U.S. Coast Guard Office of Emergency Management & Disaster Response

02/11/2026

🚀 A New Era of Coast Guard Readiness: Introducing PRATUS® 🇺🇸

Driven by Force Design 2028, the Coast Guard is modernizing how we command, control, and execute operations. CG-OEM is thrilled to announce that PRATUS is powering that transformation.

PRATUS is a next-generation incident management platform that delivers real-time situational awareness, accelerated decision-making, and secure collaboration across federal, state, and local partners.

From daily operations to national events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ and America’s 250th anniversary, PRATUS strengthens readiness and fundamentally enhances how the Coast Guard plans, commands, and executes operations.

See how PRATUS supports Coast Guard operations below.

As cities across the U.S. gear up to host the World Cup, a massive multi-agency operation is underway to ensure public safety and national security. At the h...

01/23/2025

With very cold temperatures gripping the country, a reminder to dress appropriately.

Wear layers of loose-fitting and lightweight clothing. Trapped air between the layers will insulate you.

If doing strenuous outdoor activities, avoid wearing cotton. Once wet, cotton takes a long time to dry and will sap your heat. Use synthetic fabrics that wick moisture from your skin and dry quickly.

Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent, and hooded. Wear a hat, because 40% of your body heat can be lost from your head. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme . Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves. Try to stay dry and out of the wind.

01/20/2025

Today we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

01/18/2025

This day in history in 1953, a Coast Guard PBM seaplane crashed off the Chinese coast near Swatow, China during takeoff after having rescued 11 survivors from a ditched U .S. Navy aircraft that had been shot down by Chinese anti-aircraft fire.

A total of nine servicemen lost their lives in this second crash, including five of the Coast Guard aircrew. The survivors were later rescued by the USS Halsey Powell (DD-686). The entire Coast Guard PBM aircrew were awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal for their actions.

01/17/2025

🚨 Life-Saving Impact of the U.S. SARSAT Program! 🚨

In 2024, the U.S. SARSAT Program helped save 411 lives thanks to the powerful satellite technology that detects distress signals from beacons worldwide. 🌍💡

SARSAT (Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking) is a critical system that helps locate and rescue people in distress, especially in remote areas where conventional methods might not work. By tracking emergency signals from beacon devices, NOAA satellites were instrumental in providing fast and accurate location information to U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force rescue teams. From lost hikers to maritime emergencies, the 2024 success story showcases the immense value of this system in safeguarding lives. 🚁💪
Read more here: https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-satellites-were-pivotal-in-rescue-of-411-lives-in-2024


National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NASA's Near Space Network
U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
U.S. Coast Guard IMAT
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Emergency Management & Disaster Response

01/15/2025

Auxiliary Assistance to the Office of Emergency Management in 2024

Auxiliarists are trained and ready to serve when needed, as directed by the Commandant of the USCG or Secretary of DHS. Below is a summary featuring some of the ways the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary supported the USCG as force multipliers in 2024.

Members of the Auxiliary provided surge staffing support for the CBP in the immigration processing center near Eagle Pass, TX. Approximately 250 volunteered in support of this mission.

ArcGIS is a sophisticated mapping program used by the that utilizes geographic information system (GIS) technology to analyze geographic patterns and relationships. Using ArcGIS, AUX Jesse Scott created a hosted feature layer for all Auxiliarists in the country, allowing visualization of Auxiliary member locations on basemaps to efficiently identify who may be in or near an incident area. From this, Scott developed the Auxiliary Notification Web App, a GIS application for users without specialized or technical knowledge of the GIS platform.

On 02 MAY 2024, the Eighth Western Rivers Region Emergency Management Team was recognized as an innovator of the year with the 2023 Capt. Niels P. Thomsen Innovation Award in the Auxiliary Achievement category for transforming EM practices in District 8. Led by AUX Commodore Richard Lawrence, team members developed an agile organizational structure to improve responsiveness during , integrating GIS data to enhance situational awareness and decision-making during critical events. The creativity of these initiatives improves operational capabilities, boosting the efficiency, productivity and mission success.

Additional EM support provided by Auxiliary members in 2024 included, but was not limited to:
• Contingency planning for moving Marine Safety Detachment offices from Cincinnati, OH to Covington, KY.
• Assistance with multi-agency exercises.
• Recovery of a small aircraft from a lake in the state of GA.
• Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge Response. (Pictured left middle, AUX Don Tyler, assisted.)
• Marine radio transmission watchstanding for U.S. Coast Guard Sector St Petersburg during hurricanes HELENE and MILTON.

As a group of professional volunteers with a unique set of talents and expertise, the proudly supports the USCG, maintaining the training and qualifications necessary for mission readiness.

✍🏼 AUX Dorothy Riley and Tiffany Townsend, AUXPA3

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Emergency Management & Disaster Response
U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
U.S. Coast Guard IMAT
U.S. Coast Guard Southeast
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary - Recreational Boating Safety Directorates

01/14/2025

🚨 Emergency Beacons: Handle with Care! 🚨
Got an old 406 MHz emergency distress beacon? Don’t just toss it in the trash! Here’s how to dispose of it properly and help prevent false alarms 🆘❌:

Update Your Beacon Registration as "Disposed" – Log onto the U.S. beacon registration website and mark your beacon as disposed. This helps prevent false distress signals from being associated with your beacon. 🖥️✍️
Remove the Battery – No battery? No accidental distress signal. ⚡️💥
Recycle It Properly – Many centers accept electronic waste and can dispose of it safely. 🌍♻️
Check with Local Authorities – Some areas offer special disposal programs for emergency beacons. 🏢
Why is this important?

Old beacons that still emit signals can trigger false alerts, tying up emergency resources and delaying response times for real distress situations. 🚁🚨 The U.S. SARSAT (Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking) system relies on these signals to locate people in distress, so it’s vital that only genuine distress signals are detected. By disposing of your beacon the right way, you're helping ensure rescues happen faster and efficiently, saving valuable time and lives. 🌎🚁

A little care goes a long way—for safety and sustainability! 🌱✅
Let’s clear the skies of false alarms while taking care of our planet. 🌿💚

01/14/2025

It doesn’t always have to be about and disaster . Sometimes we just need a break and a smile!

Today is National Rubber Ducky Day! 🦆 Here’s the world's largest rubber ducky floating past retired Coast Guard Cutter Sundew in Minnesota in the summer of 2016. The duck stands at 61 feet tall, about the height of a six-story building, and weighing in at 11 tons. (Photo by David Joles).

Thanks to the Foundation for Coast Guard History for the info.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes

01/13/2025

This day in Coast Guard history in 2010, a severe struck Haiti. CGCs Forward, Mohawk, and Tahoma were the first U.S. assets to arrive on scene at Port au Prince, with Forward arriving the morning of January 13, 2010 and Mohawk arriving in the afternoon.

These units provided air traffic control for military aircraft, conducted damage assessments of the port, and ferried supplies and injured people with embarked boats and helicopters. Other Coast Guard assets began arriving soon thereafter to assist in the recovery efforts, including the CGC Oak and aircraft from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater.
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U.S. Coast Guard Southeast

01/11/2025

Today is National Arkansas Day! Did you know the Coast Guard operates in the state?

MSDD Fort Smith is located in Fort Smith, AR and covers inspections and investigations activities for the following areas: Arkansas River 444.8-126.5, Bull Shoals Lake, Lake Hamilton, Lake Dardanelle and Lake Catherine.

Also the Cutter Kanawha is a 75ft. buoy tender which operates out of Pine Bluff, AR in the following areas: Lower Mississippi River MM 598 - 683, Arkansas River MM 0 - 71.2 and the White River MM 0 - 10.3.


U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River
U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Central Arkansas Flotilla 15-8

01/09/2025

Did you know there is an Internationsl Ice Patrol? From the earliest journeys into the North Atlantic, icebergs have threatened vessels. The sinking of the RMS TITANIC on April 15th, 1912, was the force that established the international ice patrol.

Their mission is to monitor the iceberg danger in the North Atlantic Ocean and provide relevant iceberg warning products to the maritime community. Their vision is to eliminate the risk of iceberg collision.


U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol
U.S. Coast Guard Northeast

01/08/2025

It’s still pretty cold and snowy here. Thought we’d pass on a few more pointers for winter cold from our friends over at Ready.gov ❄️

Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.

Stay off roads if at all possible. Limit your time outside. If you need to go outside, then wear layers of warm clothing. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

Reduce the risk of a heart attack by avoiding overexertion when shoveling and walking in the snow.

Learn the signs of, and basic treatments for, frostbite and hypothermia.
Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers and toes.

Signs: Numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin.
Actions: Go to a warm room. Soak in warm water. Use body heat to warm. Do not massage or use a heating pad.
Hypothermia is an unusually low body temperature. A temperature below 95 degrees is an .

Signs: Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness.
Actions: Go to a warm room. Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head and groin. Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, including the head and neck.