Home Community Data DPNR HURRICANE GUIDELINES FOR BOATERS

DPNR HURRICANE GUIDELINES FOR BOATERS

0

Commissioner Dean C. Plaskett of Planning and Natural Resources has announced designated hurricane havens and guidelines for tropical storm and hurricane preparation.
The following areas have been designated Hurricane Havens:
St. John
– Hurricane Hole
St. Croix
– Krause Lagoon
– Salt River
St. Thomas
– Benner Bay
– Mandahl Pond
Water Island
– Flamingo Bay
The following guidelines were developed with the ad hoc committee on hurricane preparations:
– DPNR will give a five-day notice allowing boaters to enter designated hurricane havens.
– Entry to the Hurricane Haven will be on a first come first serve basis.
– Enforcement officers will assist boaters in locating a site for the vessel within the haven.
– Securing vessels to nearby trees is permissible only when deemed necessary by the assisting enforcement officers.
– Boaters are to return to regular moorings once DPNR has issued a bulletin.
– Additionally, a hurricane anchor may remain in place for the entire hurricane. Vessels leaving anchors in the haven will use one (1) mooring ball, attached to the hurricane anchor, marked with the vessel registration number. In the event of additional storms, vessels will return to the initial location marked by the mooring ball.
– When the commissioner of DPNR announces the hurricane season is "over," all hurricane anchors must be removed.
Plaskett emphasized, "Boaters should not remain on board their vessels during a storm or hurricane." Boaters violating this provision do so at their own risk.
The ad hoc committee on boater hurricane preparations was formed in 1999 after clashes between boaters trying to protect their property and DPNR trying to enforce previous guidelines.
For additional information, contact the Division of Environmental enforcement at 774-3320 ext. 5106.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here