Don’t be fooled by the lack of precipitation, beachgoers. Tropical Storm Cristobal is not your friend.
It’s not what’s in the sky that you have to look out for – it’s underwater. Rip currents produced by the storm are leading to an inordinate number of rescues by lifeguards in Virginia Beach and on the Outer Banks.
Saturday, 21 people were rescued, said Tom Gill, captain of the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service. The service staffs 49 stands from the resort strip to 51st Street.
Lately, Gill said, there have been five to 10 rescues every day. Normally, this time of year, there are only one or two.
On the four-mile stretch of beach Town of Kitty Hawk lifeguards patrol, nine people were pulled from the water on Saturday.
The culprit, the lifeguard patrols say, are rip currents – narrow, fast-moving channels of water that flow from the surf to deeper water. When there are several days’ worth of large waves – a biproduct of off-shore storms – sandbars can break down. Water funnels through them, creating rip currents.
“It’s a pretty subtle thing,” said Bruce Nedelka, a Beach EMS division chief. “Before you know it, you’re 50 yards out in the water. When caught in a rip current, Nedelka said, swim parallel to the shore until you feel free of the current’s pull.
But may people panic and over-exert themselves, he said.
That’s the scenario that accounts for the rash of rescues on his stretch of beach, Kitty Hawk Ocean Rescue supervisor Terence Sheehy said.
In the first hour the Kitty Hawk beach was open Thursday, six people were rescued, Sheehy said – all of whom were struggling with rip currents. After that, flags flew on the beach for the rest of the day, and all day Friday.
About those red flags. On the Outer Banks, they mean stay out of the water. At the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, they mean: Ask the lifeguard.
Depending on conditions, the red flag could mean don’t go in over your waist one day; another day – don’t go in above your ankles. “Hopefully, it tells the nonswimmers that maybe this isn’t the day for them,” Gill said.
Lifeguards are watching for rip currents to fade with the storm, over the next several days.
In the interim, Gill said: “Please swim near a lifeguard.”
John Warren, (757) 446-2309, john.warren@aol.com
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In response to "I have to wonder"
As someone who saw and felt the textbook-perfect rip-currents lining the Virginia Beach resort this past week, I can confidently emphasize how dangerous the ocean has been. As someone who witnessed many of the rescues made, I can assure you, each one was just that, a rescue. There was not a single victim who didn't thank each lifeguard for pulling him or her safely back to shore. It's not until you are swept 50 yards out to sea that you truly learn to appreciate the ocean's strength, as well as the warnings from the lifeguards. Furthermore, the reason more rescues aren't made at the North End is because of the difference in ocean familiarity between North End beach goers and Resort visitors. Also, you don't hear about drownings at "unguarded" beaches because these beaches are STILL patrolled by lifeguards and police. Rescues happen, we just don't hear about them on the news. I hope this clear
rip currents are indeed dangerous
Laura - short answer - there are far fewer tourists at the north end. There ARE tons at the oceanfront, Sandbridge, and Kitty Hawk, however. Many tourists are unfamiliar with such things as rip currents so they will be the first to get into trouble.
And tourists - how about leaving a brother a loaf of bread at the grocery store? I realize it is Sunday night and you're enjoying your Sandbridge vacation but locals gotta eat too.
I have to wonder
how many of these "rescues" are just that. What about folks swimming at beaches (above the 50th St in VB for example) that aren't guarded and what about the south Nags Head Beaches that aren't guarded. You haven't heard of any drowning there. Like the forecasts of heavy downpours and high winds in NC that didn't happen, I'm not so sure the rip currents are all that bad.