Marina Hurricane Electrical Preparedness
Successful preparation for a hurricane can greatly reduce the damage to your marina and the need for costly repairs.
As we reach the peak of hurricane season, we encourage all marinas to review the questions below:
- Do you have a written plan?
- Do you have adequate insurance coverage?
- Do you have an electrical power shut off-plan before the storm hits?
- Do you have an electrical system inspection and re-energize the plan after the storm?
- Do you have an annual electrical testing program?
The official hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin (the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico) is from 1 June to 30 November. As seen in the graph above, the peak of the season is from mid-August to late October. However, deadly hurricanes can occur anytime in the hurricane season. More Information HERE
The best way to prepare for a hurricane is to have a written plan and review it regularly. It is important that marina personnel as well as boat owners understand their responsibility when a hurricane is a threat.
In addition to a written plan, every marina needs to review their insurance coverage. It is important to check that you are holding enough insurance to make a claim, especially when it comes to electrical code upgrades. When a marina or boatyard is damaged during a hurricane so is the electrical system. Electrical repairs can be extensive and can be at a high cost if your existing electrical system wasn’t up-to-code. This issue can arise because many insurance companies and local brokers aren’t aware of the most up to date electrical codes and therefore they aren’t accessing the repairs correctly. Then if your electrical system is damaged, the insurance policy doesn’t have enough money to cover the repair cost along with the necessary electrical upgrades. Electrical upgrades are necessary because a licensed electrical contractor will refuse to put in anything that’s not up-to-code because the safety and the liability risk is too high.
Only a licensed electrician will be able to accurately assess your electrical system and determine the need for electrical upgrades. If your electrical system is older or inspected recently, it is important to schedule a licensed electrician to perform an inspection as soon as possible.
Does your marina need an electrical inspection?
Transworld Electric is a licensed electrical contractor in South Carolina. Our licensed electricians have experience with marina electrical systems. Schedule an electrical inspection today and be prepared for this hurricane season.
Below are some great resources to help your marina stay safe and be prepared this hurricane season:
https://www.marinadockage.com/hurricanes-provide-testing-ground-marina-preparedness/
https://www.marinadockage.com/hurricanes-provide-testing-ground-marina-preparedness/
https://www.boatus.com/hurricanes/assets/pdf/swhurr_prep_guide.pdf
