Who Is Al Lazzaro? A Member Profile

No one captures the attention of the entire flotilla as easily as Al when he steps in front of the screen displaying the patrol schedule.  If you want to get on a boat, you’d better pay attention.

Al has been Flotilla 96’s Operations Officer since 2006.  He is at the heart of what we do as Coast Guard auxiliarists, our on-the-water presence that adds to the visibility and the effectiveness of the United States Coast Guard.  As Ops Officer, Al schedules and reschedules the patrols, coxswains, crewmembers, and watchstanders.  His spreadsheet changes almost daily as emails arrive at

flotilla96@yahoo.com. Thanks to Al, the coxswain and crew usually manage to meet and get their patrol under way on schedule.

Al is now holding special quarterly meetings with the bridge and staff officers involved in Operations.  He says the aim is to standardize the way coxswains and crew carry out their duties on patrol, from handling lines to verbal exchanges as they work.  Training will be based on the procedures used by the Coast Guard and will enable us to work with confidence with  Station Fort Myers Beach and other flotillas in both distress and non-distress situations.  He also approves of the recent decision to require new boat crew to first qualify in the radio room.

On a busy day Al may show up at a flotilla meeting in his scrubs, a reminder that, unlike most of our members, he still works for a living.  He has worked in health care for over 25 years.  Today he is Radiology Manager in charge of the Ultrasound and Vascular departments for both the downtown and North Naples hospitals.  On any given day he is supervising about twenty technicians. He also does the hiring and firing that keeps the departments running smoothly.

Hurricane and Disaster Check List

Hurricane and Disaster Checklist for Target Area

Stages of readiness for the flotilla depend upon the severity of winds predicted and their estimated time of arrival.  They range from Condition Four Whiskey to Condition One Zulu.

We are now in Condition Four with fuel levels of all facilities at least 70% full.  If gale force winds are expected within 72 hours, our status goes to Whiskey.

What Happens Next?  As the clock runs down and threatening winds (sustained 50-knots) are possible within 48 hours, we enter Condition Three X-Ray.  Now we must be ready for deployment within 24 hours.  That means prepare for evacuation and secure auxiliary facilities, homes and personal property.

·         Prepare your evacuation kit.  (Be sure to include ODUs and Auxiliary ID.)

·         Secure flotilla building and property. FSO-SR secures all records.

·         Move vessels to sheltered moorings.

·         FC or VFC report to Division Commander or Vice Commander that we have met all Condition Three requirements.

Condition Two Yankee goes into effect when threatening winds are possible within 24 hours.  By now you should have secured your property and evacuated, taking your evacuation kit with you.

Condition One Zulu is from 12 hours before the storm until the storm has passed and will not return. When the District Commander resets to Condition Four, all auxiliary units return to Condition Four.  Then Auxiliarists in the disaster area must first complete their damage assessments, secure their personal property, and recover from effects of the storm. Then they may advise their flotilla or district officials that they are available for duty.

Flotillas outside the target area play a vital role in disaster response.

 Condition Four is the same for both areas.  If we are outside the target, Condition Three means:



Arlene, the first tropical storm of 2011, batters Mexico



·         All operational facilities (including PWCs and towing vehicles) should be 100% fueled and provisioned with some food and water and a change of clothing.

·         Staff officers report their alert status to flotilla officials.

·         Communications trailer checks battery power, verifies communications and reports readiness to activate communications nets with 24 hours notice.

Condition Two means we activate authorized communications nets and move to 24-hour coverage.

In Condition One

·         All communications nets are operational and reporting hourly or as needed to handle emergency traffic to the Net Controller.

All Auxiliarists are on alert status and fully prepared and resting, ready to be deployed within three hours.

Admiral Papp Likes George

Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., Commandant of the US Coast Guard, congratulated George Stancil on his recruiting efforts for the Coast Guard Academy at the Academy’s 130^th Commencement Exercise on May 18.  “He hugged me,” George reported when he sent this photo to Hatchcover. (Editor’s note:  George has more ribbons than the Admiral.)