COASTAL 



TIDINGS 



September Lecture Set for UNC-W 



As part of its ongoing 25th anniversary celebration, North Carolina Sea Grant will 

 co-sponsor a Planet Ocean Lecture at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. 



Former Rhode Island Sea Grant Director Scott Nixon will discuss estuarine research 

 at the event Sept. 4 at the Center for Marine Science (CMS) off Masonboro Loop Road. 



"Scott has studied estuarine systems across the globe, including the Nile," says Sea 

 Grant Director Ronald G. Hodson. "We are pleased that he can bring his unique insight to 

 North Carolina." 



The Planet Ocean Lecture Series brings outstanding scientists to UNC-W to share 

 their research with the university community and general public, explains Daniel Baden, 

 CMS director. 



The free program begins with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by the lecture at 7 p.m. 

 Seating is limited. To make your reservation, call 910/962-2301 . - KM 



Hurricane Preparedness Saves Lives 



Hurri- 

 cane hazards 

 come in many 

 forms for 

 residents and 

 visitors in low- 

 lying coastal 

 areas — storm 

 surge, high 

 winds and 

 flooding. North 

 Carolina Sea 

 Grant experts 

 say awareness 

 and planning 

 are the best 

 ways to 



maximize personal safety and minimize 

 property damage. 



First, develop a family plan based 

 on vulnerability to hurricane hazards. 

 Keep a written copy handy and share it 

 with family and friends. 



If a hurricane watch is issued for a 

 coastal area, hurricane conditions are 

 possible within 36 hours. Swing into action. 

 Fill the family car gas tank, store outdoor 

 objects such as furniture and garbage 

 cans, tape or board windows, and pack 

 valuable papers such as deeds, wills and 

 insurance documents to take along 

 should evacuation orders be sounded. 



Create a survival box with a first-aid 

 kit, family members' prescription 



medications, 

 flashlight and 

 transistor 

 radio, extra 

 batteries, 

 bottled water 

 and water 

 purification 

 tablets, 

 nonperishable 

 foods, one 

 change of 

 clothes and 

 sleeping bags. 



When a 

 hurricane 

 warning is 



issued, the storm is imminent. Prepare to 

 evacuate at once. Monitor emergency 

 radio for evacuation instructions and 

 storm updates. Contact family and 

 friends to let them know your plans. 

 Before leaving, shut off power and the 

 main gas valve. 



The National Hurricane Center has 

 a Web site with detailed hurricane 

 preparedness information. Check it out 

 at www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW/. For informa- 

 tion about constructing or retrofitting 

 buildings for hurricane resistance, 

 contact Spencer Rogers, Sea Grant coastal 

 erosion and construction specialist, at 

 91 0/962-2491 , or rogerssp@uncwii.edu. 



-P.S. 



Cheers' Wise Guy 

 Goes Boating 



John Ratzenberger — also known 

 as Cliff Clavin in Cheers — has been 

 doing more than occasional commer- 

 cials since Cheers went off the air. 

 Ratzenberger stars in Stop Exotics; Clean 

 Your Boat, an informative yet entertain- 

 ing video about invasive species courtesy 

 of Minnesota Sea Grant 



The video thoroughly describes 

 how boaters can avoid spreading 

 aquatic nuisance species between 

 bodies of water. Ratzenberger eagerly 

 leams the required tasks, remaining in 

 his Cheers persona. "The human brain is 

 a sponge," he says, "and this one is 

 super-absorbent." 



Though there are many invasive 

 species threatening U.S. waterways, the 

 video concentrates on the most 

 dangerous culprits, including zebra 

 mussels, Eurasian water milfoil and 

 Hydrilla. North Carolinians should be 

 on alert for these species as well. 



The video concludes with a heart- 

 felt yet comic speech on the importance 

 of protecting waterways so that they can 

 be enjoyed for years to come. 



To order Stop Exotics; Clean Your 

 Boat, send a check for $1 to Minnesota 

 Sea Grant, 2305 E 5 St., Duluth, MN 

 5581 2. For more information, e-mail 

 seagr@d.umn.edu or call 21 8/726-81 06. 



— D.M.D. 



COASTWATCH 3 



