BOSTON — The U.S. Coast Guard is urging mariners and the coastal public to prepare for winter storm Neptune, as it is expected to impact New England.
Severe blizzard conditions are forecasted beginning Saturday evening and lasting into Sunday morning. Gale and storm warnings have been issued, with potentially damaging winds reaching 35 knots, and gusts of over 60 knots. Seas could swell to 20 feet.
“This is a storm to take seriously,” said Lt. John Mansolillo at the First Coast Guard District Command Center in Boston. He also added that the Coast Guard has been preparing for the storm’s impact since yesterday.
The Coast Guard has flown storm tracks to warn mariners of the impeding winter storm both Friday and Saturday. Today alone, the Coast Guard flew for four hours and over 700 miles to assure the storm warning is disseminated to as many mariners as possible. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod has also prepared snow trucks and plows to keep the runways clear so they can respond quickly should a distress call be received.
Coast Guard Cutter Reliance, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter, is prestaged and on alert readiness along with Coast Guard Cutter Marcus Hanna, a 175-foot coastal buoy tender, for any necessary repairs to aids to navigation discrepancies following the storm.
The Coast Guard is also urging coastal communities to exercise extreme caution given the strong waves, frigid waters, and rip currents that accompany winter storms.
“We all love the shoreline in New England - but this is one of the times when we really want to encourage folks to be safe, and where possible, avoid being near the water,” said Petty officer 1st Class Glenn Jimenez an operations specialist for the First District Command Center.
Lt. John Mansolillo also reminds owners of small boats, kayaks, and other paddle craft to properly secure them, as well as any loose life jackets, paddles, or buoys. When coastal storms slam the area, and for days afterwards he said, the Coast Guard often gets many calls about adrift boats. These calls divert time, assets, and crews to search for what is often unmanned vessels or gear swept out to sea during the storm. These false alarms have the potential to tie up resources, and distract responders away from actual emergencies. "We get a lot of calls about boats that have taken on too much snow weight and have sunk in port, so it's important that mariners also shovel their boats both before and after a severe snow storm."
Lt. j.g Samantha Leon, the command duty officer at the First District Command Center concludes, “A bit of early preparation can save, not only time and energy, but it could also save a life.”