Clear Lake Hurricane Preparedness
Hurricane information, resources, and storage solutions for Gulf Coast boaters
July 2024, Hurricane Beryl lands at Matagorda and dumps a foot of rain on Houston. August 2017, Hurricane Harvey is the second-costliest hurricane in United States history with an estimated $125 billion in damages. It’s so impactful that the National Hurricane Center retires its name. We can go back to the “Great storm of 1900,” when Galveston was forever changed.
Hurricanes are a reality for the thriving community of Clear Lake and Gulf Coast boaters. We cannot wrangle the storm, but we can help you prepare for it.
One of the most logical recurring questions for a boat owner is:
How do I protect my boat from a hurricane?
While there are more than a dozen marinas in the immediate Kemah, Clear Lake, and Galveston Bay region, just a handful offer explicit hurricane preparation and storage amenities. As a marina protected on three sides by a natural cove, Marina Bay Harbor is a safe haven during a storm.
Clear Lake hurricane preparedness tips for boat storage preparation
As a hurricane drives toward the Gulf Coast, the stress of the preparation can cause a property owner to miss critical steps in securing their watercraft. To avoid damaging your own or a neighbor’s boat, it’s imperative to do your research well ahead. Here is a list of easily achievable but critical actions that can help a Clear Lake boater have quality hurricane information before an incoming storm.
- Secure a hurricane storage solution in the winter or early spring, long before hurricane season begins. Put your evacuation and boat preparation protocol in writing and include a copy with your hurricane emergency kit. Include your hurricane preparedness checklist within your emergency kit (We’ve included a couple of examples below).
- Once you’ve chosen your emergency hurricane storage solution, speak with your marina’s management in advance. Find out the designated point of contact, and learn their protocols as the storm arrives. Know the marina’s process and who to call.
- Before a hurricane, remove all loose valuables and unsecured items from your watercraft.
- Engage with your dock community – know how your neighbors have prepared for hurricanes in the past, and exchange contact information.
- Photograph your vessel completely – hull and interior – in case it’s necessary to file an insurance claim.
- Check your marina rental agreement to gauge the specific responsibilities of a boat owner in the event of a storm.
- Before the start of hurricane season, update your emergency contact info.
- Inspect your vessel before hurricane season for the integrity of your cleats, anchors, pulpits, and boat trailer.
Hurricane preparedness checklists for Clear Lake boaters
A proper hurricane preparedness checklist can be property- or life-saving. Below we’ve included a few useful resources for advanced hurricane preparation.
Clear Lake hurricane information
When a hurricane makes landfall, the basics we take for granted each day enter a state of insecurity: roadways, electricity, internet. The following local resources and steps are available to help you know who to call and how to stay safe during a storm emergency.
- Sign up for the City of Clear Lake Shores emergency notification system. The city will send texts and emails preceding and during an extreme weather event.
- Download the FEMA mobile app. FEMA provides notifications about temporary infrastructure like emergency shelters and real-time weather updates.
- Familiarize yourself with and print out a copy of the Texas Gulf Coast evacuation routes (Updated in 2024 and includes Brazoria, Austin, Chambers, Colorado, Galveston, Fort Bend, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties).
Secure and time-tested hurricane boat storage at Marina Bay Harbor Marina
Time and again, boaters leave their watercraft in an unsecured wet slip during a fierce storm, and the consequences can be devastating. The soundest form of hurricane preparedness for a boater is to know their boat will be safe out of water during a storm.
At Marina Bay Harbor Marina, our team operates multiple heavy-duty forklifts across 7,000-square-feet of modern dock space to efficiently and carefully move vessels into a spacious 65,700-square-foot dry storage barn. Our barn’s dry racks hold up to 245 vessels at lengths up to 47 feet, with additional hurricane storage within our spacious barn corridor.
We offer member rates at $40 per foot and provide contracts in “per season” and “per hurricane” formats. We also provide non-member rates. All storage is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
We encourage the boaters of Clear Lake Shores and our surrounding Texas Gulf Coast neighbors to prepare well, stay informed, and have a wonderful boating season. When the storm comes, your preparation will be there to help you weather it.
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