Guardians,
Following the devastating earthquake in Chile it was our duty to immediately prepare the public for what could have been an enormous tidal surge on our coasts. I am very pleased with those efforts and praised you all for your actions in my message released today:
SUBJ: BRAVO ZULU – TSUNAMI PREPARATIONS
1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENT EFFORTS IN PREPARING FOR THE TSUNAMI FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE ON 27 FEBRUARY. ON EXTREMELY SHORT NOTICE, PACAREA AND ALL OF THE WEST COAST DISTRICTS BEGAN TO IMMEDIATELY WARN THE MARITIME PUBLIC OF THE POSSIBLE TIDAL SURGE WHILE SAFEGUARDING OUR OWN ASSETS SO THEY WERE AVAILABLE FOR FOLLOW-ON RESPONSE OPERATIONS.
2. THE FLEXIBILITY AND AGILITY OF OUR COMMAND STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONAL ASSETS WERE ON DISPLAY ONCE AGAIN. MOVING AIRCRAFT TO HIGHER GROUND, EVACUATING CUTTERS, TRAILERING BOATS, AND LOOKING AFTER OUR PERSONNEL RESIDING IN TARGETED AREAS WERE ALL ACCOMPLISHED EFFICIENTLY AND IN CONCERT WITH LOCAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES. OUR WELL ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS AND PROTOCOLS WITHIN THE PORT ENVIRONMENT AND THROUGHOUT GOVERNMENT FACILITATED THIS ENTIRE PROCESS AND ENSURED ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WERE TAKEN IN A COORDINATED MANNER.
3. WHILE I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL THE TIDAL SURGE WAS NOT AS SUBSTANTIAL AS INITIALLY FEARED, THE QUICK RESPONSE EFFORTS WERE A BENEFICIAL EXERCISE IN DISASTER PLANNING AND REFLECTED OUR UNIQUE VALUE TO THE MARITIME PUBLIC. I KNOW SECRETARY NAPOLITANO WAS EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THE COAST GUARDS EFFORTS AND THE OVERALL COLLABORATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. PLEASE PASS ALONG MY PERSONAL APPRECIATION TO ALL OF OUR STAFFS AND UNITS WHO REACTED TO THE TSUNAMI WARNINGS.
4. BRAVO ZULU!
5. ADMIRAL T. W. ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
