United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Operation Charley-Foxtrot concludes Team members utilize skills learned in the Auxiliary to aid FEMA

Operation Charley-Foxtrot, named for both Hurricane Charley and the requestor of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ended this past weekend with extremely positive results. The Team, which was instrumental in finding some of the suitable locations for both the temporary housing and the staging areas, used personal GPS units to pin-point exact locations of the sites and boundaries.

Englewood, FL (PRWEB) September 2, 2004 -- United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Operation Charley-Foxtrot concludes

Team members utilize skills learned in the Auxiliary to aid FEMA

Operation Charley-Foxtrot, named for both Hurricane Charley and the requestor of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ended this past weekend with extremely positive results.

Team members of the specialized G-OCX/D7 Computer Support group completed their tasking in the search for some of the location of sites for the possible placement of 10,000 mobile homes. These mobile homes will help alleviate the homeless situation, caused by Hurricane Charley. It has been estimated that over 41,000 people possibly left homeless by this Category 4 Hurricane.

FEMA, which was so impressed with the Teams success, widened their mandate, as it relates to the site search to include finding staging areas for the mobile homes. These tracts of land will be used to house the mobile homes prior to their installation in the temporary living spaces.

The Team, which was instrumental in finding some of the suitable locations for both the temporary housing and the staging areas, used personal GPS units to pin-point exact locations of the sites and boundaries.

They then took these locations, which were recorded in latitude and longitude and were able to access the Terraserver (http://terraserver.microsoft.com) to print pictures of each site. Terraserver is a project supported by Microsoft, using high-resolution US Geological Survey (USGS) aerial imagery and USGS topographic maps.

FEMA now not only had a tract of land circled on a map, but pictures of what the site actually looked like.

Utilizing additional navigational and computer skills, the Team was able to solve another logistical problem facing FEMA, the possible use of port facilities.

Port Charlottes waterways are too shallow for commercial vessels to make their way from the open sea into the Port Charlotte waterways and some of the barrier islands. The Team sharpened their skills, and by downloading the appropriate sections of the Coastal Pilot, a directory of all things nautical, by geographical location, they were able to determine that a port facility, recently deactivated, had a depth of 32 feet. This allowed FEMA the opportunity, if necessary to bring barges into the area carrying relief and re-construction supplies.

The Team then requested members of USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 8-7 to ascertain site information and current conditions. Flotilla 8-7 is located in Englewood, FL and commanded by Skip Wilson. This Flotilla had previous accomplished post hurricane Aids to navigation inspections, to check for damage to the areas aids.

In the meantime, research was done to ascertain if there was a vessel that could, if needed, move equipment and supplies to some of the barrier islands that can only be reached by boat. It was discovered that the Army Transportation Corps maintained a LSM -- Landing Ship-Medium, used to move supplies, people and vehicles. The draft of an LSM could be as little as 3 ½ feet. This small draft, if needed, would permit movement of material from the wharf to loading dock, thus allowing the relief material to be off-loaded, quickly and easily.

The Auxiliary Team fulfilled their primary mission, to assist in the setup a FEMA computer resource center, the G-OCX/D7 Computer Support group Operation Charley-Foxtrot has been demobilized, with thanks from their FEMA teammates.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, with over 36,000 volunteers, has over 6,000 of their members living in the 7th Coast Guard District which encompasses South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Coast Guard does not pay Auxiliarists and they are not covered by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), as are members of the National Guard and Reserve. They are required to pay for their uniforms, and equipment out of their own funds, but do receive meal and travel stipends when authorized.

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