Turbulence times three: Coast Guard units respond to a trio of deadly storms that hit the Southeast coast

As Southerners stayed glued to radios and television sets, Hurricane Ivan slammed into Gulf Shores, Ala., Sept. 16 with devastating winds clocked at 130 mph hurling debris throughout the turbulent night and spawning swirling tornadoes and pounding surf.

For Florida residents, it was the third major storm in five weeks. With brute force, Hurricane Charley struck just north of Fort Myers, Fla., Aug. 13. Soon after, Hurricane Frances struck the East Coast Sept. 5. The two storms caused dozens of deaths and billions of dollars in damage.

It was the first time since reservists were fully integrated into the Coast Guard that the Southeast braced for a series of turbulent storms. As the storms churned toward the region, contingency plans were tested and response personnel worked long hours in preparation.

The storms posed a series of complex problems for captains of the port. While the Sunshine State has already received $178 million in hurricane aid and, as of press time, 353,716 Floridians have registered for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida Governor Jeb Bush expressed strong concerns about preserving the flow of commerce and the arrival of fuel to his state even while hopes for a productive citrus season dimmed. It's a series of concerns the Coast Guard is used to juggling. But it's the first time in recent memory Coast Guard advisors were located within the Florida Emergency Operations Center. Their performance received high marks.

"Floridians throughout the state owe a debt of gratitude to the Coast Guard," said Bush. "No one could have anticipated what hurricane season 2004 could have brought Florida, and the hard work of the Coast Guard helped ensure that we were prepared for the worst."

From Miami to Charleston, S.C., and from Port Canaveral, Fla., to New Orleans, consideration of keeping ports open to commerce had to be balanced carefully with safety concerns, said Cmdr. George Boyle, senior reserve and training officer at MSO Tampa. Boyle, who works for the Florida Department of Transportation as a civilian, has been on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001. Originally joining the Coast Guard as an enlisted member on active duty, he has been a reservist since 1976. He recently returned from a week in the Florida Emergency Operations Center where he worked advising the secretary of the department of environmental protection during the onslaught of Hurricane Frances. Boyle had high praise for both Secretary Colleen Castille and the governor.

"The Governor has so many people tugging at him, but he and Secretary Castille are well-versed in port issues, and they're impressive in their understanding of what we do to maintain navigable ports," he said. "Everyone seemed to be aware of the vital role we play in keeping fuel coming into the state, which affects virtually everything from transportation to food and power," he said. "The governor had grave concerns about the shortage of gasoline and diesel fuel but understood safety issues thoroughly."

There was an interagency element that also impressed Boyle.

"It was good to see the lessons learned after 9/11 put into play. As agencies scrambled to share information, everything flowed smoothly," said Boyle.

The remnants of Ivan pummeled Gulf states--destroying homes, flooding neighborhoods and leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power. It has been categorized as the deadliest hurricane since Hurricane Floyd struck in 1999.

According to the 7th and 8th Districts, the integration of active duty and reserve members has ensured quicker response time and smooth management throughout an unusually hectic season. Nowhere was that more evident than in the aftermath of Ivan as teams from the Atlantic coast mobilized support.

Group St. Petersburg mobilized personnel after Hurricane Charley to check on auxiliarists and reservists located on the west coast of Florida. Having well-versed and well-trained teams helps response efforts run smoothly, said Lt. j.g. Brett Chianella, law enforcement officer at Group St. Petersburg.

Chianella heads a Coast Guard team comprised of active duty and reservists with a wide array of abilities, skills and knowledge. That team was quick to respond when Hurricane Charley smacked into an area north of Fort Myers, Fla., in early August.

"The whole area was devastated, and while Station Fort Myers suffered some damage, our fellow Coasties need time off to repair their own homes," he said. "It's very unfortunate, but it was also rewarding to be able to help out our fellow Coast Guardsmen, and I know they'd have done the same for us."