December 3, 2015
HOUSTON — A Coast Guard boat crew retrieved two people who were stranded on a bridge piling under the Galveston Causeway bridge after their 8-foot boat began taking on water, Thursday.
Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a phone call at 12:17 a.m., reporting the two who had made it to a concrete piling as their 8-foot Pelican boat was taking on water.
At 12:25 a.m., watchstanders launched a Station Galveston 29-foot response boat crew who arrived on scene at 1:16 a.m. and transported them to the nearest local marina. The derelict boat remained on scene with the piling until the owners can retrieve it.
"When engaging in any sort of marine activities, ensure you are adequately prepared in case of emergencies," said Elvie Damaso, the Sector Houston-Galveston search and rescue coordinator on watch. "Have a backup plan. Have a communications plan. If cellphone is your only means of communication, if possible, have a secondary phone and ensure battery life is preserved as much as possible. In many cases, lost communications can complicate the response to an emergency situation."