GULFPORT, Fla. — As the 2026 hurricane season approaches, Gulfport officials are ramping up efforts to ensure dozens of boaters who live on their vessels in Boca Ciega Bay are prepared.

The Gulfport Police Department recently visited approximately 62 boats anchored to mooring balls, distributing hurricane preparedness placards that outline safety requirements and storm procedures for residents who live on their vessels.

Recommendations from the City of Gulfport include lowing or removing masts, anchoring or mooring properly, and having an evacuation plan. They want boaters to have safety plans in place now, ahead of the start of hurricane season.

Police say the initiative comes amid growing concerns about the dangers unsecured boats can pose during severe weather, not only to those living on the water, but also to people and property along the shoreline.

Gulfport’s George Cavanaugh has lived on his boat for the past 4 hurricane seasons and says storm preparation has become an annual routine.

“It’s a good way of life, but it’s not as easy as everyone thinks it is,” Cavanaugh said.

Cavanaugh and his dog Stormiee evacuate when tropical storm or hurricane force winds are forecasted. Before leaving, Cavanaugh says he works his way down a long checklist to make sure his boat is safe.

“Even if it’s a tropical storm, we take down all the sails,” he said. “Anything that creates drag. My threshold is 50 miles per hour and at that point Stormiee and I will get off.”

According to Capt. Thomas Woodman with the Gulfport Police Department, the city hopes proactive outreach will prevent a repeat of past storm damage where boats were thrown into the seawalls and beach in both 2020 and 2023.

“I hope that everybody abides by the preparation that we’ve provided and they secure their vessels properly,” Woodman said, “and we don’t have what we’ve seen in the past here, which is numerous vessels wash ashore on the beachfront.”

During Hurricane Helene, Cavanaugh says his boat broke free from its mooring ball. Thankfully, he wasn’t aboard, but now he’s made a new plan for his boat that includes bringing it into a more protected area called a ‘Hurricane Hole’. Thats a plan officials with the City of Gulfport are pleased with.

“It’s very comforting to me as a boater that Gulfport cares about our well-being,” he said.