Issue 933

Page 12

NewsBrief BoatUS Offers Storm Prep Help

www.TheMariner.com

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PRINGFIELD, Va., May 10, 2021 – It’s a double whammy for coastal boat owners this Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and runs through November 30. Not only are more storms predicted for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, but also the average annual number of storms has increased from 12 to 14 because of updated storm season data.

www.abelsmarine.com

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THE Florida MARINER #933 / 23 May 2021

starts. Talk to your marina or storage facility, and get what you need such as extra docklines and chafe protection. A boater’s last backstop is the boat’s insurance policy. Ensure that it includes full salvage coverage and offers hurricane haulout coverage to help ease the cost of a stormrelated haulout. Colorado State University hurricane researchers point to the likely absence of El Niño for their prediction of an aboveaverage 2021 Atlantic hurricane season with 17 named storms. Of those, eight are expected to become hurricanes (Saffir/ Simpson category 1, sustained winds of 74 to 95 mph) with four reaching major hurricane strength (Saffir/Simpson category 3-4-5, sustained winds of 111 mph or greater). When El Niño conditions are present, the wind shear it produces disrupts the creation of storms.

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is urging boaters to adjust to this new reality for the potential for more frequent storms that can damage, sink, or total their vessels, and offers free help – boat prep videos, downloadable storm preparation guides, checklists and more — at BoatUS.com/ Photo Caption: BoatUS can help boaters prepare for storm season with a hurricane preparation Hurricane. Boaters can create checklist, how-to videos, their own hurricane plan, watch storm-planning guides and more a video on how to set lines, (credit: Amy Beth Krisanda) or review the comprehensive BoatUS Magazine Hurricane Planning Guide to help protect their boats. When a storm approaches, the BoatUS App offers local storm Beginning with this year’s hurricane season outlook, tracking and alerts. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center will now use 1991– 2020 as the new 30-year period of record for the BoatUS says the best way to mitigate damage is seasonal average, rather than basing it on the prior to remove your boat from the water when a storm 1981–2010 period. This means the annual Atlantic approaches, advice based on nearly four decades of hurricane average seasonal outlook has increased to storm catastrophe experience. If that’s not possible, 14 named storms, while the previous 1981–2010 data get your hurricane plan in place now before the season averaged 12 named storms a year.


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