Coast Guard prepping for Hurricane Harvey, issues maritime restrictions

On the front lines of natural disasters that impact military, commercial and recreational marine-related activities, the U.S. Coast Guard is girding its loins - so to speak - in preparation of Hurricane Harvey, set to soon make landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Harvey is a Category Three storm and is the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. in more than a decade. Besides packing winds of 115 to 125 miles per hour, Harvey is also expected to dump water in excess of 40 inches in some locations.

This is the Coast Guard’s official announcement on the hurricane:

HOUSTON — The Coast Guard continues preparations for response efforts for Hurricane Harvey’s impact on the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, Friday. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston and Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi captains of the port have set port condition zulu for the ports of Houston, Texas City, Galveston, Freeport and Corpus Christi. Under port condition zulu for Sector Houston-Galveston:  Vessels and barges are prohibited from transiting the safety zone without the approval of the captain of the port.  If transiting is required, contact the Vessel Traffic Service at 281-464-4837. All cargo and bunkering operations must cease. A radio watch must be maintained on VHF-FM channels 16, 21A, 11, 12. All ports, hatches, portholes and other openings shall be closed and secured. Sufficient crew must be onboard to tend mooring lines and control the vessel in the event of an emergency and at least two anchors must be ready for letting go. Vessels and barges anchored at Anchorage Areas Alpha, Bravo, or Charlie were required to depart anchorage areas prior to 10 a.m. Friday.  Coast Guard Western River Flood Punt teams, who use shallow-draft vessels that are capable of responding in flooded urban areas, are en route to three staging areas in Texas and Louisiana. The Coast Guard reminds the public of these important safety messages: Stay off the water. The Coast Guard search and rescue capabilities degrade as storm condition strengthen. This means help could be delayed. Evacuate as necessary. If mandatory evacuations are set for an area, the public should evacuate without delay. Secure belongings. Owners of large boats are urged to move their vessels to inland marinas. Trailerable boats should be pulled from the water. Be sure to secure loose items. Stay clear of beaches. Stay informed. Information can be obtained through local television, radio, Internet, and VHF radio channel 16.

By Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net