Rip currents seem to be making headlines frequently this summer; from the viral eighty-person human chain in Florida’s panhandle which saved a family of ten in the gulf, to the tragic story just this week of a grandfather and son in law who drowned in Texas.
Today on the show, we talk with a Sanibel Firefighter Tim Barrett. He’s a member of the Marine Emergency Response Team, an inter-agency collective of emergency personnel who specialize in water rescues and investigations. Just two weeks ago, MERT responders with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office managed to save two people swept away on their boogie board. We’ll talk with Tim about how emergency responders handle rip current calls.
We’ll also talk with NBC2 First Alert Meteorologist Rob Dunn about how these currents form, when are they most prevalent, and how to survive if you find yourself swept up in one.
