving from #Savannah to #NorthCarolina with supplies to assist with #HurricaneFlorence rescue operations. High-res here: https://t.co/hcqMhLkwi8 #HurricaneFlorence2018 #USCG pic.twitter.com/0fTaQm2xVj
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 16, 2018
The Coast Guard has been actively involved in water rescue operations in flooded areas in the Carolinas. Additionally, they have conducted inspections and assessments of facilities and ports impacted by the storm to head their safe reopening and operation after the storm’s impact.
