see also: in January 2009:   CBP Officers Discover 957 Pounds of Marijuana in Concrete Pipes   CBP Canine Detects $600,000 Worth of Marijuana at Douglas Port   CBP Officers Seize $80,000 of Marijuana at Naco Port of Entry   Border Patrol Stops Vehicle, Leads to Meth Seizure   CBP Officers at Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge Seize Fake $20’s Found during Outbound Inspection   Border Patrol Agents Rescue Woman Injured in Car Accident   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest Wanted Sex Offender ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Bellingham, Wash. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bellingham Air Branch agents have flown three missions in support of the on-going response to the recent flooding throughout the area. The county executive has declared a county state of emergency in response to heavy rains, warming temperatures and extensive snow melt.

CBP Air has deployed a Cessna 206 fixed-wing aircraft and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in support of requests by the Ferndale Police Department, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Department and the Whatcom County Emergency Operation Center. Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies and county EOC personnel have accompanied CBP personnel on the reconnaissance flights. Thirteen CBP Air & Marine Operations personnel have participated in the missions.

“CBP Air & Marine Operations stands at the ready to provide support to those in need during natural disasters,” said Mitch Pribble, supervisory CBP air interdiction agent of the Bellingham Air Branch. “In addition to our law enforcement mission, CBP provides search-and-rescue assistance and air support to hurricanes, floods and other state, county, and local emergency needs.”

The CBP aircraft are equipped with high-tech UltraMedia cameras which provide High Definition photos from a gyro stabilized camera system. The photos have been provided to the requesting agencies as the “eye-in-the-sky” for local law enforcement, emergency responders and the county EOC.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.