HOUSTON—No matter where Gustav makes landfall, you can be sure the U.S. Coast Guard will be there.

In fact, Coast Guard Air Station Houston prepared for two scenarios. 

One was to serve as a forward operating base. They would assist in search and rescue should Gustav make landfall in Louisiana.

If the storm hit Houston, the helicopters would be moved to Corpus Christi and personnel would wait out the storm.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s role in a hurricane is vital.

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The U.S. Coast Guard is ready to help.

After Katrina, 10,000 lives were saved through Coast Guard aviation.

Those 10,000 people were plucked from the waters of a flooded New Orleans and hoisted aboard dolphin helicopters.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Chuck Medema is a rescue swimmer who saved 190 people in the first four days after the levees broke.

“Sometimes just as soon as you get there they’d cry because we were there and they were finally getting rescued.  After a few days, they were hungry and thirsty. Some were paranoid and pretty dazed,” he said.