KEY WEST, Fla. — Coast Guard personnel responded to nine separate distress notifications in the Lower and Middle Keys Wednesday afternoon as a result of a weather front that quickly passed over the area.
Seven of the distress notifications came within approximately a three-and-a-half hour time period.
Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders responded to a spike in distress reporting between 4-7:30 p.m. All the cases were resolved quickly and without injury.
Among the reports were four vessels dragging anchor, two vessels taking on water, one grounded vessel, an accidentally activated Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), and one false alert.
Boatcrews from Coast Guard Station Key West, Coast Guard Station Marathon, Fla., and local commercial salvage companies responded.
“It was a very busy day,” said Dan Slyker, Sector Key West’s lead command center controller. “However, at all times our highly trained and proficient crews aptly responded to each situation.”
