History of Operation Life Ring

            On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast and devastated the region.  Many members of the U.S. Coast Guard family including volunteers of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary quickly mobilized to respond to the disaster throughout the region.  Many of these responders were also victims of the devastation left behind by Katrina and subsequently Hurricane Rita that followed shortly thereafter.

            Commodore Gene M. Seibert, National Commodore of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, recognized the dramatic impact many Auxiliarists and other Coast Guard families throughout the Gulf Coast region were suffering personally to their homes and personal property as well as the disruption to their personal and professional lives.  In order to help sustain their critical needs and help them to begin to rebuild their lives, Commodore Seibert established Operation Life Ring, a disaster relief fund provide through the Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, a 501(C) 3 Not-for-Profit Corporation whose sole purpose is to support the volunteers of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.  A website was established to facilitate providing information as well as to receive donations to support the relief effort.  In addition it provided contact information for submitting donations by mail to support Operation Life Ring.

             The response was outstanding and generated more than $125,000.00 in relief funds that were dispensed in cooperation with the Coast Guard’s Mutual Assistance program to those with critical needs.

            With the start of the Hurricane Season in June 2006, based upon the lessons learned from the horrific events associated with Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, Operation Life Ring became a permanent contingency fund to allow prompt responses to future emergencies that impact the volunteers of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and other Coast Guard families.  Commodore Seibert encouraged continuing support for Operation Life Ring.  One hundred percent (100%) of donations received through Operation Life Ring are specifically earmarked to provide disaster relief.  The funds are maintained in a separate account from other Auxiliary support programs.