Coast Guard Alerts Southern Florida About Approach of Ian

Message from the US Coast Guard:

Coast Guard Alerts Southern Florida to Prepare for Possible Impacts of Tropical Storm Ian

MIAMI — Crews from the Seventh Coast Guard District are making preparations in advance of Tropical Depression NINE’s anticipated development into a hurricane, Friday.

Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast units are maintaining an active presence in the Caribbean and Florida Straits to prevent and deter irregular, illegal maritime migration, which can prove even more dangerous and deadly during hurricane season.

While the National Hurricane Center advises that it is too soon to determine the exact magnitude and location of the storm’s impacts, residents and mariners in the Caribbean, the Florida Keys, and the Florida peninsula should ensure they have hurricane plans in place and closely monitor forecast updates by the NHC Atlantic and the National Weather Service. The arrival of tropical storm force winds in South Florida could occur as soon as late Monday evening.

As Tropical Depression NINE continues to travel West through the Caribbean, the Coast Guard is reminding the public of these important safety messages and warnings:

  • Stay off the water. The Coast Guard’s search and rescue capabilities degrade as storm conditions strengthen. This means help could be delayed. Boaters should heed weather watches, warnings and small craft advisories. 
  • Evacuate as necessary. If mandatory evacuations are set for an area, the public should evacuate without delay. Coast Guard personnel and other emergency responders may not be able to evacuate or rescue those in danger during the storm. 
  • Secure belongings. 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 EPIRBs and to secure life rings, lifejackets and small boats. These items, along with kayaks and paddleboards, can break free if not properly secured and divert valuable search and rescue resources to ensure people are not in distress.
  • Stay clear of beaches. Wave heights and currents typically increase before a storm makes landfall. Even the best swimmers can fall victim to the strong waves and rip currents caused by hurricanes. Swimmers should stay clear of beaches until local lifeguards and law enforcement officials say the water is safe.
  • Be prepared. Area residents should be prepared by developing a family plan, creating a disaster supply kit, having a place to go, securing their home and having a plan for pets. Information can be found at Ready.gov.
  • Stay informed. The public should monitor the progress and strength of the storm through local television, radio and 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.

Para mantenerse actualizado sobre la Depresión Tropical NUEVE en Español, oprima aquí.

Up-to-date weather information can be found at https://www.weather.gov/.  If you are in an evacuation or flood zone, follow the instructions from local emergency managers, who work closely with federal, state, local, tribal and territorial agencies and partners. They will provide the latest recommendations based on the threat to your community and appropriate safety measures.

Updated port conditions for hurricanes and tropical storms can be found at https://homeport.uscg.mil/. For more information about hurricanes and hurricane preparedness, visit NOAA’s and FEMA’s websites where you can find widgets that provide hurricane tracks and other updates.