Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: June 11, 2009

Contact: PA3 Jaclyn Young
(504) 671-2020

Coast Guard Station Gulfport overcomes hurricane devastation
(Story and photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jaclyn Young)

GULFPORT, Miss. — One hurricane would be a strong enough force to slow down most organizations, and probably enough to stop some altogether.  For Coast Guard Station Gulfport, it's another story.

Compliments of Hurricane Katrina, a 26-foot wave of water blasted into Station Gulfport on Aug. 23, 2005, leaving nothing but a splintered frame.

Four years, three hurricanes and $17 million later, Station Gulfport now stands bigger and better than ever.

 "With Hurricane Katrina and Gustav, we lost our Coast Guard home twice," said Chief Warrant Officer Brandt Martin, commanding officer of Station Gulfport. 

 "In the midst of devastation each time, we have still been able to watch over hundreds of miles of waterways, conduct 150 plus search and rescue cases, save 35 lives, and assist mariners in distress," said Martin.

On May 22, 2009, Station Gulfport held a ribbon cutting ceremony, attended by U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen, Rear Adm. Joel Whitehead, commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District, and Mississippi Congressman Gene Taylor, to commemorate the new station and move on from previous hardships.

The new facility is now home to a multi-mission station, harboring the Gulfport aids to navigation team and the Coast Guard Cutters Razorbill and Pompano.  The new station is also equipped with a new boat bay, storage facility, and moorings for station small boats.

"This facility's dedication represents a huge commitment to maintaining the robust Coast Guard presence on the Mississippi Coast," said Whitehead.  "The Coast Guard has enjoyed an outstanding partnership with the state of Mississippi and the cities of Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula for many years.  We couldn't ask for better cooperation." 

One example of the partnership is when U.S. Marine, a boat company specializing in building special mission capable boats for military and other agencies, accommodated the crew of Station Gulfport with their temporary facilities, when Station Gulfport's were destroyed last summer during Hurricane Gustav.

 "We were in quite a bind until they stepped forward to help," said Whitehead.  "It really allowed Station Gulfport to continue performing their mission." 

The crew faced tough living conditions and continued adversity while the new station was being built, yet they maintained superb operational effectiveness. 

"The crew's resiliency, responsiveness and hard work in getting this station up and running exemplified the Guardian Ethos," said Whitehead.

"I was here during the modular buildings, living in the trailers, throughout hurricanes Gustav and Ike," said Petty Officer 2^nd Class Caleb Strong.  "It was real bad, but I can say that it brought our crew closer together.  It kind of dispersed us between two different facilities, but between the two facilities we've actually been able to focus a lot more on work, being on the boats and doing things out on the water instead of worrying about where we were living."

"We've had the dream of getting into this building, and now it's finally here," expressed Strong.

 "It was extremely tough for the crew after the station was destroyed," said Martin.  "Our main focus became the motivation of our crew to stay professional and advance in their careers even through the difficulties around us."

 "Everyone has advanced at least one pay grade since I assumed command here in 2007," said Martin.

Now as the crew gets comfortable working in their new space, they can prepare for future hurricane seasons with more confidence.  The new building has a lot more structural integrity than other buildings in the area. 

Station Gulfport was built to withstand Category 4 hurricane winds traveling at 160 miles per hour.  The first floor of the building has walls designated to give during flooding to help water flow without destroying the entire base of the building allowing the station to stand even with an 18-foot storm surge. The facilities watertight integrity extends beyond doors and windows by including a watertight elevator. The building also has a generator designed to provide power for six full days before resorting to outside sources.

Station Gulfport, which houses partner agencies boats including Customs and Boarder Patrol and the Mississippi Dept. of Marine Resources, hopes to become an emergency operating command to all assisting agencies during future hurricane responses.

 "Wherever we meet, I assure you we will be Semper Paratus with whatever we do," said Martin.

Even when the crew of Station Gulfport suffered personal losses and worked out of trailers for months on end, they kept watch on Mississippi's maritime community as guardians of the Gulf Coast.  Now with a new building and all new facilities to back them up, the crew can rest assured that they will continue to stand tall when faced with the adversity of hurricanes.  

To view images of Coast Guard Station Gulfport click on the links below: