Hurricane Bill

U.S. Coast Guard to fly
warning mission

Hurricane Bill could affect mariners
miles away

Published : Thursday, 20 Aug 2009, 5:50 AM EDT

• Derrick Rose

ELIZABETH CITY, NC - The United States Coast Guard will send a team airborne Thursday along the Atlantic Coast to warn mariners about the possible dangers coming from Hurricane Bill.

Just before 5 a.m. Thursday, Bill was downgraded from a Category 4 storm to a Category 3. Still powerful though, Bill's winds and power miles away in the Atlantic could cause strong swells and dangerous winds for boaters along the east coast.

The Coast Guard team is scheduled to depart on their mission from Elizabeth City, NC around 9 a.m. Thursday. From the HC-130J aircraft, guardsmen will be able to broadcast warning messages to mariners on the waters below.

WAVY.com Reporter Oren Liebermann went along for the trip in 2008 as guardsmen flew the same mission in preparation for Tropical Storm Cristobal. WAVY-TV 10 will be aboard the flight again Thursday.

WAVY.com's Art Kohn will be sending tweets during the flight. Sign up for WAVY Twitter alerts.

Look for the latest on Hurricane Bill and the Coast Guard's mission on WAVY News 10 and WAVY.com.