Tropical storm Michael has turned into a hurricane, and it is expected to strengthen as it heads north past Cuba towards the Florida Panhandle. According to the US National Hurricane Center, the hurricane will make landfall on the Gulf Coast on Wednesday, October 10. Winds of up to 100 knots are also expected, along with a storm surge of 8-12 feet, and rains of 4-8 inches.
Speaking about Hurricane Michael, President Trump said that the government is cooperating with Florida to take all necessary precautions and he urged residents to be prepared.
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For its part, the US Coast Guard asked boaters to take action now as hurricane winds, degraded sea conditions and rainfall can impact areas well ahead of the storm.
Capt. Holly Najarian, the US Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg commander, stated:
Early preparations are key to keeping you, your boat, and maritime responders safe.
To ensure safety, USCG asked mariners to consider all weather alerts and local warnings and follow the following tips:
- Owners of large boats are urged to move their vessels to inland marinas where they will be less susceptible to break free or to suffer damage. Trailerable boats should be pulled from the water and stored in a place that is not prone to flooding.
- Contact local marinas to ask for advice about securing your vessel. Marina operators are knowledgeable and can advise you on the best methods for securing your boat.
- Small personal watercraft, like paddle boards, kayaks and canoes, should be secured and marked with the owner’s contact information. Personal watercraft often cause unnecessary searches for emergency personnel.
- When removing the EPIRB from your vessel, ensure it does not inadvertently activate which could signal a false alert. Furthermore, once the severe weather has passed, mariners are reminded to ensure the EPIRB devices are placed back in their vessels before use.
- Stay up to date with local port conditions via the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg Homeport site.
