FWC offers help for boaters just in time for Tropical Depression 9

Tropical Depression 9 is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm, according to the Weather Channel, then approach hurricane strength in the Gulf of Mexico before its Florida landfall Thursday in the Panhandle bringing heavy rain, storm surge flooding, high winds, even some tornadoes.

Longboat Key is expected to receive roughly 3 to 5 inches of rain, according to the National Hurricane Center, although the storm path should be well north of the island.

Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Center hoisted tropical storm warnings along a swath of the Florida Gulf Coast from roughly Panama City Beach to the New Port Richey area north of St. Petersburg. 

A hurricane watch continues in effect at mid-day Wednesday from roughly Apalachicola to the New Port Richey area, according to NHC.

Boaters whose vessels are at risk are reminded the Florida Wildlife Commission has announced it has $1.4 million to spend on cleaning up derelict vessels.

This would be the first U.S. hurricane landfall since Hurricane Arthur in North Carolina’s Outer Banks on July 3, 2014. 

If your vessel could not handle storm surge from Tropical Depression 9, for example, the FWC Rapid Removal Derelict Vessel Grant might help. The $200,000 program is designed to provide funding for qualified applicants to remove any vessel in imminent danger of sinking, breaking apart or posing a critical danger to the public safety or environment.

If the storm is especially harsh and knocks a number of vessels out of commission, the $1.2 million FWC Bulk DV Removal Grant could be the best bet. Applicants must have one or more vessels ready to be removed.

The vessel removal program is funded by an allocation from the Florida Legislature.

The NHC forecast shows this tropical cyclone will eventually accelerate Thursday northeast on a path toward the Florida Gulf Coast. The NHC expects this system to be a strong tropical storm, though near hurricane-strength, as it makes landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast.

This would be the first U.S. hurricane landfall since Hurricane Arthur in North Carolina’s Outer Banks on July 3, 2014.