HYANNIS, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Gulf Search and Rescue (GulfSAR), a southern-based volunteer group that provides search and rescue operations, has deployed a team to Massachusetts for the first time ahead of Hurricane Lee's arrival in New England.
AccuWeather forecasters say as Lee moves into the area Friday evening into Saturday, the storm will bring rain, strong winds, rough surf, strong rip currents, extensive coastal flooding, and significant beach erosion.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for Greater Boston, all coastal suburbs, and the Cape and Islands. A storm surge watch is in effect for the Cape and Islands. Eastern Maine, southern New Brunswick, Canada, and western Nova Scotia, Canada will likely see hurricane conditions on Saturday as well.
"With the hurricane staying off the coast as the way it is projected, we’re not sure we’re going to need to do anything," GulfSAR board member Ken Turner told WBZ NewsRadio Thursday. "But we’ve seen hurricanes before, and they do unpredictable things and they’ll turn in a minute and next thing you know, they’re on you."
GulfSAR recently assisted with rescue and recovery operations during Hurricane Idalia, which slammed into the southeastern United States in August.
"On the way are a couple of boats and an airboat," Turner said regarding the team's resources. "They’re all shallow water-type vessels, so we only need a couple of inches of water, a foot of water or so, to get that boat in and out."
With the potential for such dangerous conditions both in and out of the water, Turner is reminding Massachusetts residents to heed the warnings and not get cocky.
"If it’s anything [in Massachusetts] like it is in the south, some folks don’t heed the warning, think they can ride it out, and then get in a situation that they can’t get themselves out of," said Turner. "And that’s where we step in to help."
WBZ's Tina Gao reports.
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