UPDATE 1: Coast Guard establishes St. Petersburg Incident Command for Hurricane Michael

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay 305-965-4672 PA Detachment Tampa Bay online newsroom

Coast Guard establishes St. Petersburg Incident Command for Hurricane Michael

Editor's Note: Click on image for link for National Weather Service updates on Hurricane Michael.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard established an Incident Command for Hurricane Michael response in St. Petersburg, Tuesday.

For media inquiries please contact the St. Petersburg Coast Guard Joint Information Center at 727-502-8710 or after hours at 305-965-4672.

The Coast Guard continues to urge residents along Florida's Gulf Coast to heed all local weather warnings and use these tips to stay safe:

• Call 911 or use VHF-FM Channel 16 to report emergencies. 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.
• Stay clear of beaches. Rip currents can continue well after the storm passes. Even the best swimmers can fall victim to the strong waves and rip currents caused by hurricanes.
• Check with local authorities before entering any storm-damaged area. Do not rush to your boat. Boaters should not place themselves in danger to get to a boat.
• Do not try to reach your boat if it has been forced into the water and is surrounded by debris. Wait until authorities have made safe access available. Do not try to board a partially sunken boat; seek salvage assistance from a professional.
• To report any pollution contact the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
• Navigation hazards, including unforeseen shoaling and submerged objects are common after storms. Navigational aids may be damaged or have moved. Use caution when transiting any waterway impacted by Hurricane Michael.
• Storms move quickly and are unpredictable. You can always replace a boat; you cannot replace a life.

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-USCG-