Washington Island officials are still forming plans to ensure people on the water are safe even without the United States Coast Guard taking up a summer residency this year. The station has traditionally been staffed by active duty and reserve personnel during summer to perform search and rescue and law enforcement missions. Last October, the United States Coast Guard outlined how it would adjust its operations due to its ongoing workforce shortage issues. Those plans included crews at the Coast Guard’s 23 seasonal station smalls, including Washington Island, who would transfer to their parent command. Washington Island officials have talked logistics about the change at their last few meetings. Town Chairperson Hans Lux says they met with the Coast Guard on Thursday to discuss what expectations would be moving forward to ensure they are covered in cases of emergency.

Lux added that the Washington Island Fire Department has submitted a grant application to get funds to purchase a new boat, which they have been fundraising for over the last year. He hopes this year’s closure of the Coast Guard station makes it more likely that they will receive that grant.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard