Dangerous Currents Stalk Florida Panhandle
Despite Dozens of Drownings, Many Beaches Have No Lifeguards
Although it is often little understood, the rip current is a common danger that claims an average of 100 lives from coast to coast each year. It occurs when a sandbar traps the water from incoming waves and creates a kind of artificial pond. When there is a break, or a rip, in the sandbar, the water in the artificial pond flows back out to sea and causes the rip current. The flow can be up to eight miles per hour.
"All of a sudden the current just starts pulling them into slightly deeper water," says Bill Soltz, a member of the United States Lifesaving Association, a nonprofit, professional association of beach lifeguards and open water rescuers. "That's when they start panicking, and it's just a continuation of that before they become in danger and in trouble."
What makes matters worse in Walton County is that there are no lifeguards along the county's 26-mile shoreline, adds Soltz. Although he is certain the presence of lifeguards would make a difference, Soltz says the Walton County commissioners have told him it is too expensive to hire them.
"I've talked to all the commissioners in this county and in some of the other counties directly," said Soltz, "and they appreciate my concerns and basically just give me the heave ho."
My childhood was filled with fond memories of each August when my family would pile into the station wagon and head up to Long Beach Island in New Jersey for a week at "the shore". Many hours would be spent body surfing in the waves and simply standing in the ocean enjoying the waves crashing upon us.
Always, always we were never in the water unless there were lifeguards on duty. And yes there were always two lifeguards on duty from 10:00 a.m. to about 4:00 p.m. Additionally awareness of rip currents was drummed into me by my meteorologist father.
So I was completely and utterly shocked by tonight's 20/20 story on Walton County, Florida. Hearing the county officials offer up lame excuses such as the existence of a cartoon crab campaign touting rip current safety and the flag system warning of ocean condition.
And disgusted. Big time. These folks who worship at the altar of drowning the government in a bathtub are negligent in allowing so many to drown in the ocean due to the lack of lifeguards.