Multimedia Release

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HONOLULU – Coast Guardsmen from Station Kaua’i, members of Kaua’i Fire Department, Ocean Safety and the Civil Air Patrol conducted a search and rescue exercise off the coast of Kapa’a Beach Park, Kaua’i, Thursday.

The exercise tested the multi-agency response to a scenario involving a search and rescue mission to a small aircraft crash in the ocean. Two mannequins wearing life jackets and self-locating datum marker buoys were deployed from a Coast Guard helicopter. The purpose of the exercise was to improve coordination, communications and further strengthen working relations between the agencies.

Coast Guard assets included a 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Station Kaua’i, the 110-foot Coast Guard Cutter Galveston Island from Honolulu and an aircrew piloting an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Barbers Point.

Kaua’i Fire Deptartment crewmembers provided a helicopter, a response boat and operated a mobile command center on land.

Ocean safety provided members aboard jet skis and the Civil Air Patrol contributed an airplane for use during the exercise.

“This exercise was a great opportunity for us to bring all of our assets and personnel together to examine our response skills,” said Senior Chief Buddy Gilbert, office in charge for Station Kaua’i. “This allows us to identify any faults and improve them now so they don’t affect us during an actual emergency.”

The search and rescue exercise began at approximately 10:30 a.m. and lasted until approximately 1:30 p.m.

“The county of Kaua'i, along with the fire department, is so fortunate to be able to partner with Coast Guard in this joint training SAREX,” said John Blalock, Kaua’i Fire Department deputy fire chief. “Along with meeting exercise objectives, this training afforded us the opportunity to continue to build relationships with the Coast Guard and other public safety partners. I believe that this relationship is of upmost importance, because when the incident is in real life we can count on each other to ‘get my back’.”

For more information contact the 14th Coast Guard District public affairs office at 808-535-3230.