Mock Emergency Planned as Part of 2012 Maui SAREX

Coast Guard Station Maui, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Ocean Safety, Coast Guard, and Fire personnel will be among the emergency response crews participating in a search and rescue exercise tomorrow morning (Thursday, September 6, 2012) in Kihei.

The 2012 Maui SAREX, or Search and Rescue Exercise, will run from 9 a.m. to noon at the ocean area fronting the old Suda Store along South Kihei Road.

The public is advised that there will be a presence of Emergency Service vehicles and equipment on scene during the exercise.

The purpose of the exercise is for multiple agencies to work together in response to a scenario involving a missing paddle boarder.

During the mock emergency response, the board and dummy will be dropped at 9 a.m., with the call to 911 taking place at 10 a.m.  The exercise will conclude at noon, regardless if the mock victim is found or not.

A debriefing will take place thereafter to assess agency response and cohesiveness of operations.