USACE: Okeechobee Waterway Lock Operations during Hurricane Helene
Notice to Navigation: 2024-006 Okeechobee Waterway Lock Operations during Hurricane Helene
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT
LOCAL NUMBER: 2024-006
WATERWAYS: All South Florida Locks
EFFECTIVE: 24 September 2024
ATTN: CESAJ-OD-SN
PO Box 4970
Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019
POC: Christopher Rush (863)-514-0773
https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/NTN/
Okeechobee Waterway Lock Operations during Hurricane Helene
REFERENCE:
a. 33 CFR Navigation and Navigable Waters
- Notice to Navigation
Notice is given that safe harbor lockages will begin on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 to allow safe passage for vessels before Hurricane Helene makes local landfall. Locks will be open 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. supporting vessel safe harbor passage. Lock operations will stop eight hours prior to landfall, as railroad and drawbridges will be lowered or rotated and locked into a secure position. It’s important that all vessels are at their intended destination before bridges are secured and passage across the waterway suspended. No mooring of vessels on Corps Structures during event.
For Lock Operator safety, the locks will:
- Stop locking vessels or working outdoors if lightning is observed within five miles of the lock, and operations will not resume until lightning has not been seen in the area for 30 minutes.
- Stop locking vessels when winds exceed 35 MPH.
After a storm, it could be days or weeks before the waterway is reopened, depending on damage to structures and how quickly debris creating navigation hazards can be removed. When locking is resumed, it will be at the site’s normal locking hours: Okeechobee Waterway Locks from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Canaveral Harbor Lock 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m..
- For up-to-date Lock information, contact the shift operator 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at:
St Lucie Lock & Dam 772-287-2665 or 863-662-9148
Port Mayaca Lock & Dam 561-924-2858 or 863-662-9424
Julian Keen, Jr. Lock & Dam 863-946-0414 or 863-662-9533
Ortona Lock & Dam 863-675-0616 or 863- 662-9846
W.P. Franklin Lock & Dam 239-694-5451 or 863-662-9908
Canaveral Lock 321-783-5421 or 863-662-0298 (6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
//signed//
Christopher Rush
Acting Chief of Navigation
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
South Florida Operations Office
Jeffrey D Prater
Public Affairs Specialist
Corporate Communications Office
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
South Florida Office
4400 PGA Blvd.
Suite 501
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Cell: 561-801-5734
jeffrey.d.prater@usace.army.mil
Twitter @JaxStrong
Jacksonville District Facebook:
Be the first to comment!