LIHU‘E – The County of Kaua‘i will hold a full-scale, multi-agency search and rescue exercise this month with a number of participants, including the United States Coast Guard, Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency, Kaua‘i Fire Department, Kaua‘i Police Department, Ocean Safety Bureau, Civil Air Patrol, and Kaua‘i Search and Rescue.
LIHU‘E – The County of Kaua‘i will hold a full-scale, multi-agency search and rescue exercise this month with a number of participants, including the United States Coast Guard, Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency, Kaua‘i Fire Department, Kaua‘i Police Department, Ocean Safety Bureau, Civil Air Patrol, and Kaua‘i Search and Rescue.
Government officials say the drill will ensure the county is prepared and well-coordinated for search and rescue operations.
The public is being asked to avoid the area during the exercise, which is scheduled to take place on March 23 from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kukui‘ula Small Boat Harbor and its surrounding area.
“Officials ask for the public’s cooperation by staying clear of any noticeable or marked areas and exercise-related vehicles, equipment, and personnel,” said a county representative in a statement from the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency.
Search and rescue exercises are held throughout the Hawaiian Islands to practice “interagency operations, communication procedures, and overall coordination,” said Charles Turner, a command duty officer with the Coast Guard sector in Honolulu, in the statement.
“These exercises are significant training opportunities and ensure we continue to operate as well as possible together as a team of responders in serving the County of Kauai.”
“The Coast Guard and our partners have recently responded to several major search and rescue missions on the island of Kaua‘i,” Turner said.
The announcement comes roughly three weeks after authorities discovered 22-year-old Kody Gardner’s body in Koke‘e after an eight-day, multi-agency search. Gardner had been sought in connection with the death of his 52-year-old father.
Kaua’i Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami thanked everyone involved in the drill.
“We are grateful to the participating agencies for dedicating their time and expertise in this multi-agency exercise,” he said in a statement. “Mahalo to our partners with the U.S. Coast Guard, our county first responders and officials, and everyone involved for your efforts that will better prepare our island and people during unforeseen events.”
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Emma Grunwald, reporter, can be reached 808-245-0441 or egrunwald@thegardenisland.com.
