Coast Guard, Hawai‘i County Hold Search & Rescue Exercise

The Hawai‘i County Fire Department, Coast Guard and Hawai‘i County Police Department conducted a successful joint Search and Rescue Exercise off Hilo, Hawai‘i, on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 15 and 16.

First responders from the Hawaii County Fire Department pass Oscar, a float representing a person in the water, to crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry (WPC 1124) off Hilo, Hawaii, Aug. 15, 2018. The Coast Guard, Hawaii County Fire Department and Hawaii County Police were participating in a joint Search and Rescue Exercise looking for Oscar in the waters off of the Big Island. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew West/Released)

The SAREX took place over two days with a meeting between agency leaders to discuss planning and review of each other’s capabilities Tuesday. On Wednesday, crews simulated a search for Oscar, a dummy float representing a person in the water.

“A lot of what we’re hoping to accomplish is interoperability with our local partners,” said Coast Guard Lt. Brock Blaisdell, the Sector Honolulu command center chief. “We learn about our communications, how to improve working together, and overall we get to put faces to names.”

The Coast Guard and Hawaii County Fire Department meet at an asset open house in Hilo, Hawaii, Aug. 14, 2018. The open house was apart of a Search and Rescue Exercise to increase the effectiveness and teamwork of agencies in the area. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew West/Released)

The SAREX began after the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry (WPC 1124) deployed Oscar about 2 miles off Hilo. After allowing time for Oscar to drift in the water, organizers simulated a call to the Hawai‘i County Police Department dispatchers who notified the Coast Guard and Hawai‘i County Fire Department of an overdue boater in the area who was possibly in the water.

The agencies set up a joint Incident Command Post and launched their assets. Taking part in the exercise were the crew of the Oliver Berry, an Air Station Barbers Point MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, a Hawai‘i County Fire Department response boat crew, operators of a Hawai‘i County Fire Department Jet Ski, and dispatchers from the Hawai‘i County Police Department.

A Hawaii County Fire Department response boat crew pulls up alongside the Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry (WPC 1124) while an Air Station Barbers Point MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew hovers in the background near Hilo, Hawaii, Aug. 15, 2018. The Coast Guard and Hawaii County were conducting a Search and Rescue Exercise to increase interagency effectiveness. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew West/Released)

By working together effectively, responders were able to narrow down the search zone and set search patterns for the units quickly; resulting in the Hawai‘i County Fire Department Jet Ski crew locating and recovering Oscar. The elapsed time between the call to dispatch and recovery of Oscar was 90 minutes.

“We’re both in the business of trying to rescue people, or save people, protect peoples lives,” said Battalion Chief Gerald Kosaki of the Hawai‘i County Fire Department. “To participate in a search and rescue exercise would be very good if we have an actual emergency. We would know each other. We would know the faces. We could put the faces to the names and have a better-coordinated effort.”

The search and rescue exercises are held semi-annually and rotate between the Hawaiian Islands. Last year they were conducted on Maui and Kaua‘i, while this year they are on the Big Island and O‘ahu.