Jacksonville, FL - The Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville has a new search-and-rescue emergency phone number.
The new emergency phone number is 904-714-7558.
"The Coast Guard urges you to call this number if you believe you are in any danger or there is a potential for your situation to worsen," said Lt. Christina Erapalli, Chief of the Sector Jacksonville command center. "Additionally, we remind the public that this phone number is for emergency use only. Anyone who willfully places a hoax call is guilty of a felony and can face penalties including incarceration, fines, a civil penalty, and reimbursement to the Coast Guard for costs incurred while responding to a hoax. Hoaxes can also place our rescuers' lives in unnecessary danger and reduce our ability to respond to persons who may truly need help."
"There is a secondary phone number that's available to report other emergencies such as pollution, suspicious activity, any waterway issues, or any other maritime concerns," said Anthony Soto, Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist at Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. This secondary number is 904-714-7557. Soto went on to say, "we want to encourage boaters to have these 2 phone numbers available but also to continue to report any emergencies via VHF radio on channel 16."
The phone number has been changed because the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville command center moved to a new facility.
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