Community Corner

Preparing Your Boat For Hurricane Season

Do you have a boat? Now is the time to secure it. Boats that break free can pollute waters and cause significant damage.

 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) advises boat owners to know how they'll secure there boats should a hurricane threaten the area.

Vessels that break free can cause problems in waterways with leaking fuel and oil pollution; by drifting into bridges, docks, seawalls and piers; and from  interfering with navigation. In addition, the boats themselves can sustain damage.

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"Now is the time to properly secure your vessel to make sure it doesn’t break free and cause damage to property or result in people getting injured," said Capt. Tom Shipp with the FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section.

If boat owners trailer their boats, the FWC recommends they secure their vessels in a safe location, let some air out of the trailer tires, block the wheels and, if possible, anchor the boat down and/or add weight to help keep the boat in place.

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Florida has laws that relate to abandoned vessels. The state is often overwhelmed with lost, abandoned and damaged vessels following significant weather events.

Residents are encouraged to call their local law enforcement agencies or the FWC at 888-404-3922 to report vessels that have broken free.

The FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement and other law enforcement agencies are often tasked with helping people who intentionally put themselves at risk, such as personal watercraft operators who view the high waves created by a storm as an opportunity to jump waves.

Tropical storms and hurricanes are unpredictable. To find out more about properly mooring vessels, reporting debris and for other useful information, go to MyFWC.com/Boating, click on “Safety & Education” and select “Hurricane.” Report damaged markers by calling 866-405-BUOY (866-405-2869).


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