COAST GUARD READYING FOR SEVERE WEATHER IN WESTERN ALASKA

The Coast Guard is preparing for an incoming severe weather system to hit the Bering Sea and Western Alaska on Friday, November 7, 2014. The storm, remnants of Super Typhoon Nuri merging with a cold polar front, could bring fierce winds between 50 and 80 mph and massive waves in excess of 40 feet.

The Coast Guard has already flown a Jayhawk helicopter crew from Kodiak to an operating location in Cold Bay. They also notified the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Munro, patrolling near Dutch Harbor, with a Dolphin helicopter crew to stand by to assist fishing vessels, crew, and citizens.

“Our highest priority is protecting the safety of life at sea,” said Capt. Joseph Deer, chief of incident management, 17th District. “We are encouraging all mariners to monitor National Weather Service reports and take appropriate safety precautions, such as pulling into a safe harbor or taking shelter in the lee of an island, in order to safeguard their crews.”

The Coast Guard recommends that concerned fishermen and citizens visit the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s website at www.arh.noaa.gov for more information about current weather conditions in the Bering Sea.

To learn more about being prepared during an emergency situation, visit the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s website at www.ak-prepared.com/outreach/Prepare.