Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 counties in Florida due to the impending Hurricane Milton. This declaration, Executive Order 24-215, amends EO 24-214 as the hurricane is expected to intensify and impact a wide area. The storm poses significant risks, including storm surge, coastal flooding, heavy rainfall, and damaging winds.
Col. Brian Smith, director of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement, emphasized the importance of preparation: “This storm has the potential to cause the kind of widespread damage we saw with Hurricane Ian,” he stated. “With Ian, we saw hundreds of boats on land and derelict in our waterways. We know how to prevent this from happening again and need boat owners to take this seriously. I cannot stress enough how imperative it is that you secure your boats now. Do not wait until it is too late.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has provided resources for boaters to prepare for such storms:
- Move vessels out of water if possible or secure them strongly if they must remain.
- For trailered boats, relocate them away from tidal waters.
- Secure moored vessels by doubling lines and setting anchors appropriately.
- Remove important items like Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), life rings, and jackets from boats.
Boat owners are advised not to stay onboard during storms due to safety concerns. They should also be aware of laws regarding marina evacuations.
Post-storm actions include reporting issues such as missing markers or damaged boats to local law enforcement or FWC's Division at 888-404-3922. In emergencies, call 911 or use VHF Marine Radio Channel 16 instead of social media.
For more information on preparation resources, visit MyFWC.com/boating under "Boater Education" then "Storm Prep Resources."