Hurricane Earl for the Atlantic Coast of North America this weekend

by US Coast Guard/Boat US on 1 Sep 2010 With Hurricane Earl expected to pass along the Atlantic Coast of North America this weekend, both the US Coast Guard and BoatUS are stressing the importance of safety for sailors during the hurricane season.

As Earl approaches, the Coast Guard urges people to be mindful of the following safety tips:

Stay informed - The public should monitor the progress and strength of Earl through local television, radio and internet. Boaters can monitor its progress on VHF channel 16. Information on small craft advisories and warnings can also be found on VHF channel 16.

Evacuate as necessary - If mandatory evacuations are set for an area, the public is urged to heed evacuation orders. Coast Guard personnel and other emergency responders may not be able to evacuate those in danger during the storm.

Secure your belongings - Vessel owners are urged to double-check their mooring lines and secure life rings, life jackets and other loose items, preventing their vessel and equipment from breaking free and causing damage.

Be cautious of hazardous materials - If you have hazardous materials on or near the water, you are responsible for any spills that may occur. Take the necessary precautions to secure them prior to any heavy weather.

Mariners are reminded that 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.

What happened last year:

The U.S. Coast Guard’s 2009 recreational boating statistics show:

736 fatalities, 3358 injuries, 4730 accidents and $36 million in property damage.

90 percent of drowning victims - 459 of 510 - were not wearing life jackets.

Only 10 percent of all boating fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety instruction.

Compared to 2008, the number of accidents decreased 1.23%, the number of deaths increased 3.81% and the number of injuries increased 0.81%.
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Boat US have reminders about previous experiences:

Four days before 2008's Hurricane Hanna struck the South Carolina coast and ran up the eastern US seaboard, she was downgraded to a tropical storm. But that still didn't stop the damage to hundreds of recreational boats deluged by the storm's intense rains. And with Hurricane Earl now forecast on a parallel course just eastward of Hanna's old track, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is again urging boaters from the Mid-Atlantic to New England to protect their vessels from the forecasted heavy precipitation.

'Normally it's a hurricane's storm surge and high winds that cause the most damage to recreational boats,' said BoatUS Director of Damage Avoidance Bob Adriance. 'But a hurricane doesn't have to score a direct hit to sink boats. Heavy rains can cause significant damage, especially with boats stored on lifts, or those stored in the water that have their scuppers or drain holes clogged by leaves or other debris.'

Adriance says boaters should be prepared to remove boats from lifts and store them in a safe area and ensure drains remain clear and any drain plugs are removed. Or, if your boat is stored in a slip it's a good idea to add extra dock lines and chafe protection. With any boat, windage such as sails or biminis should be removed.

To help boaters make preparations, BoatUS has some free online 'tools' available at the BoatUS Hurricane Resource Center at www.BoatUS.com/Hurricanes.

The website offers easily downloadable storm planning materials, including a hurricane preparation worksheet, an in-depth Guide to Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes, and checklists for what to do before and after a hurricane strikes. Sample hurricane plans for boat and yacht clubs, as well as up-to-the-minute storm tracking tools with live satellite images are also offered. Marina and yacht club managers also have the free 24-page What Works, A Guide to Preparing Marinas, Yacht Clubs, and Boats for Hurricanes available, which shares success stories as well as failures of dozens of facilities that have experienced a hurricane over the last two decades.

While the safest location for a boat during a storm is on land, boaters may also want to ask their insurer if their policy offers help in paying for the cost of a storm-related haul-out. Boat owners seeking the services of a professional delivery captain to move a vessel to a safe location can go to the online BoatUS Captains Locator at www.BoatUS.com/procaptains.