ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — People who own houses aren't the only ones keeping a close eye on Tuesday’s storms.
When there's severe weather, people like Stephen Weiss who live on boats, prepare days in advance.
“The two most critical things you have to worry about are wind and tide,” Weiss said.
“As a mariner, you need to know what's hundreds of miles away and what's coming towards you typically in the Gulf of Mexico from the west to the east,” he added.
For Tuesday, that was wind gusts around 60 mph and a line of storms.
“Having been through storms like this you know how your boat will behave, how the lines have to be adjusted, you know how to provision your boat in advance,” Weiss explained.
Weiss left the frigid cold Philadelphia winters with his two cats for easygoing coastal living four years ago.
“It's a real joy to be living on the boat especially when you travel,” Weiss said.
He's said he's adjusted to the suite life on Kadence at the St. Petersburg Marina. Before the storm, the marina encouraged people to double their lines and monitor them according to the tide. They said it's up to you if you want to ride out the storm or not.
“So the lines of the concrete dock tend to pull you into the dock, and the last thing you want is to have your fiberglass boat or wooden boat hitting the concrete dock so you need to be around to let the lines out as necessary or in,” Weiss said.
If the threat was worse, Weiss would go to a hotel, but this time, he plans to stay on board.
“I'll be up probably most of the night since high tide is around 11:30/midnight. I wouldn't say I'm not worried. I'm prepared and that gives me a sense of calm,” he said.
It might be a calm night for Weiss, but for his cats — not so much.
“I don't get seasick, but the kitties do. If it's really rough sea, the cats will not be happy,” Weiss said.