Antarctica SAR: U.S.Coast Guard crew rescues 26 people trapped by Antarctic ice

Coast Guard crew rescues 26 people trapped by Antarctic ice

Capt. Matthew Walker, commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star, thanks the ship's crew after safely escorting the fishing vessel Antarctic Chieftain out of the ice in the Southern Ocean, Feb. 15, 2015. Polar Star’s crew assisted the Antarctic Chieftain after the vessel was disabled and beset by ice. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class George Degener)

COAST GUARD ISLAND ALAMEDA, Calif. – A fishing vessel trapped in Antarctic ice 900-miles northeast of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, for nearly two weeks is free following an international rescue operation that ended successfully Sunday at approximately 8 p.m.

Final Update: 

The Antarctic Chieftain, an Australian-flagged fishing vessel, was rescued by the 150-person crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star. The rescue operation spanned more than 860 miles and required the crew to break through 150 miles of thick Antarctic ice and navigate around icebergs that were miles wide.

“We are proud of the commitment and dedication of the Coast Guardsmen aboard Polar Star, but most importantly, we are grateful they were able to safely reach Antarctic Chieftain and rescue 26 people in distress,” said Vice Adm. Charles W. Ray, Pacific Area commander. “This was a complex and dangerous rescue mission; however, the crew rose to the challenge, and they exemplify the Coast Guard’s Core Values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty and our service’s commitment to excellence.”

The crew navigated through difficult weather conditions during the five-day rescue operation including heavy snow fall, high winds and extreme ice conditions. Coast Guardsmen aboard the Polar Star reported whiteout snow conditions early in the operation, and they were required to break through ice that had built up over several years making it extremely thick. 

“I doubt any medium icebreaker could have made the rescue since we had to go on turbine to get through the multiyear ice that appeared to be as thick as 20 feet in places. The amount of icebergs in the region suggested that the area was extremely hazardous to navigation,” said Capt. Matthew Walker, the commanding officer of Cutter Polar Star. “This rescue demonstrates the importance of our nation’s only active heavy icebreaker in the Polar Regions.” 

Antarctic Chieftain damaged three of its four propeller blades in the ice, which required the Coast Guardsmen aboard Polar Star to tow the vessel through about 60-miles of ice into open water. Towing the 207-foot fishing vessel through heavy ice placed varying strain on the tow line, which broke three times during the rescue mission. Once in open water, the Antarctic Chieftain was able to maneuver under its own power. The crew of the fishing vessel Janas will escort the Antarctic Chieftain to Nelson, New Zealand.

“There were some very happy sailors aboard Antarctic Chieftain upon our arrival,” said Walker.  “The ice conditions that we found the fishermen in were dire, more so if Antarctic Chieftain had to stay much longer.” 

Coast Guardsmen reached the crew of the fishing vessel Friday after traveling across more than 150 miles of ice. The fishermen requested assistance from Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand Tuesday evening after becoming trapped in the ice. RCC New Zealand requested U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star, homeported in Seattle, to respond to the Antarctic Chieftain’s request for assistance.

 The crew of Polar Star was deployed to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, as part of Operation Deep Freeze, which provides military logistical support to the U.S. Antarctic Program managed by the National Science Foundation.

The crew of Polar Star will continue their journey home to Seattle. The Polar Star is the nation’s only heavy icebreaker capable of operating in the thick Antarctic ice for a mission such as breaking out the Antarctic Chieftain or clearing McMurdo Sound for the annual resupply of McMurdo Station. The 399-foot cutter is one of the largest ships in the Coast Guard and one of the world's most powerful non-nuclear icebreakers. 

For photos of the rescue, please click here – https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/antarctichieftain

For video and photos of Polar Star’s recent operations in support of the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic program in McMurdo Sound, please click here –

https://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio/1099389/george-degener

To read the cutter’s blog posts about their, journey please click here - http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/tag/operation-deep-freeze-2015/.   

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Date: Feb 17, 2015

Coast Guard Pacific Area Command

Contact: LT Donnie Brzuska
Office: (510) 437-3319
Mobile: (510) 333-6297

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FEMA: Home Fire Sprinklers Save Family and Firefighter Lives

Home Fire Sprinklers Save Lives

Home fire sprinklers not only save lives, but also decrease the risk for firefighters when installed. Sprinklers reduce the intensity of the fire by dousing the flame before it can grow and spread. Modern home sprinklers are more sensitive to heat than commercial sprinklers.

Homeowners may think all sprinklers look like industrial sprinklers in stores; but home fire sprinklers are smaller and less conspicuous than commercial or industrial types. They are also available in colors that match décor and styles that are flush with the ceiling. Sprinklers can prevent devastating home damage by extinguishing flames quickly and limiting the damage caused by smoke and fire. They are also less damaging than water damage caused by firefighting hose lines.

Installing a home sprinkler system to a home that is under construction or being remodeled does not require a lot of extra piping and labor, but it increases the safety of residents. A sprinkler costs about $1.35 per square foot. This cost is about the same as upgraded cabinets or carpet.
More information is available at www.usfa.fema.gov.

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DHS Grant Program Preparedness (Non-Disaster) Grants: Authorized Equipment List (AEL)

FEMA Grant Authorized Equipment List (AEL)

The AEL is a tool used to determine allowability of equipment types for FEMA’s Preparedness Grant Programs. The AEL is used to facilitate more effective and efficient procurement of items under specific FEMA Preparedness Grants by informing grantees of equipment items allowed under specific grant programs and relevant programmatic considerations associated with each equipment item. The AEL consists of 21 equipment categories, which are then divided into sub-categories, and then individual equipment items.

TSA Baggage Search Overtime Pay Would Qualify For Grant Money
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FEMA provides state and local governments with preparedness program funding in the form of Non-Disaster Grants to enhance the capacity of state and local emergency responders to prevent, respond to, and recover from a weapons of mass destruction terrorism incident involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive devices and cyber-attacks.

Access Authorized Equipment List (AEL) file.

FY 2014 Preparedness Grants | Allocation Announcement

• Information Bulletin No. 398a - Update to Fiscal Year 2014 Preparedness Grant Programs Allocations Announcement
• Information Bulletin No. 398 - Fiscal Year 2014 DHS Preparedness Grant Programs Allocation Announcement
• FY 2014 EMPG: FY 2014 EMPG Program Fact Sheet
• FY 2014 HSGP: FY 2014 HSGP Fact Sheet
• FY 2014 IPR: FY 2014 IPR Fact Sheet
• FY 2014 NSGP: FY 2014 NSGP Fact Sheet
• FY 2014 PSGP: FY 2014 PSGP Fact Sheet
• FY 2014 TSGP: FY 2014 TSGP Fact Sheet
• FY 2014 THSGP: FY 2014 THSGP Fact Sheet

FY 2014 Preparedness Grants | Funding Opportunity Announcement

• FY 2014 EMPG: FY 2014 EMPG Program Funding Opportunity Announcement
• FY 2014 HSGP: FY 2014 HSGP Funding Opportunity Announcement
• FY 2014 IPR: FY 2014 IPR Funding Opportunity Announcement
• FY 2014 NSGP: FY 2014 NSGP Funding Opportunity Announcement
• FY 2014 PSGP: FY 2014 PSGP Funding Opportunity Announcement
• FY 2014 TSGP: FY 2014 TSGP Funding Opportunity Announcement
• FY 2014 THSGP: FY 2014 THSGP Funding Opportunity Announcement
• Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG)

Please note:  The FY 2014 Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) are awarded on a rolling cycle, with all funds awarded prior to September 30, 2015. 

FY 2014 Preparedness Grants | Additional Information

• FY 2014 Continuing Training Grants (CTG) Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• FY 2014 Continuing Training Grants (CTG) Program Fact Sheet

More Information Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_Security_Grant_Program

Homeland Security Grant Program

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Seal of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) is a program in the United States established in 2003 and was designated to incorporate all projects that provide funding to local, state, and Federal government agencies by the Department of Homeland Security.^[1] The purpose of the grants is to purchase surveillance equipment, weapons, and advanced training for law enforcement personnel in order to heighten security.^[1][2] The HSGP helps fulfill one of the core missions of the Department of Homeland Security by enhancing the country's ability to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from potential attacks and other hazards. The HSGP is one of the main mechanisms in funding the creation and maintenance of national preparedness, which refers to the establishment of plans, procedures, policies, training, and equipment at the Federal, State, and local level that is needed to maximize the ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from major events such as terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies.^[3][4] The HSGP's creation stemmed from the consolidation of six original projects that were previously funded by the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness.^[5] The HSGP now encompasses five projects in the program: State Homeland Security Program, Urban Areas Security Initiative, Operation Stonegarden, Metropolitan Medical Response System Program, and Citizen Corps Program.^[3] During the 2010 fiscal year, the Department of Homeland Security will spend $1,786,359,956 on the Homeland Security Grant Program.^[3]

Funding controversy[edit]

Some criticism of the Homeland Security Grant Program has come from the distribution of funds. Not unlike the highway systems, education, etc., the HSGP distributes 60% of their funds on the basis of population and the other 40% is evenly spread across all recipients regardless of population.^[5] Wyoming for instance, despite being the least populous state, received more funding per capita in homeland security grants than any other state in 2004.^[5] At $45.22 per citizen of the state, Wyoming received more than four times the amount of funding per citizen given to either California or New York.^[5] Another criticism has come for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in regards to the risk-based grant methodology.^[11] Although the GAO concluded that the overall risk-based methodology (threat, vulnerability and consequences) was reasonable, the absence of a proper way to measure variations in vulnerability greatly reduce the value of the vulnerability portion of the assessment.^[11] Ultimately, they concluded that the vulnerability measure as part of its risk analysis model should be amended to better capture variations in vulnerability across the different states and urban areas it assesses.^[11]

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Haiti: 16 dead, 78 injured - Carnival Canceled - National Mourning

16 dead, 78 injured - The Carnival is canceled - National Mourning

Majority of injuries apparently due to panicked crowd movements

Place Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Crowded float celebrating Carnival when some were electrocuted by power line contact and ensuing panic.

Update: 16 dead, 78 injured - The Carnival is canceled - National Mourning

According to witnesses, a person on the carnival float would have attempted to lift an electric cable to facilitate the passage of the latter, causing a powerful arc that has struck several people on the float.

The incident sparked a huge panic among the thousands of revelers, causing a deadly crowd movement that would have also made several victims trampled, according to testimony reported.

This afternoon at a conference at the Primature Dr. Claude Suréna of the Haitian Red Cross provided new figures of the accident http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13199-haiti-flash-carnival-2015-in-shock-at-least-15-victims-dozens-injured-update-12-28-pm.html occurred this morning at 2:48 a.m., during the passage of the float of Group Barikad Crew "[...] The balance sheet that we have [...] after having toured the hospitals [...] is of 16 reported dead, identified and observed and 78 injured, I repeat victims, we are not talking about electrocuted, we will not say that all these people are people who have been burned, do not forget that after the accident there had movement of panic [...] now the second step will be to return to the hospital to find out in detail what each person has, to know what kind of support the government will do for each person [...]"

Then Prime Minister Paul Evans has intervened and declared the following "[...] it is clear that what's happened was an accident, the government that is responsible, will form a committee of experts to qualify the accident [...] right after there has been a support [to victims] at the Champ-de-Mars [...]

The first decision we have taken is to cancel Carnival festivities for today Tuesday, February 17 throughout the territory, there will be no Carnival.

But, together with the organizer of the Carnival, the Jazz, we will organize from 5 pm today on the de Champ-de-Mars, a white parade of all groups present in the Carnival, in white and silence in solidarity with the victims [...]

The government will also provide support for victims, injured people, the government will not drop them, we will continue to ensure that health services examines their case.

And the people who died, the government will take care of the funeral.

Haiti - FLASH : Carnival 2015 in shock, at least 15 victims, dozens injured (UPDATE 12:28 pm) 17/02/2015 07:12:01 In the night from Tuesday at 2:48 a.m., a terrible accident occurred during the Carnival parade in Port-au-Prince, during the passage of the float of Group Barikad Crew (10th in the running order) in the area Champ de Mars. According to witnesses, a person on the carnival float would have attempted to lift an electric cable to facilitate the passage of the latter, causing a powerful arc that has struck several people on the float. The incident sparked a huge panic among the thousands of revelers, causing a deadly crowd movement that would have also made several victims trampled, according to testimony reported. Given the magnitude of the incident, the emergency stand of the First Lady, Sophia Martelly was quickly overwhelmed. Dr. Max Roudolph Saint-Albin Director General Ofatma, present on the emergency stand estimated between 4-7 deaths and over 40 injured, the situation was such that there were up to two patients per bed awaiting transport to hospital when needed. Dr. Saint-Albain did not yet know the situation on other emergency stations nor the number of transferees in Hospitals. Contrary to a rumor that circulated on social networks, lead singer of the group Barikad Crew "Fantom" is not dead in the incident, but he is in critical condition. It is too early for all the information from all rescue centers and hospitals allow to make a definitive assessment. However, the number of victims could be between 13 and 20 deaths (due to the victims of the crowd movement) and the number of casualties could be greater than 60... In a note Rothchild Francis Jr., the Minister of Communication indicates "[...] A preliminary assessment allows to establish to more than a dozen dead and forty wounded. The government presents its sympathies to the families of the victims and said that all arrangements have been made to assist all those affected by this tragedy." Early this morning in an official statement "The President of the Republic, HE Mr. Michel Joseph Martelly, expresses deep sorrow following the incident early this Tuesday, February 17th at the Champ de Mars at the second fat day of the National Carnival, where the musical float of Barikad crew was the victim of electrocution making several victims. The Head of State, on behalf of the entire Government sends its deepest sympathies to the families of the victims on the occasion of this sad event." "Deep sadness at this tragic accident my sympathies to the families we share your pain and suffering. The Republic can count on my sense of responsibility. My deepest sympathies to the entire population," declared Prime Minister Evans Paul. "Ministè Touris retire chapo li byen ba devan tout viktim, fanmiy ak tout ayisyen alawonnbadè kokennchenn trajedi sa afekte," indicated the Ministry of Tourism. "The Ministry of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE) presents its sympathies to the families especially the members of the diaspora, following the incident that occurred early this Tuesday, February 17, 2015, around 2:48 a.m. during the passage of musical float of Baricad Crew in the Champ-de-Mars area. The Minister Olicier Pieriche expresses its deep pain after the accident and invites the general population and compatriots from abroad in particular to calm while waiting for the new government guidelines." "Tout priyè nou yo pou fanmi ki gin viktim ak blese nan aksidan ki fèt pandan parad la nan kanaval lan," declared the Canadian Ambassador to Haiti, Paula Caldwell. UPDATE 12:28 pm Partial list of victims reported by the hospital of the State University of Haiti : 14 victims, including 13 men : Gabriel Jacques Leconte, Lundi Baugella, Alain Paul, Bureau Alice, Cedieu Joseph, Cenal Pegyve, Dorin Pascal, Félix Origène, Jean Rony Civil, Jeudy Peterson, Joseph Darel Jeff, Louis René, Thermidor Kenson and a woman whose body has not been identified.

We plan to hold state funeral, this in consultation with families, we plan to do them Saturday, February 21.

We decree National mourning throughout the country from tomorrow Wednesday, February 18, mourning will last 3 days and will end on the day of collective state funeral Saturday, February 21 [...]"

See also :
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13199-haiti-flash-carnival-2015-in-shock-at-least-15-victims-dozens-injured.html

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FIRE JOBS: CAL FIRE APPARATUS ENGINEER (PARAMEDIC) #CALFIRE #CAFIRE

FIRE APPARATUS ENGINEER (PARAMEDIC) 

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Applications will not be accepted on a promotional basis. Career credits will be granted. Candidates eligible to receive career credits must indicate their current position qualifies them for this credit in Section #5 of the application Form (678).

Who Should Apply:
Persons who meet the minimum qualifications as stated in the Classification Description (specification). Note: Accepted applicants are required to bring either a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification when required to appear for the examination.

Final File Date: 03/10/15

Where to Apply:

EXAMINATION APPLICATIONS STD. 678 MUST BE FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY
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Effective January 1, 2014, in accordance with Government Codes 18973.1 and 18973.5, Veterans’ Preference will be awarded as follows: 1) Any veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran, who achieves a passing score in an entrance examination, shall be ranked in the top rank of the resulting eligibility list. Any veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released is not eligible for Veterans’ Preference. 2) An entrance examination is defined, under the law, as any open competitive examination. And 3) Veterans’ Preference is not granted once a person achieves permanent civil service status. Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans’ Preference are on the Veterans’ Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at http://jobs.ca.gov/Job/VeteransInformation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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