Coast Guard Conducts Rescue Drill at Santa Barbara Harbor Thursday Night

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — As the sun set, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a rescue drill at the Santa Barbara Harbor on Thursday night.

“We saw a helicopter down low, so we booked it over here, and it’s great,” said Santa Barbara resident Steve Harding.

Harding was among the many onlookers watching the rescue drill around 5 p.m. Thursday. He shared his thoughts on the importance of safety drills along the local coastline.

“It’s great. Obviously, having emergency personnel conduct these drills gives you a sense of comfort and safety,” Harding said. “And, I mean, the machinery is awesome. The boats are cool, the helicopters—it’s just really cool to see.”

The Coast Guard performed a mock rescue that involved jumping into the water to simulate an emergency response. The drills help ensure crew members are prepared for real-life situations. Coast Guard rescue drills include man overboard, abandon ship, and recovering a person from the water. One of the primary goals is to improve maritime incident response.

“We always see this boat here at the harbor, but we never get to see the helicopter, so that’s cool,” Harding said.