Call it what you want, global warming, climate change, or natural changes in the weather, no one can deny that disasters are striking more frequently. The one branch of government designed specifically to combat these forces is the United States Coast Guard.

You might think of the Coast Guard as the place where people go to get military-level benefits without military-level danger. But every day and night, come rain or shine or forty foot waves and 100 mph winds, the Coast Guard goes out to rescue people in danger.

After Hurricane Katrina, the Coast Guard became a national symbol of efficiency and heroism, the one agency capable of handling the growing threat of storms, hurricanes, and flooding.

In addition to their specific focus on saving lives (as opposed to taking them), the Coast Guard is also unique to the other branches of the military due to its multiple assignments: maritime law enforcement and stewardship.

Law enforcement detachments ride along all ships in dangerous places. Their work accounts for half the cocaine seized by U.S. government every year – more than the DEA, FBI, customs service, and all state and local police combined.

Our marine environment is one of the most valuable resources in the U.S., containing one-fifth of the world’s fishery resources and providing unparalleled opportunities for recreation, transportation, and energy resources. The Coast Guard is responsible for safeguarding marine habitats, endangered species, and protecting our waters from oil spills and other hazards.

Narrow escapes and heartbreaking life-and-death decisions are a part of life for every member of a rescue squad. Every day, the “Coasties” have to learn to overcome the fear of their own death, put mission above personal feelings, and live with the responsibility of being someone’s last hope.

And while the young men and women in our show manage to build a family among themselves, the personal lives of this crew are the one disaster they can’t seem to save themselves from.