SAN FRANCISCO -- Marines, sailors and the citizens of San Francisco observed a Parade of ships
Oct. 9, as part of San Francisco Fleet Week 2015.
SFFW '15 is a week-long
event that blends a unique training and education program, bringing together key
civilian emergency responders and Naval crisis-response forces to exchange best
practices on humanitarian assistance disaster relief with particular emphasis on
defense support to civil authorities.
The parade was observed by military
leaders at the Saint Francis Yacht Club, where they paid respects to the passing
ships.
On Oct. 17, 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake shook the grounds of
Northern California resulting in 63 deaths, 3,757 injuries and millions of
dollars in total damage. Sean Svendsen, Commodore of the Saint Francis Yacht
Club, said the parade of ships is an important part of exposing the citizens of
San Francisco to different ships that could be used in response to a natural
disaster such as another earthquake.
“The coordination between the armed
forces, the citizens and first responders is an essential aspect of being
prepared for the next big disaster,” Svendsen said. “The more practice we have
and the more educated we are on each other’s processes we are, the better we
will be at responding to an event when it occurs.”
As the military
members and the San Francisco natives interact and learn new lessons,
camaraderie and professionalism strengthens amongst the groups. Lewis Loeven,
the executive director of San Francisco Fleet Week Association, said the San
Francisco public has taken fleet week on wholeheartedly.
“The San Fran
public has completely embraced fleet week,” Loeven said. “While they have always
loved seeing the Blue Angels and the other big ticket items, they have also
really taken in the service members by getting to know them and showing them
around this beautiful city.”
The people of San Francisco appreciate the
opportunity to interact with the military members and see how the different
services and organizations respond to new scenarios and how they work together
to accomplish missions, Svendsen said.
“We think it’s the most
exceptional experience there can be,” Svendsen said. “We really appreciate
all of the armed services and want to show our support to the fullest
extent.”
The interaction between the U.S. military members and events
like the Parade of Ships improves overall understanding and teamwork in order to
prepare the city of San Francisco as best as possible for the next natural
disaster.