After the Event

If your boat has been damaged during a weather emergency, such as a hurricane, here are some things you should do to protect your boat and reduce potential problems:

• Remove as much equipment from the boat as possible to protect it from vandals.
• Protect the boat from weather exposure, leaks, mildew, dry mud, etc. Regardless of the boat's condition, it should be cleaned and dried out.
• Flush out the engine and other machinery with fresh water, if they have been submerged or gotten wet.
• Do not approach a boat that has been washed inland or stranded until authorities say it is safe to do so. There may be electrical or power lines, harmful debris or dangerous wildlife in the area.
• Watch for and report oil, gasoline or chemical spills to the U.S. Coast Guard and local emergency authorities.

Boaters are reminded that aids to navigation, particularly lighted and unlighted buoys, may be moved from charted position, damaged or destroyed due to the effects of hurricanes and storms. Boaters should not rely solely upon the position or operation of an aid to navigation, but should also employ such other methods of determining position as may be available.

Updated March 2013