Rip currents will be strong as Tropical Storm Danny nears

It is déjà vu all over again for ocean patrols at area beaches. One week after Hurricane Bill sent high surf and dangerous rip currents to our shores that lead to dozens of rescues, Tropical Storm Danny threatens to do the same.

For area swimmers, storms like Danny and Bill can be the most dangerous, because while there still may be good beach weather, the waters are just a little bit too unsafe to go in with high rip currents. This makes for a busy weekend for area lifeguards who either keep people out of the water or stand watch to perform rescues. Except not all beaches, have guards.

“Of course, Holden Beach, like many of the other beaches in southeastern North Carolina, is swim at your own risk, we don’t have lifeguards on duty,” said Holden Beach Police Chief Wally Layne.

This leaves police to patrol the shores as best they can, but there’s only so much ground they can cover. This means swimmers must take more responsibility and be aware of the dangers before heading in the water. It is a problem Mayor Holden sees each year.

“We’re always concerned about that and of course when the water goes sweeping down the beach its different than going into a pond so to speak,” said Mayor Alan Holden.

Chief Layne offers one last piece of advice. “Just be careful, and respect Mother Nature, because sometimes she’s not too friendly.”