Advice on Hurricanes from an Experienced Mariner, Sean Welsh
For those headed south toward the FL Gulf Coast, some unsolicited advice
from a long-time disaster responder, licensed mariner, and full-time
cruiser:
I know it’s late in the season and winter is soon upon us. But I suggest
lingering as far north as practical until well past October. Hurricane
season does not end until November 30, but, more importantly, you are
now unavoidably traveling into a major disaster area. Things will not be
the way you remember them if you’ve been there before, or the way
they’ve been portrayed to you if this is your first time. Some things to
keep in mind:
No one will have time or resources to deal with you. Locals will be
focused on recovery and self-care. Businesses will be closed (or
destroyed), have limited hours, or limited stocks. Outsiders traveling
for pleasure can be perceived (whatever the reality) as consuming
resources needed to help residents. Or worse, as “disaster tourists.”
Waterways in the area will have changed from what is shown on the
charts. Shoals will have moved or developed. Aids to Navigation will be
missing, off-station, or extinguished. The bottom can be littered with
debris including sunken vessels or entire structures. Even well after
these storms you will need to proceed with extreme caution; consider
traveling offshore if weather permits and avoiding the GIWW and OWW
altogether if possible.
Expect waterway closures and security zones, due to damage or recovery.
Some drawbridges or locks may be inoperative or on reduced schedules.
Download the Local Notices to Mariners (LNMs) each week, and listen to
the Broadcast LNMs that the Coast Guard annouces every morning on VHF
16. LNMs can be downloaded here:
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/local-notices-to-mariners-by... — the
Seventh District will be the relevant one.
Obtain your fuel, water, and provisions well before reaching south Florida.
Expect communications to be spotty in many places. Cellular Internet
will be overloaded, and inoperative in some places. Even voice will have
issues. SMS typically works better than anything else cellular in a
disaster area. Make sure you have a good, working VHF in case of emergency.
Marine supplies and services are likely to be unavailable. If you’ve
been meaning to pick up a spare impeller, or some extra motor oil, or
whatever, do it now. The simplest of problems can waylay you for a very
long time in a place you probably don’t want to be.
It should go without saying, but do not expect to dock. Anywhere for any
reason. You might get lucky, but the chances are slim. If you do find a
place to tie up, it may not have power, water, or pumpout.
Expect to be self-sufficient once west of Stuart or south of Miami.
My thoughts are with you and with all the people affected by, and
responding to the pummeling the gulf coast is receiving. I’m pinned down
today by offshore weather, with a lot of time on my hands to watch the
news roll in; it is heartbreaking.
Sean Welsh
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