The U.S. Coast Guard is tasked with keeping America's waterways safe, enforcing maritime laws and saving those in danger on the water. The docuseries follows men and women of the 7th Coast Guard District, which is responsible for 1.8 million square miles, including more than 9,500 miles of shoreline of the southeastern and Gulf coasts. The crew's assignments come out of the district's three bases, located in Clearwater, Fla., the Keys, and the Miami Everglades. The crews keep busy with approximately 2,000 commercial vessels and 2 million recreational boats included in their area of responsibility. The dangers that the crews face on the water include, at times, perilous weather conditions while performing their duties.

The Coast Guard tries to stop a boat from sinking; a captain needs to be convinced to abandon his boat.

Air Station Clearwater sets off to save an injured fisherman. And at Station Miami Beach, rescuers race to stop a boat that's running out of control.

The Coast Guard stations of Florida prepare for incoming Hurricane Isaac. Station Miami faces the weather to save a disabled vessel. Over at Air Station Clearwater, they launch to save two workers at sea and find a plane crash survivor.

Air Station Clearwater races to save the lives of three victims suffering from life-threatening conditions on vessels far from land. Station Key West answers a search and rescue call and recovers some drifting drugs.