Intermittent communication outages across Southeast and Southcentral Alaska were resolved Friday.
The U.S. Coast Guard reports that repairs are ongoing to the VHF radio system, but due to the extreme weather and remote areas, intermittent outages are expected to continue. Intermittent VHF communications still affect Mt. McArther, Deception Hills, Sukkwan Island, Althorp Peak, Cape Gull and Raspberry Island.
Mariners are told to practice extra caution in the aforementioned areas serviced by the VHF towers.
Due to the mountainous terrain and limited VHF coverage, the Coast Guard is unable to hear calls in all areas. Mariners are urged to have a secondary means of communication at all times, file a float plan with a trusted person and to carry safety equipment onboard in the event that you are stuck in a survival situation.
The following phone numbers can be used to reach the Coast Guard in emergencies:
- Sector Juneau Command Center: 907-463-2980
- Sector Anchorage Command Center: 907-428-4100
- 17th District Command Center: 907-463-2000
