The United States Coast Guard is expanding its summer emergency response coverage on Lake Michigan by opening seasonal air facilities in Muskegon and Waukegan, Illinois for the 2026 boating season.

The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit has announced the seasonal facilities started operating on Thursday to improve search and rescue response times across Lake Michigan during the busy summer months.

Lake Michigan stretches more than 300 miles and covers roughly 22,000 square miles, creating a large area for rescue crews to monitor between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and the Coast Guard responds to nearly 100 search and rescue incidents each year. The new seasonal deployment marks the unofficial start of the Great Lakes boating season, when increased recreational activity leads to a higher demand for emergency response services.

The Coast Guard is also encouraging boaters to review safety practices and schedule vessel safety checks before heading onto the water this summer.