Coast Guard, partner agencies respond to busy weekend in Long Island Sound

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Zachary Hupp (archive).

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – After a busy weekend off of Long Island, the Coast Guard is reminding the boating public to be prepared and to practice safe boating during the active summer season.

In total, the Coast Guard and partner agencies responded to more than 20 cases of mariners in distress and 18 persons in the water wearing lifejackets after severe weather swept through western Connecticut and Long Island Sound.

In these cases, the Coast Guard rescued or assisted boaters across Long Island Sound ranging from taking on water, beset by weather, capsized, or disabled. In one case, a Coast Guard Station Eatons Neck boatcrew medically evacuated a female with an injured arm and safely transferred her to awaiting emergency medical services at Town Dock Pier in Huntington Bay.

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Assets and partner agencies included:

• A 45-foot Response Boat – Medium from Coast Guard Station New Haven
• A 45-foot Response Boat – Medium from Coast Guard Station Eatons Neck
• A 29-foot Response Boat – Small from Coast Guard Station Eatons Neck
• A 29-foot Response Boat – Small from Coast Guard Station Fire Island
• An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• An HC-144A Ocean Sentry aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City
• Suffolk County Marine and Aviation
• Suffolk Fire Rescue Emergency Services
• Northport Fire Department
• Norwalk Police Department
• Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

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The Coast Guard recommends boaters check the forecasted weather conditions prior to departing shore. In many cases, weather conditions can quickly deteriorate and catch boaters off guard and underprepared.

“The marine environment is complex and ever changing. That’s why prior to getting underway, always check the weather and ensure all required safety equipment is onboard,” said Cmdr. Valerie Boyd, search and rescue coordinator, Sector Long Island Sound. “Many of the individuals are alive today because they were wearing lifejackets.”

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Aux. Michael Dubin (archive).

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Steve Strohmaier (archive).

For more information about how you can be prepared before heading out onto the water, visit the Coast Guard Auxiliary's Vessel Safety Check site.

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Coast Guard rescues stranded boaters near Egg Island Point, NJ

A Coast Guard helicopter aircrew from Air Station Atlantic City rescues three boaters from a grounded skiff near Egg Island Point, New Jersey, Oct. 17, 2018. The boaters became stranded due to low tide, and were rescued when the high tide failed to re-float their vessel. (U.S. Coast Guard photo).

PHILADELPHIA – The Coast Guard rescued three boaters from a grounded skiff near Egg Island Point, New Jersey, Wednesday.

The boaters notified the Coast Guard they were stranded Tuesday evening due to low tide, and of their decision to wait until the next high tide to attempt to move their boat.

The boaters could not refloat their vessel when high tide returned Wednesday morning.

The Coast Guard launched an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City to bring the men to safety Wednesday morning.

The aircrew hoisted the men aboard the helicopter and brought them to the Millville Airport in Millville, New Jersey, where they were met by the local fire department.

No injuries were reported.

“It’s important for boaters to be familiar with the tides and currents in the area they're boating,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Steve Setnicky, a watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay. “When waters recede, boaters can find themselves in trouble, so it’s important they have operational communication devices, the right gear for the weather and they file a float plan with a friend or loved one in the event they don’t come back when planned.”

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Coast Guard rescues elderly woman from flooded home in North Carolina after Hurricane Florence

Petty Officer 1st Class Steve Maccaferri, a rescue swimmer from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Air Station Atlantic City hoist an elderly woman from a flooded home in Pender County, North Carolina, Sept. 16, 2018. The woman had run out of medication and was unable to properly nourish herself. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Steve Maccaferri/released)

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. - Coast Guard response operations are underway in the coastal portion of North Carolina, Saturday.

• Coast Guard helicopter crews from across the Coast Guard have rescued 426 people and 234 pets in North Carolina since Hurricane Florence began.
• Coast Guard shallow water response teams are clearing roads in the counties of Samson, Cumberland, Columbus and Lenoir to enable emergency crews and shallow water vessels to reach those in distress.
• Currently there are more than 3,000 Coast Guard members responding to Hurricane Florence.
• There are 35 shallow-water rescue boat teams deployed to North Carolina.
• The Coast Guard is currently conducting air operations based out of Elizabeth City and Savannah.
• Port Condition Zulu remains in effect for the ports of Wilmington, Morehead City, and Georgetown, S.C. In Port Condition Zulu the port is closed, and all port operations are suspended.
• The ports of Charleston, S.C., and Hampton Roads, VA, have been reopened, but mariners are encouraged to use extreme caution.
• Seven buoy-tending cutters have been directed to North Carolina to survey and open the ports of Wilmington and Morehead City as well as the North Carolina ferry system.
• Coast Guard helicopter crews from Air Station Savannah searched the entirety of the Georgia and South Carolina coast without finding anyone in need. These nine aircraft will be deployed to Myrtle Beach to begin operating in affected areas of North Carolina Sunday.

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Coast Guard rescues grandfather, granddaughter in Grassy Sound, NJ

Members of Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City pose for a photo with a grandfather and granddaughter they rescued from a stranded personal water craft in Grassy Sound, New Jersey, Aug. 31, 2018. Both people were wearing life jackets when the personal water craft ran aground.

CAPE MAY, NJ — A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a grandfather and a granddaughter from a personal watercraft that ran aground in Grassy Sound, New Jersey, Thursday evening.

Watchstanders at the Sector Delaware Bay command center in Philadelphia were notified by a commercial salvage company that a 79-year-old male and his 7-year-old granddaughter aboard a 12-foot personal watercraft ran aground, and that they were unable to assist due to shallow water.

Air Station Atlantic City launched an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to medevac the two people and arrived on scene approximately 30 minutes after initial notification.

After arriving on scene, the helicopter hoisted both the grandfather and the granddaughter and transported them back to Air Station Atlantic City with no reported injuries.

"It's always a great feeling to help people in need," said Lt. Spencer Grinnell, the pilot of the rescue helicopter. "This case was a great example of boaters being prepared and wearing their life jackets on the water, and it was also a great example of other boaters noticing people in distress and reporting it to the Coast Guard so we could assist."

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Coast Guard ends search for missing swimmer off Rehoboth Beach, DE

MH-65 Dolphin ©USCG (archive)

PHILADELPHIA — The Coast Guard ended its search for a man who went missing off Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Monday.

The body of Timothy Toner was recovered by Rehoboth Beach Police this afternoon south of Dewey Beach, Delaware.

The Coast Guard launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Air Station Atlantic City, a 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Station Indian River, and the Coast Guard Cutter Rollin Fritch. They worked alongside state and local agencies who assisted in searching approximately 60 square miles of land and water.

“Our hearts go out to the friends and families of Timothy Toner,” said Captain Scott Anderson, commander of Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay. “The loss of someone dear to us is never easy, and we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family. I would also like to thank the crews and partner agencies who were involved and who worked with us to conduct the search this morning.”

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Coast Guard searching for missing swimmer off Rehoboth Beach, DE

MH-65 Dolphin ©USCG (archive)

PHILADELPHIA — The Coast Guard is searching for a swimmer who went missing off Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Monday morning.

Timothy Toner, a 43-year-old caucasian male with red hair, was last seen wearing black pants and no shirt.

The Coast Guard was initially notified of the distress call from Rehoboth Beach 911 dispatch center at 1:45 a.m.

The Coast Guard launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Air Station Atlantic City and a 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Station Indian River to respond.

Also searching are Delaware Fish and Wildlife Natural Resources Police and the Rehoboth Beach Police Department.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to please call the Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay command center at 215-271-4940.

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