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NOAA’s Weather-Ready Nation initiative is about building community resilience in the face of increasingvulnerability to extreme weather and water events.
In People of Weather-Ready Nation, we sit down with some of the people responsible for building a Weather-Ready Nation. We recently talked to Spencer Hull, Treasurer and Director of Market Development for Atlantic Yacht Basin, Inc.
1. What does a Weather-Ready Nation mean to you?
To us, a Weather-Ready Nation is one where boaters are well informed of incremental weather changes that may affect your day on the water. Weather is quick to change so stay up to date by utilizing the NOAA weather app or VHF weather channel. Marine tools, batteries, engine(s), anchor, and life jackets should always be examined before leaving the dock. Also, consider a “safety bag” that is waterproof, easily accessible, and large enough to hold personal items, first aid kits, and mobile devices. Additionally, know the area and surrounding storm storage facilities to duck out of an unexpected storm.
2. How are you helping to build a Weather-Ready Nation?
By encouraging boaters to use the many resources that are available, we hope to help build a better Weather-Ready Nation. Using proper boat and yacht repair techniques for our clients, encouraging boaters to have all the necessary safety devices, and helping boaters understand the importance of having an emergency preparedness plan is part of our efforts to help boaters be weather ready. We offer priority storm reservations geared at helping customers secure their boats in a safe haven. Prior and during the hurricane season, we also campaign to bring awareness on preparing for foul and life threatening weather.
3. What is the biggest challenge you see in making the nation ready, responsive, and resilient to extreme events?
One of the biggest challenges to building a WRN is that we as society have to be more conscious of our surroundings, even when we think we are prepared. All too often, people are prepared for the known, but not the unforeseen. For example, you may be ready for choppy waves, but not for a tsunami. Anything can happen at anytime. By spreading the right information and resources, and by being more conscious of indications of changes in the weather, we can be better prepared for extreme weather events.
About:
Spencer Hull is the Treasurer and Director of Market Development for Atlantic Yacht Basin, Inc, located in Chesapeake, Virginia along the Intracoastal Waterway. He has been in the boating industry for over 20 years. In his spare time, Spencer enjoys the outdoors running and spending time on the water with family and friends.
