With a nor’easter coming Friday and expected to linger through the weekend, residents and emergency responders in Westport were taking no chances and Thursday was a busy day down by the water.

At East Beach, seasonal residents began hauling out their trailers Wednesday and Thursday. The neighborhood’s improvement association president, Kevin Curt, said residents were watching weather reports — everyone’s preparing for it, he said.

At the point, harbormasters were going over emergency preparedness and response, and spent the morning running drills with three de-watering pumps they have ready to go in case they're needed by local boat owners.

“I think we’re in good shape,” assistant harbormaster Rick Smith said. “Many of the smaller boats have been hauled out already. The larger boats are still in their slips at Tripps [but] the mooring field has thinned out considerably."

Smith said there are a few factors for and against them as the storm approaches. While he’s hopeful that the north northeast wind will help reduce damage along vulnerable East Beach Road, he said the full moon expected this weekend presents its own challenges and will heighten the tides.

Apart from that, harbormasters have had open conversations with the police, fire and highway departments, have been working to make sure radios and communication equipment is set to go.

“There’s a few things we have no control over, but I think we’re preparing best we can,” Smith said. “I think we’re ready — just kind of hunkering down and waiting.”

Harbormaster's notice

Harbormaster Bill Chace shared the following announcement on Social Media Thursday morning: