U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater aircrew members prepare to depart in support of the humanitarian efforts taking place in Haiti after a 7.2 earthquake in Great Inagua, Bahamas, Aug. 19, 2021. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Erik Villa Rodriguez)
MIAMI — Coast Guard and partner agency aircrews continue to respond to critically injured Haitian citizens by transporting them to a higher level of care in Port au Prince, Haiti, Thursday.
After several days of responding to a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Haiti, Coast Guard aircrews returned home to Clearwater, Thursday, and more Coast Guard aircrews are returning to the response.
“We are proud, but we are also a little heartbroken,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Diglio, a rescue swimmer deployed to Haiti. “The Haitian citizens are strong, as they would ride in the helicopter calm and composed throughout the one-hour ride to the Port au Prince hospital.”
In the past 24 hours, Coast Guard men and women deployed to Haiti have:
- flown 37 evolutions
- saved more than 33 people
- assisted more than 58 people
- transported 49 urban disaster and relief personnel
- transported 1,700 pounds of disaster and relief supplies
Since Sunday, Coast Guard men and women deployed to Haiti have:
- flown 137 evolutions
- saved 116 people
- assisted 177 people
- transported 234 urban disaster and relief personnel
- transported 8,500 pounds of disaster and relief supplies
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