Press Release Date: Sept. 23, 2005
Contact: Sector Portland

(503) 240-9311


PORTLAND AREA COAST GUARDSMEN LEAVING FOR

HURRICANE RITA SUPPORT

PORTLAND, Ore. - Coast Guard members from Coast Guard Sector Portland,
Ore., are preparing to deploy to the Gulf Coast in anticipation of
Hurricane Rita support operations.

Six Coast Guardsmen are awaiting orders to deploy to support various
upcoming missions while four Coast Guardsmen from Sector Portland are
currently deployed and supporting Hurricane Katrina operations.

Personnel from Sector Portland have already been placed in important
roles as: Federal On-Scene Coordinators for environmental cleanups; an
operational commander for a small boat unit conducting search and
rescue missions; a Critical Incident Stress Management Team member, who
supports first responders in dealing with stresses generated by daily
involvement with human devastation and death; and a communications
controller, among others.

Thirty-one members from Coast Guard Air Stations' Port Angeles,
Wash., Astoria, Ore., and North Bend, Ore., flew to Sacramento, Calif.,
Thursday, where they will remain ready to deploy to the areas impacted
by Hurricane Rita. A total of 58 Coast Guard members from Oregon and
Washington have already been deployed for Hurricane Katrina relief.
Twenty-nine members remain in the affected region for Katrina relief
and 15 more Coast Guardsman from the Pacific Northwest are scheduled
for deployment.