The wreck of the morning dew: The United States coast guard and crisis communication

Abstract

On a stormy December 1997 night in Charleston Harbor, Charleston, South Carolina, four lives were lost when the sailing vessel Morning Dew crashed into a jetty near the entrance to the city's harbor. At first, authorities were at a loss to explain what happened to the Morning Dew. However, it was soon revealed that the vessel had radioed the Coast Guard station in Charleston, yet received no assistance. The Coast Guard soon found itself defending its actions ofthat night, and was accused of covering up evidence of the Morning Dew's mayday call. By not communicating with the media and public, the Coast Guard's actions brought into question its Search and Rescue (SAR) capabilities. Coast Guard errors in dealing with this crisis are examined, and observations about crisis communication, in general, are discussed.