Tropical activity in the GOM, has shifted sands

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http://pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pb ... 70330/1006

Published - July, 27, 2005
New perils: 607 rescues at beach
Rip currents, deep drop-offs create danger

Fredie Carmichael
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com

Lifeguards Steve Fox, 18, left, and Ben Ronan, 19, watch swimmers Tuesday at Casino Beach from stand No. 3 on Pensacola Beach. Lifeguards have rescued 607 people so far this year as opposed to 374 for all of last year.
KatieKing@PensacolaNewsJournal.com


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As the emerald Gulf of Mexico water calmly rolls onto the shore at Pensacola Beach, it's hard to imagine that lifeguards already have rescued 607 people this year.

Safety officials are warning beachgoers of new perils -- even more dangerous rip currents and, most ominously, deceivingly deep drop-offs between sandbars.

While there have been no drownings along the 8.5 miles of Santa Rosa Island Authority-controlled beach in nearly two years, the 607 rescues are up from 374 rescues all of last year, said Dave Greenwood, water safety supervisor for Pensacola Beach.

Bob West, public safety director of the Island Authority, said Hurricane Dennis, so soon after Hurricane Ivan, plus a recent round of tropical storms have shifted sands.

"You used to step off of a bar into 3 to 4 feet of water, and it was no big deal," he said. "Now, you step off into 8 feet of water in some places, and suddenly you can't touch (bottom)."

"We've had that happen just recently after we reopened from Dennis. It's something we're beginning to experience a lot more of. It turns a seemingly calm day into potential danger."

This week as the beach reopened to the public for the first time since Dennis, thousands of people took to the water, many of them frolicking on sandbars about 20 feet from the shore.

Erwin Whitaker, 8, vacationing from Louisiana, combed the sandbar near the fishing pier at Casino Beach for sea shells.

"I love the sand and the sea shells," Erwin said, emerging from the water-empty handed but proclaiming the sandbars the best place to find shells.

Erwin's aunt, Sandra Lusk, kept a close eye on him from the shore. She said she felt better about her nephew's safety knowing there were lifeguards nearby.

And this year at Pensacola Beach, there are a record number of watchful eyes -- 34 lifeguards now patrol the beach. There also have been fewer beach visitors this year -- partly because of Ivan damage and partly because Dennis struck in the middle of July, traditionally the beach's busiest month.

Greenwood said his lifeguards always have been mindful of the dangerous rip currents, but now, he's telling them to keep a close eye on revelers who enter the shin-deep water and venture out to the sandbars.

The lifeguards have a better perspective of how deep the waters are, Greenwood said, by monitoring from one of seven lifeguard towers.

But the only reason lifeguards have been able to use the towers this week is because four lifeguards rebuilt the towers, which were destroyed by Hurricane Dennis.

Greenwood said the lifeguards knew how important the towers were to beach safety, so even though they had no background in carpentry, they worked 10-hour days to rebuild the wooden structures.

"It's really amazing what they've done," he said, adding that they rebuilt four towers in four days.

Beachgoers, such as Buffy Wannemuehler of Indiana, appreciate the work and feels better about the safety of her three children knowing the lifeguards are on duty.

"We always take them to the places where there are lifeguards," she said. "It's too unsafe not to."