Boaters Heading For Dry Land as Irene Approaches

Back in 2003, as he waited for Tropical Storm Isabel to hit Bowleys Quarters, Jim Schreiber towed his boat out of the water and onto blocks by his pier.

Despite taking extra precautions, 8-foot tidal surges caused mass flooding in the region and his boat barely made it through the storm.

Schreiber isn’t taking any chances this week as the East Coast braces for Hurricane Irene.

Schreiber said he is pulling his boat from the water and taking it to higher ground. He is not alone as boaters all over eastern Baltimore County could be seen Friday pulling their vessels ashore, preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.

“I’m not looking for a repeat of Isabel,” said Schreiber, who has lived in Bowleys Quarters since 1985.

Over at Beacon Light Marina, employees urged boat owners to take their boats away from the marina in hopes of avoiding issues similar to when Isabel struck the peninsula.

At that time, boats left in the water drifted away or sunk. Many vessels that had been pulled and left on a trailer floated down the road as flooding caused mass destruction in the community.

“We’re suggesting that boaters take their boats as far inland as possible,” said Drew Osemeyer, a salesman at Beacon Light Marina. “It’s the only sure way to know your boat will be OK if you can’t keep an eye on it during the storm.”

A similar scene could be found in places such as Wilson Point and along Route 702 as boaters there evacuated from Hawks Cove and Sue Creek.

"Better safe than sorry," Essex resident Christian Jackson said. "I lost my boat in Isabel."

Another Essex resident, Gerry Sprent shared a similar sentiment.

"I don't want a repeat of the damage our boats sustained from Isabel,” she said. “I got my husband and brother to pull the boats up as soon as Ocean City was evacuated. No sense waiting until the last minute."

Mike Cancatase, a third Essex resident said he wasn’t taking any chances. He was taking his boat from Sue Creek to his garage.

"Why wait for the storm surge?” he said. “We learned in 2003 with Isabel that high tides were extremely high. Boats sat atop piers while others were beached in front yards.”