==================================================================================== Preparing for a hurricane If you live or boat in an area prone to hurricanes or heavy weather, know your local and national weather sources and monitor them continuously. Remove small boats from the water and move them to a secure location. Ensure the trailer and boat are secured above likely flood areas. Remove all loose items. Ensure the boat is tied securely to the trailer. Contact local marinas and ask for advice. The marina operators are knowledgeable and can advise you on the best methods for securing your boat. If your boat is too large to be removed from the water, move it to a safe haven well before the storm approaches. You should know where safe havens are in the area where you boat. Use extra fenders, even used tires, to protect your boat. Double up mooring lines, secure all hatches, take down the mast if possible and remove all loose items from the vessel. Leave nothing unsecured. Drawbridges along the coast may deviate from normal operating procedures prior to a storm. They are generally authorized to remain closed up to eight hours prior to the approach of gale force winds of 34 knots or greater and whenever an evacuation is ordered. Because of the uncertainty of weather movements and related bridge closures, mariners should seek early passage through drawbridges well in advance of the arrival of gale force winds. Boaters and coastal residents can get storm and hurricane information from VHF marine radios, commercial radio and television stations and newspapers, or NOAA weather radios. The public should check with their local Coast Guard Marine Safety Office for an up-to-date status of local ports. Never forget that storms move quickly and they are unpredictable. You can always replace a boat; you cannot replace a life. Do not go out to sea in a recreational boat to "ride out" a hurricane. All mariners are advised to stay off the water. If you are unable to evade a storm, ensure you wear a lifejacket and know how to activate your distress signaling devices. Rescue and assistance by the Coast Guard and other agencies, however, may be severely degraded or unavailable immediately before, during and after a devastating storm. If you are in a vessel and you see signs of heavy weather, seek shelter. While en route to shelter, secure boat and prepare passengers for possible rough water, heavy rains and high winds: have all aboard put on life jackets. Do not let passengers below deck remove life jackets. If you think the boat may sink, it may be best not to have passengers below deck at all; keep them above deck and attached to safety lines. If you get into trouble, call for help immediately. Keep in touch with the Coast Guard or anyone else you can reach so someone knows your location and assistance can be sent if needed. Carry life rafts on board large vessels. If the vessel sinks, board the life raft, stay with it, and tether passengers together. Keep moving slowly to keep circulation and body temperature up and avoid overexertion. Aids to navigation, especially buoys, may be moved from their charted position, destroyed, extinguished, or otherwise made inoperative as a result of severe storms. Mariners should not rely completely upon the position or operation of an aid to navigation but should employ all other methods of determining position as may be available. Check with local authorities before entering any storm-damaged area. Do not rush down to your boat. Boaters should not place themselves in danger to get to a boat. Do not try to reach your boat if it has been forced into the water and is surrounded by debris. Wait until authorities have made safe access available. Do not try to board a partially sunken boat; seek salvage assistance from a professional. Watch out for and report oil, gasoline or chemical spills to the Coast Guard and local emergency agencies. More information is available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), your insurance company, and local authorities. -uscg-
Seventh Coast Guard District Fact Sheet
Topic: PREPARING FOR A HURRICANE
Release date: Sept. 10, 2003
Contact: Public Affairs
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
SEVENTH COAST GUARD DISTRICT
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The below information has been taken from the Coast Guard's Storm Center website. This and other information and helpful links can be found at http://www.uscg.mil/news/stormcenter/
PREPARING FOR A HURRICANE – 72 HOURS PRIOR
PREPARING FOR A HURRICANE – 24 HOURS PRIOR
PREPARING FOR A HURRICANE – VESSELS IN THE STORM
AFTER THE STORM
District Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District
voice: (843) 296-1178
voice: (786) 367-7650
jsilverstein@d7.uscg.mil
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