With Hermine churning off the coast, communities on the Massachusetts coast, are preparing for the storm.
At the Westport Marina on Sunday, many boats were still in the water but people were showing up throughout the day to either take them out or secure them with extra lines in preparation for the heavy winds and high surf the area was expected to get overnight and on Monday.
"This is the calm before the storm," said Christopher Leonard, Director of Marine Services, Westport. "This is very deceiving. It's a beautiful day."
Leonard said he's been following the forecast closely.
"We might get a light brush from this storm or we might get a heavy brush from this storm," he said.
Leonard spent the day helping people get their boats out of the water. Winds were already picking up to 35 mph and meteorologists said Westport could see higher wind gusts of up to 60 mph by Monday.
"The last time we saw winds here of 70 to 80 mph was Hurricane Bob and it's just too close to comfort for us," said Leonard.
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Paul Macomber is a longtime fisherman and wanted to make sure his boat was in a safer spot at the Westport Marina.
"I normally tie up over and across but that's more exposed to the wind, to bring it around and tie it to this guy, it's more protected," said Macomber as he secured his boat.
The high waves at nearby Horseneck Beach were perhaps the first signs of Hermine's wrath off the coast. Head lifeguard Sean Sweeney said Sunday was the first time the beach had closed to swimmers all summer.
"We noticed when we came in, the water was a lot stronger, high risk to rip currents, so we shut down the water to swimming," said Sweeney. "No one is allowed in."
Officials at the beach said they will survey conditions Monday morning and make a decision whether to keep the area closed to swimmers again.
