Coast Guard and other officials throughout the North Olympic Peninsula remained on heightened alert Wednesday, a day after terrorism attacks shocked the nation.
“There’s nothing new for us,” Lt. Mark Hiigel of Coast Guard Group Port Angeles said.
Group personnel at LaPush, Neah Bay, Port Angeles and Port Townsend remained at Threat Con Charlie — the second-highest state of alert, he said..
Hiigel reported Tuesday that all cutters under Group command were under way and patrolling Peninsula waters.
On Wednesday, the 110-foot cutter Cuttyhunk was visible monitoring maritime traffic for most of the day off Ediz Hook.
With cutters on patrol, the Coast Guard resumed limited helicopter flights from its airstation on Ediz Hook on Wednesday.
The flights were the first to be authorized over the Peninsula since the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all aircraft following Tuesday’s terrorist attacks.
“We’re basically doing just search and rescue and emergency flights,” Hiigel said.
Security also remained a key concern for officials at Peninsula ferry terminals Wednesday.
A Black Ball Transport employee said the MV Coho ferry between Port Angeles and Victoria was running about an hour behind schedule.
Customs agents were inspecting all cars thoroughly on each side of the crossing, she said.
The passenger-only Victoria Express did not experience any delays, owner Jack Harmon said.
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