(Michigan City, IN) - There are plans to convert the U.S. Coast Guard station at Michigan City into a part-time facility before the next boating season, as other select locations are also facing a similar downsizing situation.

 

In Michigan City, the decision is not being taken lightly by local officials, who have been mounting a grassroots effort to have the decision reversed at the federal level.

 

Mayor Duane Parry said a Coast Guard boat in Michigan City can reach a boater or swimmer in distress within minutes, whereas the wait for a vessel from the next closest location would be much longer.

 

“That’s a matter of life and death,” he said.

 

Phil Gurtler, a public affairs officer for the Great Lakes at the U.S. Coast Guard station in Cleveland, said a manpower shortage nationwide is forcing the decision to restore staffing and other resources to levels they should be in areas where service calls are highest.

 

“We are going to reallocate some of the personnel and assets,” he said.

 

On average, he explained, staffing at all locations is down by about 10 percent from what the Coast Guard feels a station should have to be “optimally manned.” The numbers reflect the growing challenge of recruiting people into the military over the past few years.

 

“It’s been a continuous issue. It’s just kind of reaching a point now where some decisions have to be made,” he said.

 

Right now, Gurtler said the plan for Michigan City is to fully staff and equip the U.S. Coast Guard station on weekends during the summer when use of Lake Michigan is at its greatest. Whether it would be open from Friday through Sunday or strictly for two days on weekends has not been decided. Currently, the facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week year-round.

 

“We’re still crunching the numbers for what times it’s going to be active versus not active,” he said.

 

The primary coverage area of the U.S. Coast Guard station in Michigan City includes a good stretch of the Indiana shoreline to the west and east into Michigan, including New Buffalo.

 

The Michigan City station averages about 125 search and rescue calls a year, according to figures provided by the U.S. Coast Guard. Gurtler said service calls, when the station is not open, will come from either the Coast Guard locations at Calumet Harbor near Chicago or St. Joseph, Michigan.

 

Whichever site is closest to the emergency will provide the response.

 

He said local first responders with access to boats, helicopters, and other water rescue gear will be relied on to handle calls until the U.S. Coast Guard can get there by boat or by air.

 

Already, Gurtler said, police and firefighters begin rescue attempts if they’re the first ones to arrive.

 

“It’s kind of a coin flip sometimes to see if we get on scene first,” he said.

 

Both of the U.S. Coast Guard helicopters serving the southern end of Lake Michigan are stationed in Traverse City and Detroit.

 

Parry said he was in the process of sending a letter denouncing the idea to decision-makers in Washington D.C. Help is also being sought from elected officials including Congressman Frank Mrvan and Indiana Senator Mike Braun.

 

Parry said he also believes there could be a negative economic impact from a percentage of people not wanting to use the lake without having the Coast Guard nearby.

 

“Whether they’re coming over here to charter a fishing boat. Whether they’re coming over here for a pleasure cruise or just to hang out at the beach, there’s a comfort zone having a Coast Guard station close,” he said.

LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jack Arnett is also involved in the effort to keep the U.S. Coast Guard station open every minute of every day. He noted that securing federal grants for dredging Trail Creek leading to and from Lake Michigan is difficult enough, but could become harder without a full-time U.S. Coast Guard station to help lend credibility to money requests. Dredging must be done every so often to keep Trail Creek deep enough for the owners of larger watercraft in particular, who play an important role in the summer economy.   

 

He said the lake is also used in the spring by commercial and recreational fishermen.

 

“It’s a huge deal. We got to put the full court press on to get elected officials to understand that,” Arnett said.

 

Gurtler said he doesn’t argue that U.S. Coast Guard response times in the Michigan City area would suffer. However, he said a U.S. Coast Guard boat from Chicago or St. Joseph can still be there within the two-hour timeframe mandated by Congress for coverage areas.

 

“I can say with certainty if the Coast Guard wasn’t confident we could meet all of the requirements and, frankly, keep the public safe, we wouldn’t be selecting these particular spots,” he said.