Mariners should heed local alerts, be prepared to leave their vessels should the going get worse and have a plan during hurricane season.
Use trusted, credible sources for weather information, like hurricanes.gov and weather.gov/key. Hurricanes and strong tropical storms can bring storm surge, flooding, wild winds, blinding rain, tornadoes, powerful waves and currents.
The best place for your boat in a hurricane is out of the water. If that is not possible, find a snug harbor. If you cannot secure your boat in a snug harbor, mooring in a sheltered location can be a good alternative to exposed harbors or crowded marinas.
Preparation is key. All preparations should be complete before the arrival of 34-knot sustained winds. County emergency management officials say people shouldn’t be thinking about riding out a storm at sea. No matter how valuable your boat may be to you, it’s not worth risking your life.
“One of the most dangerous mistakes is staying aboard a boat during a hurricane,” Monroe County Emergency Management states. “Once the wind starts howling, you cannot count on a Coast Guard response.”
Emergency contact numbers for mariners
U.S. Coast Guard Command Center: 305.292.8727
NOAA National Weather Service: 305.295.1316
Monroe County Emergency Management (activated during storms): 800.955.5504
Broadcast Notice to Mariners (BNM)
www.navcen.uscg.gov/subscribe-email-rss-feeds
