Published in the September 10, 2018 edition.
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD – Hurricane Harvey caused at least 106 confirmed deaths in the United States and damage exceeding $125 billion, making it among the costliest natural disasters ever in the United States.
The 2017 mega-storm also produced its share of heroes, among them Coast Guard Lieutenant Justin P. Maio.
The Wakefield native has been awarded a Coast Guard Commendation Medal and Citation for “outstanding achievement while serving as a member of Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur’s Incident Command Post from 26 August to 4 September 2017 in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey.”
Making landfall on three separate occasions, Hurricane Harvey released more precipitation than any other tropical cyclone in U.S. history. The resulting floods inundated hundreds of thousands of homes, displaced more than 30,000 people and prompted more than 17,000 rescues.
Hitting the Texas Gulf Coast on Aug. 25, Hurricane Harvey discharged as much as 52 inches of rain throughout 28,000 square miles during a five-day deluge.
In the midst of this catastrophic event, more than 2,000 Coast Guardsmen mobilized with aircraft, cutters, boats and contingency equipment from across the service to save 11,000 lives, restore commerce in major ports and address nearly 1,500 maritime pollution threats.
A key player in this effort was Lt. Justin Maio.
“As a Situation Unit Leader during an unprecedented mass rescue operation,” the citation states, “he flawlessly managed information flow between 10 Coast Guard Commands, federal maritime and air assets and myriad state and local responders, directly contributing to the rescue of over 3,500 citizens.”
An impressive achievement, but Lt. Maio wasn’t done.
“Utilizing government vehicle and expert local area knowledge, he retrieved a trapped search and rescue team whose boat had become stranded by the storm,” the citation continues.
“Lieutenant Maio’s dedication, judgment and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.”
Lt. Justin Maio graduated from Wakefield Memorial High School in 2009 and the Coast Guard Academy in 2013. He is currently stationed with the USCG Marine Safety Unit in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is the son of Stephen P. and Jean Maio of Jackson Lane.
