If Coast Guard causes damage to property during an SAR case, which instruction should be referenced?

• A. COAST GUARD CLAIMS AND LITIGATION MANUAL, COMDINST M5890.9
• B. COAST GUARD INCIDENT REPORTING GUIDELINES
• C. COAST GUARD OPERATIONAL SAFETY MANUAL
• D. COAST GUARD TRAINING MANUAL

Answer: (A)

When property is damaged during Coast Guard operations, the instruction that guides how to handle those damage claims and potential litigation is the Coast Guard Claims and Litigation Manual, COMDINST M5890.9. This manual provides the full process for recognizing, documenting, and processing property-damage claims that occur in missions like search and rescue. It outlines who has authority to approve settlements, the forms and evidence required, processing timelines, and where the claim moves for review. It also covers liability considerations and coordination with other agencies if needed, giving a clear framework to ensure claims are handled consistently and legally.

The other options focus on different aspects: incident reporting guidelines deal with reporting and documenting incidents for safety investigations and data collection; the operational safety manual concentrates on safety procedures during operations; and the training manual addresses training requirements and programs. None of these provide the specific procedures for property-damage claims and settlements, so they’re not the right reference for this scenario.