Hurricane preps for boaters
With the official start of hurricane season days away, officials and boating experts are sharing ways boaters can make sure their vessels are protected if a storm threatens the Bay Area. FOX 13’s Regina Gonzalez reports.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – In the aftermath of the devastating 2024 hurricanes, Pinellas County officials are sharing ways boaters can prepare their vessels for this hurricane season.
Why you should care:
County leaders and boating experts say that having a plan to secure your boat can not only help minimize damage to boats, but also could prevent vessels from becoming a danger to others.
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By the numbers:
According to local marine officials, Pinellas County is home to Florida’s second-largest boating community with nearly 54,000 registered boats.
Pinellas County officials are sharing ways boaters can prepare their vessels for this hurricane season.
What you can do:
The county has put out a list of tips for boaters in case a storm threatens the region:
- Keep boat insurance up to date
- Store records together in a safe place
- Make a plan
- Check your trailer and tires
- Arrange a safe place to store your boat
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Captain Dylan Hubbard with Hubbard’s Marina also spoke with FOX 13 about boat preparation.
“Every storm is a little different,” Hubbard said. “If we know we have a water threat, that’s the situation in which those boats are going to get lifted off of lifts, floodwaters are going to carry boats away from docks… If it’s not a ridiculous wind event, a lot of times you can secure your boat to the lift and double up lines at the dock, making sure it’s prepared.”
One thing boaters should not do, according to officials, is ride out a storm on a boat.
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The Source: Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13’s Regina Gonzalez.
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Clinton Mora is a reporter for Trending Insurance News. He has previously worked for the Forbes. As a contributor to Trending Insurance News, Clinton covers emerging a wide range of property and casualty insurance related stories.