Updates

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary units prepare for Hurricane Rita

Date:Sept 21 , 2005 Contact: Aux. Robert Nelson II National Press Corps Public Affairs Department United States Coast Guard Auxiliary http://www.auxpa.org 214-679-2400 dvc-an@auxadept.org As Hurricane Rita drives its way to the Texas Gulf Coast, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Units in the Texas Gulf Region have been busy repositioning surface and air assets as well as preparing their personnel to be ready to respond after the storm has passed. The Texas Gulf Region is part of the same Auxiliary Coast Guard District as the New Orleans Gulf Region which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Ken Boncic, is a Division Captain in the Houston area. Auxiliarist Boncic was a key component in the Auxiliary Aviation response to Hurricane Katrina. Since August 28th, Auxiliarist Boncic has been consumed by the hurricane and relief work. Now, with Hurricane Rita in his own back yard, Boncic is organizing his fellow Texan Auxiliarists to respond to Rita. Boncic stated “many of our trailerable boats are in the process of moving inland for safekeeping to be redeployed back to the coast to assist the Coast Guard.” The Auxiliary Aviation Unit has also moved its airplanes to the north to be ready to redeploy once the weather clears, so they can do the early damage assessments for the Coast Guard’s Integrated Command. Coast Guard Auxiliary communications personnel are also preparing for deployment of radio communications facilities throughout the Galveston Bay area (South of Houston) to facilitate communication with aircraft and vessels in the area. 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 rooms 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. ###