RSS Feed |
 |
 |
|
|||||
Florida recognizes Rip Current Awareness WeekSurf zone forecasts and rip current educational signs advise beach visitors about surf hazardsTALLAHASSEE – Promoting safety and awareness along our beaches this summer, Florida is recognizing June 1 – 7, 2008, as Rip Current Awareness Week, promoting education and understanding of rip tides in our coastal waters. Governor Charlie Crist signed a proclamation recognizing the week, encouraging "all Floridians and visitors to safely enjoy our coastal beaches and resources this week and throughout the year, and know what to do if caught in a rip current." "With rising coastal populations as well as increased visitation to our shores, rip currents will continue to be a serious hazard at surf beaches," said Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole. "By taking steps to heighten understanding about rip currents, we can successfully reduce the number of rip current-related fatalities and ensure more safe trips to Florida’s award-winning beaches." Rip Current Awareness Week, promoted through a partnership between DEP, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Florida offices of the National Weather Service, the Southeast and South Atlantic Regions of the United States Lifesaving Association, and the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association, reminds beach visitors to be alert and knowledgeable about rip currents at surf beaches. Experts also advise beachgoers to know how to swim, never swim alone and if in doubt, don’t go out into the water. "Everybody needs to understand their ability as a swimmer and heed posted surf advisories," said State Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate. "The dangers of this natural hazard can be avoided by following basic safety steps and respecting the power of water. Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore, and can occur at any beach with breaking waves. They typically extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves. Rip currents account for more than 80 percent of rescues performed by beach lifeguards. If caught in a rip current, remember to: Remain calm. Don’t fight the current. Swim out of the current, then to shore. Float or tread water if you cannot escape. If you need help call or wave for assistance. The Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association distributes rip current educational signs to local governments and public parks throughout Florida free of charge. Many National Weather Service offices include a daily rip current outlook in the Surf Zone Forecast. Describing rip current risk in a three-tiered structure (low, moderate, or high) this outlook is communicated to lifeguards, emergency management, media and the general public, and is available online at: http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/forecasts.shtml. In addition to rip current awareness education, DEP’s Florida Coastal Management Program developed a uniform warning and safety flag system in 2002 for use by Florida’s beachfront communities. DEP consulted with the United States Lifesaving Association, the International Life Saving Federation, state agencies and local governments to design a warning flag system that is simple to use and easy to interpret, based on the flag design and color coding proposed by the International Life Saving Federation. To encourage use of the system, the warning flags and interpretive signs to explain the flag’s meanings are provided upon request free of charge annually to beachfront communities. Flag warnings and colors are: Green: Low hazard, calm conditions, exercise caution. For more information on rip currents, beach safety flags and Florida’s Coastal Management program, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/cmp/ To view the Governor’s proclamation visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/events/060108_rip_current.pdf
|
for larger version       |
||||
