CGC OAK (WLB-211)

The miniature versions of the Shade Tree, known as Acorns, return in May to describe OAK's response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. They are available for reading or download in PDF format on the Shade Tree page of this site.

R 261351Z APR 10 ZUI ASN-AS1116000075
FM COGARD OFC NDBC STENNIS SPACE CENTER MS
TO USCGC OAK
INFO CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL//DPW/DXO//
COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-54131//
BT
UNCLAS //N03140//
SUBJ: BRAVO ZULU - OAK'S SUPERIOR INTERAGENCY MISSION EXECUTION
1. I HEARTILY COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF DUTY DURING THE RECENT RECOVERY OF ADRIFT NOAA BUOY 41046.
2. DURING THE 5 DAY MISSION, YOU RECOVERED BUOY 41046 BEFORE IT DRIFTED INTO CUBAN WATERS, SAVING OVER $500K OF GOVERNMENT EQUIPMENT. THE RECOVERY OF THIS BUOY IS CRITICAL TO THE OVERALL HURRICANE NETWORK. DATA FROM THIS NETWORK IS USED BY MILLIONS WORLDWIDE AND IS ESSENTIAL TO THE FORECASTING ABILITIES OF NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER. YOUR TIMELY RECOVERY WILL ENSURE THAT THIS STATION WILL BE RE-DEPLOYED PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF HURRICANE SEASON.
3. YOUR QUICK RESPONSE AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL ENSURED SAFE MISSION EXECUTION, AND ONCE AGAIN DEMONSTRATED YOUR ABILITY TO ANSWER THE CALL IN THE NAME OF INTER-AGENCY MISSION COOPERATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEVOTION TO DUTY AND YOUR CONTINUED ASSISTANCE TO THE NATIONAL DATA BUOY CENTER. BRAVO ZULU!
4. DIRECTOR, NATIONAL DATA BUOY CENTER SENDS.
BT
NNNN

On February 1, 2010, Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) recognized OAK's crew for their work in responding to the devastang earthquake that struck Port au Prince, Haiti on January 12th, 2010.

The record begins with:
Mr. DEMINT. Mr. President, I would like to congratulate the crewmembers of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Oak, a 225-foot sea-going Buoy Tender homeported in Charleston, SC, for their bravery, stamina, and fortitude in their response to the tragic aftermath of the earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The full text of the recognition, as it appears in the Congressional Record, is available here (46KB PDF).

R 231950Z MAR 10 ZUI ASN-AS1082000197
FM CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL//D//
TO USCGC OAK
INFO COMLANTAREA COGARD PORTSMOUTH VA//LANT-00/LANT-3/LANT-3R//
CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL//DP//
BT
UNCLAS //N16000//
SUBJ: BRAVO ZULU
1. I AM PROUD TO COMMEND THE COMMAND AND CREW OF USCGC OAK FOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE OF DUTY DURING OPERATIONS UNIFIED RESPONSE (OUR) AND SOUTHEAST WATCH HAITI (OSEW-H) FROM 13 JANUARY THROUGH 18 FEBRUARY 2010.
2. PRECEDING THE EARTHQUAKE TWO OAK CREWMEMBERS WERE IN PORT AU PRINCE AS PART OF A PRE-DEPLOYMENT ENGINEERING ASSESSMENT TEAM WORKING WITH THE HAITIAN COAST GUARD IN PREPARATION FOR OAK'S SPRING 2010 VISIT. THE UNIQUE BOND OAK HAS CULTIVATED WITH THE HAITIAN COAST GUARD OVER THE PAST YEARS WAS FURTHER STRENGTHENED WHEN YOU ARRIVED AS THE FIRST MILITARY VESSEL TO MOOR AT THE DESTROYED APN PIER IN PORT AU PRINCE FOLLOWING THE EARTHQUAKE.
3. YOUR INITIAL EFFORTS ENCOMPASSED A WIDE-RANGE OF MISSIONS INCLUDING PIERSIDE SECURITY, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ON SHORE, ATON RECONSTITUTION AND HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYS IN PORT AU PRINCE. YOUR MISSIONS GREW TO PROVIDING BERTHING AND SUPPORT FOR AN 11-MBR MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM RECOVERY UNIT (MTSRU) AND ESTABLISHING A VTS THAT SAFELY COORDINATED, IN FOUR DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, MORE THAN 60 MILITARY, SEA LIFT AND TANKER ARRIVALS AT PIERS AND ANCHORAGES OVER A 13-DAY PERIOD. YOUR ATON AND VTS ACTIVITIES WERE KEY TO GETTING RELIEF SUPPLIES FLOWING SAFELY INTO PORT AU PRINCE, AND YOUR TECHNICIANS HELPED RE-ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY FOR THE HAITIAN PORT AUTHORITY.
4. AS A TASK UNIT FOR CTU 44.7.7, YOU PROVIDED A PERSISTENT AND PROBING PRESENCE ALONG NORTH CLAW DEPARTURE ZONES THAT DETERRED LIFE-THREATENING ILLEGAL MIGRATION. YOUR OBSERVATIONS OF COASTAL CONDITIONS AND ACTIVITIES PAST SHARPENED OFFSHORE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE EFFORT. YOUR CONTINUED ATON WORK IN CAP HAITIEN, ENSURED NAVIGATIONAL SAFETY IN THE PORT FOR BOTH REPATRIATION OPERATIONS AND COMMERCIAL SHIPPING.
5. DURING THIS DEMANDING CRISIS YOU DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARY INITIATIVE, ENDURANCE, AND COMPASSION.
6. BRAVO ZULU!
7. RADM STEVE BRANHAM, COAST GUARD DISTRICT SEVEN COMMANDER, SENDS.
BT
NNNN

Miniature versions of the Shade Tree, known as Acorns describe OAK's work in support of Haitian Earthquake response. They are available for reading or download in PDF format on the Shade Tree page of this site.

This is the 'Lost Issue', an extended issue covering news from October 15th, 2009 to January 11th 2010. This issue is available for reading or download in PDF format. This and future issues are also featured on the Shade Tree page of this site.
Featured in this issue:
-Fall 2009 Haiti/GANTSEC ATON Patrol
-New Shipmates
-Health Facts
-ET Movie Critique

The lost issue of ‘The Shade Tree’ is now available; posting was delayed by OAK's fall GANTSEC patrol. Speaking of GANTSEC, a special double issue of ‘The Shade Tree’ is coming in December! This issue is available for reading or download in PDF format. This and future issues are also featured on the Shade Tree page of this site.

Featured in this issue:
-Survival Training
-CPR Training
-New Shipmate
-Health Facts
-The Ancient Mariner
-Savings Tips

‘The Shade Tree’ continues this month with an expanded issue (two pages longer than August!) and plenty of news and photos. This issue is available for reading or download in PDF format. This and future issues are also featured on the Shade Tree page of this site.

Featured in this issue:
-Law Enforcement Training Week
-USCGC Ingham
-9/11 Tribute
-New Shipmate
-New Small Boat
-Crane Weight Testing
-ET Movie Critique

August, 2009 brings the inaugural issue of ‘The Shade Tree’, a monthly publication put out by OAK’s public affairs officer, ENS Jason Radcliffe. The information in this publication is intended to keep crew members and their families entertained and informed of milestones, events, and information about OAK and her crew. This issue is available for reading or download in PDF format. This and future issues are also featured on the Shade Tree page of this site.

Featured in this issue:
-XO's Wellness Program
-New Shipmates
-DC Photo Featured on CG Central
-ET Movie Critique

OAK's Commanding Officer, CDR Mike Glander proposes an improvement to the current metric for measuring the availability of Aids to Navigation (ATON). The method currently used treats all buoys equally, while CDR Glander's proposal takes into account the importance of a particular aid when calculating a unit's ATON availability. More information, the full article, and a tool that calculates Aid Availability using CDR Glander's Risk-Informed method are avilable on the RIAA Page.

A Letter from USCGC OAK's Executive Officer, LCDR Brian Caudle.

A Letter from the ISC Miami Commanding Officer, CAPT Balboni.

A List of the 2009 hurricane names and explanations of terms associated with hurricanes.

Explanations of NOAA Hurricane Watches and Warnings and Coast Guard Hurricane Conditions.

List of the 10 costliest hurricanes.

A comprehensive guide specific to the Charleston area covering hurricane preparedness, evacuation, and aftermath, with a focus on the various Coast Guard teams and programs available to assist personnel and their families in the event of a hurricane.

A general guide to insurance coverage and common terminology that includes infomation on suggested types of coverage, as well as actions to take before and after a storm to ensure that losses are covered by insurance.

Important insurance information for families that live in DOD military housing areas that have been privatized. (This includes Charleston Naval Weapons Station Housing.) Includes a coverage summary and claim instructions.

A thorough guide for boat owners that discusses hurricane preparedness from boat design and purchasing to seasonal and pre-storm preparation, and post-storm damage response. Includes a worksheet to collect important hurricane-related information and decisions for your boat.

A very basic overview of items to consider when preparing for hurricane season.

A collection of tips to assist in seasonal and pre-hurricane preparation. This document discusses fewer items than the overview listed above, but goes into more detail in discussing each one.

A comprehensive list of items to include in a family hurricane preparedness kit. The kit focuses on having enough supplies for each person for a period of 72 hours.

A guide to ensuring that important personal records (deeds, insurance/registration documents, birth certificates, passports, etc) are protected from loss, theft, or destruction in the event of a hurricane and are easily accessible in case an evacuation is ordered. Included is the Personal Records Information sheet, which acts as a handy reference to account for important documents.

Insturctions for conducting a household inventory, which should be completed seasonally. A complete inventory will assist in damage assessment, claims, and recovery in the event of a hurricane.

A simple list that assists in estimating the value of household goods. This is useful for remembering items to include in an inventory and in purchasing insurance.

A printable card to ensure that in the event of a disaster, each member of the family has easy access to important contact information.

COMING SOON: Information for actions just before and during a hurricane, including evacuation.

A comprehensive guide to actions to take in checking, repairing, and living in your home after the area has been affected by a storm. The guide's steps proceed in the interest of safety, something very important to consider when returning to a storm-affected area.

A pamphlet produced by MLCLANT that addresses common questions and concerns regarding personal property damage following a hurricane.

A collection of tips for before, during, and after visiting a storm-damaged home, geared towards preparing for filing an insurance claim.

A guide for filing an insurance claim for storm damage that includes a very helpful list of required documents, as well as phone numbers for various insurance companies. The guide suggests filling out a Special Power of Attorney Form (above) for those that live in government leased or owned housing. This allows spouses of crew members to file insurance claims on their behalf.

Information regarding tax relief programs and options that are available to those who are affected by a hurricane or a tropical storm.

A guide to dealing with the emotional aspects of the passage of a storm, including planning ahead, venting, and providing support. Includes contact information for various Coast Guard programs that assist with emotional concerns.

A list of tips and things to consider when hiring a contractor for repairs or reconstruction of a home affected by a natural disaster.

A wealth of general and safety information regarding generators. Long-term power outages are common following the passage of a major hurricane. Many homeowners turn to generators when this happens, but it is important to have the correct size generator and operate it properly and safely.