Coast Guard reminds boaters of safety precautions ahead of Isaias

The Coast Guard is urging boaters to get prepared for any rough surf that may be kicked up by Isaias.

News 12 Staff

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Aug 1, 2020, 10:13 PM

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Updated 1,498 days ago

The Coast Guard is urging boaters to get prepared for any rough surf that may be kicked up by Isaias.

Capt. Jason Tama, Sector Commander for Sector New York, said in prepared remarks that “Storms such as this can be unpredictable.”

“It is important that both commercial mariners and recreational boaters prepare accordingly,” he said.

The Coast Guard provided the following four safety measures to take before the storm arrives:

Stay off the water: The Coast Guard’s search and rescue capabilities potentially degrade as storm conditions strengthen. This means help could be delayed. Boaters should heed weather watches, warnings and small craft advisories.
Check the weather: Checking weather anytime you plan to get underway and throughout your time on the water is highly recommended. The Coast Guard mobile app for boating safety is a tool to check marine weather from your phone. With the mobile app you can check the weather at nearby NOAA weather buoys, which provide wind speed and direction along with wave height.
Secure your boats and gear: Owners of large boats are urged to move their vessels to inland marinas where they will be less vulnerable to breaking free of their moorings or to sustaining damage. Trailer-able boats should be pulled from the water and stored in a place that is not prone to flooding. Those who are leaving their boats in the water are reminded to remove emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) and to secure life rings, lifejackets, small boats and paddlecraft. These items, if not properly secured, can break free and require valuable search and rescue resources to be diverted to ensure people are not in distress.
Stay informed: The public should monitor the progress and strength of the storm through local television, radio, and the internet. Boaters can monitor its progress on VHF radio channel 16. Information can also be obtained on small craft advisories and warnings on VHF radio channel 16.