June 1 marks the official start of the hurricane season for boaters. Emergency management experts urge citizens living in a coastal area to be prepared well before the hurricane season begins, and know what to do in the event a catastrophic storm makes landfall.
As boat owners, our responsibilities are two-fold - prepare our homes and our boats to weather a storm.
At best, you have 36 hours to prepare both for a hurricane, less if a warning is issued and you are required to evacuate. Get a hurricane plan in place early to make preparing your boat as efficient and quick as possible when a hurricane watch is issued .
Before Hurricane Season Begins
When a Hurricane Watch is Issued
Take action during a hurricane watch, which is issued 36 hours in advance of a hurricane making landfall. Don't wait until a warning is issued; it may be too late to move your boat, and preparation will become difficult because of congestion due to evacuation notices. Also, the storm's outer bands of rain and wind will hinder your efforts.
Decide which plan to implement for your boat and take the recommended steps:
