By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka helicopter helped in the Haines search effort following Wednesday’s slide, and search teams from the Sitka Fire Department are standing by ready to help.
Four of the six people who were reported missing initially, have been found safe, but two are still missing, the Associated Press reported early this afternoon. (See Associated Press story, this page.)
Lexie Preston, from the 17th Coast Guard district in Juneau, said today that the Sitka-based Jayhawk helicopter was dispatched around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, and spent about 90 minutes on a shoreline search “with negative results.” The helicopter was awaiting further requests for assistance, in Juneau, at press time.
In Sitka, SFD Chief Craig Warren said the fire department has offered its help through more than one channel, and is ready to go at any time if needed.
“Help has been offered, but we have not been requested at this point,” Warren said this afternoon. “We don’t want to insert ourselves. I remember how busy we were (responding to the 2015 Sitka landslide) and the last thing I needed was people offering unsolicited advice and help. ... People are packed up and ready to travel at any time. Whatever they request, we would try to fulfill to the best of our ability.”
Southeast Coast Guard vessels responded or were asked to prepare to respond.
Coast Guard Capt. Stephen White, commander of Sector Juneau, said in a Wednesday news release: “The scope of the damage is unknown at this time but we are proactively moving several assets and personnel to provide assistance to local first responders and the residents who may have been impacted by the landslides.”
Crews of the Coast Guard Cutters Liberty and Anacapa were ordered to make preparations to sail to Haines in order to provide additional support, the Coast Guard said. A Station Juneau 45-foot response boat and the Anacapa were launched. Both had arrived in Haines by Wednesday evening but were unable to search due to poor conditions, Preston said.
