{"id":3479,"date":"2014-07-09T09:35:23","date_gmt":"2014-07-09T13:35:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=3479"},"modified":"2024-08-27T15:31:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T19:31:36","slug":"currents-beach-season-focuses-on-rip-current-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/currents-beach-season-focuses-on-rip-current-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Currents<\/em>: Beach Season Focuses on Rip Current Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

At least seven deaths in North Carolina were related to rip currents in 2013. Thus, the 2014 summer beach season opened with local, state and national attention on surf zone safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rip Current Awareness Week included a proclamation<\/a> from Gov. Pat McCrory to honor North Carolina partners in beach safety, including lifeguards, North Carolina Sea Grant, National Weather Service forecast offices and beach communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first week in June \u2014 nationally designated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the U.S. Lifesaving Association<\/a>, or USLA \u2014 is selected to promote educational programs about rip currents. This year, the NOAA focus included a North Carolina twist, as Spencer Rogers of North Carolina Sea Grant was profiled<\/a> on the National Sea Grant<\/a> website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf people know what to do if they are caught in a rip current, they are more likely to protect themselves and continue to have a good day at the beach,\u201d explains Rogers, coastal construction and erosion specialist for North Carolina Sea Grant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This summer, Rogers will expand his research on rip currents using small drifters to collect data. He will work with Rob Brander, who is known as Dr. Rip in Australia, along with a graduate student at University of North Carolina Wilmington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A rip current is a strong current that moves away from the shore. Rip currents can often be identified as a flat spot between breaking waves that can last minutes or months. Here are some safety tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n