Coast Guard gives safety cautions for Northeast Florida maritime community

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast Contact: 7th District Public Affairs Office: 305-415-6683 After Hours: 786-367-7649 7th District online newsroom

Coast Guard gives safety cautions for Northeast Florida maritime community

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Coast Guard is alerting mariners and the public to remain vigilant with the passage of Hurricane Florence.

“Even though Jacksonville will not experience strong winds the beaches and Intracoastal Waterway can still pose a significant threat to mariners and beach goers,” said Cmdr. Luis Parrales, deputy commander of Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville.

NOAA is currently reporting that Jacksonville and surrounding areas can anticipate stronger rip currents and dangerous surf conditions along the beaches. The public should monitor the progress and strength of Hurricane Florence through local television, radio and internet. Boaters can monitor its progress on VHF radio channel 16.

For information on Hurricane Florence’s progress and hurricane preparedness, please visit the National Hurricane Center’s webpage.

People in distress should use 911 to request assistance whenever possible. Social media should not be used to report life-threatening distress due to limited resources to monitor the dozens of social media platforms during a hurricane or large-scale rescue event.

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-USCG-