PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
815 AM EDT TUE MAY 19 2009

THE FOLLOWING IS A SAFE BOATING MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL SAFE
BOATING COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

DONT BE CAUGHT IN A FOG...ESPECIALLY ON THE WATER. FOG CAN CREATE
VERY LOW VISIBILITY MAKING SAFE NAVIGATION DIFFICULT FOR BOATERS.
FOG IS FORMED WHEN WATER VAPOR CONDENSES INTO WATER DROPLETS
CREATING A CLOUD NEAR THE SURFACE. IN DENSE FOG THE VISIBILITY CAN
BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN A BOAT LENGTH... SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING
THE RISK OF COLLISION OR GROUNDING YOUR BOAT.

IF YOUR BOAT IS  SHROUDED IN FOG...REDUCE YOUR BOAT SPEED. REMEMBER
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET WHETHER IT IS FOGGY OR
NOT...BUT DOUBLE-CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS WEARING A
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD APPROVED LIFE JACKET IN SITUATIONS WITH
FOG.  DISPLAY LIGHTS AND SOUND WARNING SIGNALS FOR LIMITED
VISIBILITY FOLLOWING NAVIGATION SAFETY RULES. YOU CAN ALWAYS ANCHOR
IN A SAFE LOCATION UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE. OTHER PRECAUTIONS
BOATERS TAKE IN LOW VISIBILITY INCLUDE POSTING LOOKOUTS TO SEE AND
LISTEN FOR SIGNALS OR SOUNDS FROM OTHER VESSELS...OR TO JUST LISTEN
FOR THE SOUND OF BREAKING WAVES. REMEMBER THAT SAFE BOATING IS NO
ACCIDENT. CONSIDER STAYING IN PORT WHEN DENSE FOG IS OCCURRING OR IS
EXPECTED.

THIS MESSAGE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND
THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL.

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