Press Release
☷NOAA Satellites Helped Save 350 Lives in 2023
U.S. Department of Commerce ( By Press Release office)
Jan 24,2024
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Here are three notable rescues from 2023 as examples: On June 12 , the U . S . Coast Guard rescued nine people from a fishing boat near Gulf Shores , Alabama , after the boat ' s engines failed . The onboard beacon helped pinpoint the location of the stranded vessel . On September 5 , a helicopter and an aircraft collided , resulting in minor injuries to seven passengers . The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received the coordinates from an onboard Emergency Locator Transmitter and coordinated with the Alaska National Guard to treat the passengers . On September 14 , two hikers in Kukuihaele , Hawaii , fell into a ravine and were unable to move . The U . S . Coast Guard detected their distress signal from a handheld device and alerted the local fire department , which airlifted the hikers to a hospital . Out of the 350 rescues in the U . S . last year , 255 people were saved from the water , 44 from aviation incidents , and 51 on land using handheld devices . The highest number of rescues occurred in Florida with 83 , followed by Hawaii with 52 and Alaska with 49 . When a NOAA satellite identifies a distress signal in the U . S . , the information is sent to the SARSAT Mission Control Center in Maryland , which then coordinates with the U . S . Air Force or the U . S . Coast Guard to carry out the rescue . NOAA also works with international partners to assist in global rescues . NOAA ' s satellites , known for their important role in tracking weather and climate , helped rescue 350 people from dangerous situations in the U . S . and its surrounding waters in 2023 . These satellites are part of a global system called COSPAS - SARSAT , which uses a network of spacecraft to detect distress signals from emergency beacons on aircraft , boats , and handheld devices anywhere in the world . Since 1982 , COSPAS - SARSAT has been credited with saving over 48 , 000 lives worldwide , including more than 10 , 455 in the U . S . and its waters . Steve Volz , Ph . D . , assistant administrator for NOAA ' s Satellite and Information Service , emphasized the value of the SARSAT program , stating that each life saved showcases its importance . He also acknowledged the partnerships between NOAA , the U . S . Coast Guard , the U . S . Air Force , NASA , and other global organizations as the foundation of SARSAT ' s ongoing success . Hey , so if you own one of those 406MHz beacons , you gotta remember to register it online with NOAA . It ' s actually a legal requirement . Registering helps them respond quicker and more effectively to emergencies , avoids unnecessary false alarms , and gives them an idea of the kind of help you might need . It ' s all part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ' s deal .
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