Why isn't an armada of thousands of boats heading to the Keys and the Caribbean?

[superpatriotman]

The water is easy to navigate all the way down the east and west of the Keys, and it goes everywhere help is needed.

Even Texas had more boats deployed after Harvey than Florida does currently.

What is the deal, Governor Scott? Too socialist for you?

Afraid to ask the thousands of yacht and pleasure boat owners to chip in and run some ice to those in need?

[orangecrush]

1. Glad you made it o.k.

Hope you get all you need asap.

[Not Ruth]

2. You do not know how many are there for nefarious purposes, there is a vetting process

Believe me, every commercial boat out there is lining up for a contract, to provide housing, run ice, etc.

Heard a wild story about the British Virgin Islands from a guy that crews all winter. The sailboat charter business is about a thousand boats. Less than 20 are still seaworthy. Opportunity for someone.

[superpatriotman]

4. It's not the lack of contracts

It's the lack of shame, empathy and a sense of duty to our fellow man.

That comes with good leadership and not bureaucrats who simply spout off big numbers to justify their jobs.

I'm beginning to think that our whole system needs to be re evaluated.

[Not Ruth]

13. No one needs rescuing right now, and the locals do not want idiots coming down

https://www.facebook.com/IslamoradaIRMArecovery/posts/704370423092853

[superpatriotman]

20. Clearly you're not local

So let's keep this thread civil and agree to disagree

[icymist]

23. +1. I would think that some of the cruise ships could anchor down there and provide some comfort.

They make an awful lot of money bringing tourists to the islands. It would be in their better interest to be helping out the best they can right now.

[fleur-de-lisa]

3. I think this is probably already happening behind the scenes without Scott.

I work in aviation. Many small airports in Louisiana are, of their own accord, organizing with private pilots and aid groups to collect supplies, put them on planes, and get them into operating airports in Florida. I'm sure you've heard of the Cajun Navy . . . this is the Cajun Airlift. They did the same with Hurricane Harvey. They just do their work quietly and don't ask for recognition.

I have to believe people in the marine industry are doing the same.

[superpatriotman]

7. Well I have been monitoring all local news

And if private boat owners are doing good deeds we would surely hear about it.

It's my contention that many able Floridians are failing many unable floridians.

[fleur-de-lisa]

28. I'm so sorry, superpatriotman.

I hope things get better soon. I understand the frustration. I've been through many hurricanes myself. The aftermath is horrible.

[Blues Heron]

5. I heard the Keys were closed to navigation

sunken hazards, missing buoys etc.

[superpatriotman]

8. Where did you hear that?

[Blues Heron]

14. USA Today

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/09/10/hurricane-irma-batters-key-west-florida-keys/651064001/


"....And county officials said close-in waters were littered with storm debris and presented a navigation hazard for boats."

"Monroe County’s nearshore waters have become a navigation hazard in parts of the Keys with debris, sunken boats, loose boats, buoys and markers," county officials said in a statement. "Do not bring a boat into the Keys."

[malaise]

21. Saw a military man saying that on Local 10

They have to clear the water first

[GusBob]

29. Yep it would cause more problems than it would solve

You don't crash the fire truck right into the burning building

[mchill]

6. I'm sure the Incident Command System (ICS) is in place

Within that structure, individuals with boats can be hired as needed, but you do need some planning and logistics. The Governor would not be the one "sending an Armada in" but the professionals who handle emergencies using the ICS (like FEMA, military, local municipalities - fire and police).

[superpatriotman]

10. Hired being the key word

This is about money then?

How about the hundreds of yachts at Mar a Lago loading up with plentiful supplies and taking a one day cruise south to help people. Nope. Money please.

[freddyvh]

9. one thing you have to worry about as a boat owner

is the sea floor has changed, sand bars, etc
navigational charts are not the same as they were 2 weeks ago.

just blindly sailing a boat in could end up in disaster for a boat

[superpatriotman]

11. Here's the Keys rhyme...

Brown brown run aground
White white you just might
Green green in between
Blue blue go on through

That hasn't changed. And getting there by boat is far more effective than roads.

[freddyvh]

16. sorry

i would not trust an expensive boat to a rhyme

these things can be very deceptive

[malaise]

12. They are

I was reading the Comments page on Weather Underground and one poster suggested that this this possibly the largest number of military ships in the Caribbean in peace time

gotta say guys this is the biggest amount of military assets I've seen in the Caribbean & GOM and in general for a non-combat role

US Navy
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)
USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7)
USS New York (LPD 21)
USS Farragut (DDG 99)
USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)
USS Oak Hill (LSD-51)
USS Wasp (LHD-1)
UH-1Y Marine Utility Helicopters
CH-53E Marine Heavy Lift Helicopters
MV-22 Marine Tiltrotor aircraft
MH-60S Navy Medium Lift Helicopters
C-2 Greyhounds
Ship and Aircrew

https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/hurricane-jose-may-wander-us-coast-over-week

[unc70]

15. Plus a lot more capabilities

In addition to all the types of aircraft on these ships, they also carry various types of "landing craft" that can bring supplies, equipment, and personnel ashore in all sorts of conditions. An amazing set of resources. Look up one of these ships on Wikipedia and click through the capabilities they come with. The Iwo Jima, for example.

[malaise]

22. Thanks

[Leith]

17. One Reason Might Be

That the distance between Miami and the Virgin Islands is more than 1,000 miles. How long would it take to get there? How much gas would it take to travel that distance and back (they don't have gas there any more)? How many people in Florida still have boats that can travel the open ocean that distance? How can they pass by Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos to reach the VI?

It's not a long weekend in the Bahamas.

[Not Ruth]

18. Put some 6 month contracts out there

And you will get big commercial boats from as far as Maine. Serviced, insured, seaworthy, staffed by professional mariners with all the up to date training and certifications.

[unc70]

19. Lots of stories tonight of people with boats

The people with boats are out there quietly working helping people who have been flooded out. These are in places like Bonita Springs where the flooding looks more like in Houston -- typically standing water of 3-5 feet.

The kind of aid that is needed 50+ miles is better provided by the military or by professionals over land. The highway is open all the way to Key West.

I have been going through major hurricanes since the early 1950s. I understand the difficulties and the frustrations, but I think your criticisms are inappropriate and unhelpful.

[Saboburns]

24. Authorities are warning people not to boat as there are many hazards from the hurricane

Link to tweet

[cwydro]

25. They're getting a lot of help in there via National Guard.

Food, water etc. is coming in.

Don't worry.

I went through this after Georges. Three weeks without power. We survived. People help each other. The Red Cross and the Salvation Army there within days. I'll never forget it.

Same with Wilma...we'd be gone to town for ice or whatever, and come back to find our yard filled with supplies just dropped off by the Red Cross.

The Salvation Army was in the neighborhood almost immediately with hot meals.

Oh, I know they are hated here, but those who never needed them can fuck the fuck off. I loved seeing their trucks after both storms. The Salvation Army was on my Mom's donation list forever after that. And mine now.

They were always the first into the worst of the damaged neighborhoods. That food was nothing to write home about, lol, but it was hot, and everyone was so kind to us. Never will forget it.

[drthais]

26. I'm going to toss my 2 cents into the ring here

I'm in Louisiana...lived here all my life.
After Katrina, hundreds of citizens with small boats went to New Orleans
FEMA turned them back ... wouldn't let them in to rescue people off of roofs.
This is a fact...
When we had our terrible flood last August
Which was every bit as bad asKatrina, but covered Baton Rouge and point s north and east,
Tens of Thousands of people were stranded
It was much like Harvey but the stalled storm never got a name.
In my own community of Zachary and surrounding towns
So many hundreds of people were trapped and their houses which had taken on four, five feet of water
As were thousands in Denham Springs etc east of BatonRouge
And hundreds and hundreds of homes in Baton Rouge proper.
Do you think anybody waited for FEMA to show up? Not this time
And this is when the famous Cajun Navy was actually formed...
Not after Katrina but after the 2016 August floods.
They came from everywhere in south Louisiana
They saved absolutely EVERYONE who was stranded before FEMA even showed up.
There were no Feds here to say NO...the Feds
did not arrive that quickly.
But when they finally showed up, people had been pulled from all the neighborhoods
And if I recall correctly, there was only one drowning death.

We have learned an important lesson.
It warmed my heart to have these people plus many newcomers to this cause
celebrated
in Houston..
I don't think local people who come to the rescue in their boats
Will ever be able to be turned back again.
In times like these, we need every person to come to the rescue.

[superpatriotman]

27. Thank you for sharing your story

Your words expressed my sentiments much better than I could have.

Texas was loaded with small personal boats rescuing Harvey survivors. Florida has far more watercraft on both the gulf and the Atlantic. Yet no boats heading south (if I've missed the boats someone please correct me)