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USCG Urges Participation In Waterway Watch Program
Monday, August 29, 2011
 PITTSBURGH, PA -- With September being National Preparedness Month, the United States Coast Guard urges all Americans to look beyond their home environments and be vigilant on our nation's waters, including those in our area.
America's Waterway Watch (AWW), a combined effort of the Coast Guard and its Reserve and Auxiliary components, is enlisting the active participation of those who live, work or play around America's waterfront areas. Coast Guard Reserve personnel concentrate on connecting with businesses and government agencies, while the civilian vounteer Auxiliarists focus on building AWW awareness among the recreational boating public.
If you are a tow boat operator, a recreational boater, a fisherman, a marina operator, or otherwise live, work or engage in recreational activities around waterways, the United States Coast Guard wants your help in keeping these areas safe and secure. You can do this by participating in its America's Waterway Watch (AWW) program, a nationwide initiative similar to the well-known and successful Neighborhood Watch program that asks community members to report suspicious activities to local law enforcement agencies.
As a person who spends much of your time on or near the water, you already know what is normal and what is not, and you are well-suited to notice suspicious activities - activities possibly indicating threats to our nation's homeland security. And as a participant in America's Waterway Watch we urge you to adopt a heightened sense of awareness toward unusual events or individuals you may encounter in or around ports, docks, marinas, riversides, beaches, or waterfront communities.
You should always remember that people are not suspicious, behavior is. And if you observe suspicious behavior or activity, you should simply note the details and contact local law enforcement. You are not expected to approach or challenge anyone acting in a suspicious manner.
America's Waterway Watch is a public outreach program, encouraging participants to simply report suspicious activity to the Coast Guard and/or other law enforcement agencies. Unlike some Neighborhood Watch programs, you are not formally joining an organization -- there are no meetings, membership cards or membership requirements -- and you do not become an agent of the Coast Guard or any other law enforcement agency.
To report suspicious activity, call the Coast Guard's National Response Center at 1-877-24WATCH. For immediate danger to life or property, dial 911.
Submitted by:
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
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