Monday September, 7 2015 @ 20:32

Nature: Watercraft In Distress

Location: 35768 E River Dr., White House Beach, Millsboro, DE 19966

On Monday evening, September 7^th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for a reported watercraft in distress incident in the water off of East River Drive, White House Beach.

Emergency response units from Indian River included 80 Marine 2 and Brush #80-0, 80 Marine 1 with Utility 80-8, Engine #80-1, Incident Command 80, Rescue 80, as well as the Delaware State Fire Police, and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources Environmental Control – Fish & Wildlife Agent.

It appears that a watercraft was in distress and communicating via cell phone to the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) when all communications ceased a result of reported cell phone battery issue.  The Sussex County Emergency Operations Center was able to retain GPS coordinates for emergency response units and alerted Indian River.

Emergency response assignments include an immediate request to launch and search White House Cove to Steele’s Cove.  80 Marine 2 launched via White House Beach boat ramps and 80 Marine 1 launched via Massey’s Landing Public boat ramp.  Install search patterns and coordinate location checks yielded no successful response.  80 Incident Command requested the assistance of the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit – Trooper 2.  Shortly, thereafter 80 Incident Command requested the box alarm for a marine unit search activating Bethany Beach (70) from Indian River Inlet, Millsboro (83) from Gull Point Marina, and Dagsboro (73) from the Vines Creek Marina.  Additional search patterns were coordinated with 80 Marine Units and DNREC for a larger portion of the Indian River Bay.  Immediately thereafter, verifiable and creditable information yielded a “safe return notification” and the search patterns were called off.

The DNREC Officers will be coordinating follow up protocols.