Response to Crowley Barge Incident

January 14, 2010LT Jack Smith

USCG Sector Hampton Roads

Outline• Incident Summary – CDR Schultz• Atlantic Strike Team Actions – CDR Schultz• Maritime Incident Response Team 101/Actions

– LT Smith (for Bill Burket)• Public Affairs Aspect – LT Smith

Public Affairs Aspect• SECHR PIOs worked w/ D5, Crowley PIO, VA

Beach PIO• While SECHR had ICS in place, PIOs set up JIC

next door – augmented by D5 PAs• Used aggressive/proactive media strategy to

stay ahead of public perception

Public Affairs Stats• Public Affairs framed incident – from SECHR CO Media

Conference Call (initial brief) to final interview on pier• Between these events:– 8 CG personnel conducted 23 on-camera interviews w/

local, regional, national, and international media outlets (including Nat’l Geographic)

– PIOs also conducted phone interviews w/ newspapers, radio stations, and The Weather Channel

– PIO walked door-to-door w/ fact sheet

Lessons Learned• Keys to success in this incident:

– Already had ICS in place for Nor’easter– Aggressive response through dispatching resources– Proactive public affairs strategy– Teamwork between all involved

• SECHR• D5• Atlantic Strike Team• MIRT• Crowley/Titan Salvage

CONTACT INFORMATION

LT Jack SmithSector Hampton RoadsIncident Management Division

757-668-5596 jack.b.smith@uscg.mil