Coast Guard prepares for powerful winter storm in Northeast

Coast Guard Cutter Seneca overlooks their small boat crew as they board a go-fast boat in the Pacific Ocean. The crew of the Seneca intercepted five smuggling vessels carrying cocaine from South America bound for the United States. © U.S. Coast Guard

Coast Guard units across the Northeast are gearing up as a powerful winter storm with damaging winds, snowfall, and potential for coastal flooding is expected to impact our area Thursday. The Boston-based 270-foot Coast Guard Cutter Seneca, will stage offshore to provide search and rescue coverage if needed, and shore based units are standing ready to deploy if necessary.

As conditions deteriorate overnight, heavy winds, snow and freezing spray put vessels at risk of sinking at their anchorage points or pier due to the ice and accumulation of snow. For information on how to prepare your boat or trailer for a storm, please visit www.uscg.mil/news/stormcenter.?

Ice-breaking assets will seek safe haven from the winter storm, but will deploy following after as part of Operation Reliable Energy for Northeast Winters (RENEW), the Coast Guard's region-wide effort to ensure Northeast communities have the security, supplies, energy, and emergency resources they need throughout the winter.

For information on the storm's progress and storm preparedness, please visit the National Hurricane Center's Web page at www.nhc.noaa.gov.

Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's site to stay informed and for tips to prepare and plan for the storm at www.ready.gov.

For additional information on the storm, visit the National Hurricane Center website www.nhc.noaa.gov.