Boat Owners Battening Down The Hatches Ahead Of Joaquin
BALTIMORe (WJZ)—As Governor Larry Hogan declares a State of Emergency ahead of Hurricane Joaquin, those along Maryland's waterways are also keeping a close eye on the forecast.
WJZ's Derek Valcourt has more.
At the Anchor Bay Marina in Dundalk, the Joaquin work is already starting, crews expecting to pull some 50-75 boats out of the bay ahead of the storm and their eyes are on the forecast.
Here, they can't forget the problems and the flooding Hurricane Isabel brought more than a decade ago.
"Our biggest worry here in this location is the rise of the water," said Art Cox.
They'll spend days trying to move valuable equipment out of the flood danger zone.
Boat owners over at Essex Marina scrambling as well.
"Better to be high and dry than ride it out on the water," said Joe Rybak.
Many here also moving their boats to safety now rather than wait.
Mike Dodd says, "I wouldn't be able to sleep at night worried about my boat and I don't want to be down here all weekend adjusting lines in the pouring down rain so I'm going to go ahead and get it in."
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Some boats will ride out the storm in the water but even those boat owners have to be prepared.
"This weekend it's going to get torn right off and there goes your umbrella, so all this has to come down all this soft stuff has to come down we're going to be as bare bones as we can be," said Matt Wood.
Like many around the area he's concerned about loose items that could blow away or cause damage.
Marina owners say there are still some who decide to stick their heads in the sand and not worry about the approaching storm.
Only time will tell if they made a good decision
