Aside from the destruction that flows from it, how does a hurricane along the Gulf Coast affect the maritime industry that operates hundreds of terminals and moves thousands of ocean-going ships and inland tows along its waterways?

With the approach of a hurricane, the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port will begin setting various port conditions advising the public and industry of the storm’s anticipated landfall. Once the port condition reaches category Zulu, no further vessel movements are permitted within the port. By that time, marine terminal operators will have shut down operations and ordered vessels to depart their berths, and ocean-going vessels will have left the port to evade or ride out the storm because such vessels are safer underway than they are moored or anchored. Inland towboats and barges will also move to alternative safe harbors via the intracoastal waterway or inland rivers if time permits. Those that remain hunker down at barge fleeting areas, where extra tiedowns are employed and tugboats often standby to provide extra power to keep the barge fleets intact.