Petty Officer 1st Class Pete Harwell, a maritime enforcement specialist with Coast Guard Sector Anchorage, examines flares aboard a gold dredge vessel near Nome, Alaska, Aug. 3, 2014. Flares are used to signal others in the event of an emergency, making them an important part of the safety equipment checklist. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Grant DeVuyst)