Preparations can help us weather a natural disaster

Ahoy.

Remember when a tsunami warning was issued for our coastline in

the middle of June?

Fortunately, the tsunami was only one centimeter high when it hit

our coast. If it had been a full-fledged monstrous wave, however,

Newport’s low-lying areas would look similar to the places devastated

by Hurricane Katrina.

I have received many e-mails with hurricane questions and about

the chances that a hurricane could hit Southern California.

For the past few years I have been reporting on the hurricanes

that have been pounding Mexico and Central America, where many

American boaters visit. The hurricanes have been increasing in

intensity and number. It appears the majority of major storms are on

a cycle of 30 to 40 years, and this is the high point.

By looking at the hurricanes from the past few decades,

meteorologists are predicting another bad season. These storms are

low-pressure systems that develop in the tropics; the systems spin

counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere.

Luckily, we are protected from hurricanes coming up our coast

because our water temperature is too cool for the storms to maintain

their energy.

Our summertime ocean temperatures are usually in the high 60s to

low 70s, and hurricanes need water temperatures greater than 80. The

hurricane’s strength quickly weakens in colder waters and when it

goes over land.

We can see some effect of hurricanes, such as large swells that

create good surfing conditions and the muggy humid weather that

brings thunderstorms. Usually it’s flooding from thunderstorms that

causes most of the damage in Southern California.

New Orleans was hit especially hard because of the breaches in the

levee system that keeps the water out of the city, which is below sea

level.

Katrina hit other areas along the coast, with boats being carried

miles inland from their berths and homes destroyed. The water,

however, receded in these areas, which was not the case in New

Orleans.

You need to start planning and preparing in case a disaster should

hit our area, whether it be an earthquake or a tsunami. Where is your

family’s contact point; do you have a supply of food and water; have

you discussed this with everyone in your family and your neighbors?

Do not wait. Remember the panic in June, and please help out our

fellow citizens in the South with donations -- but do watch out for

the scams.

My tip of the week is to play it safe this weekend on the water.

This will be one of the busiest boating days, as Labor Day signals

the end of summer and everyone returns from vacation to school and

work.

The No. 1 tip that I can give to boaters is to be aware of your

surroundings. Lose the tunnel vision -- always looking forward -- and

frequently turn your head to look 360 degrees around your boat.

Many accidents occur because a skipper will turn the boat without

looking around first, especially when speed is involved. Personal

watercraft have a high accident rate that is attributed to

inexperienced riders who turn before looking for other boats.

Boat safe, boat smart and wear your lifejacket.

On a final note, I think after Labor Day is the best time to be on

the water because the weather is usually still warm and the crowds

are gone.

However, there will be a crowd Sept. 24 from noon to 1 p.m. at the

Lido Yacht Expo, where I will be broadcasting my radio show live and

where the Mojitos will be playing the songs.

Tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation, “Capt.

Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.” It airs every Saturday from

noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170). You can join me, Chandler Bell and

Eric Hovland by calling the listener line at (888) 344-1170.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to [email protected] or visit

o7www.boathousetv.comf7.