Governor Proclaims NC Rip Current Awareness Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Katie Mosher, 919-270-4962, kmosher@ncsu.edu

Posted Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Each year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration designates the first full week of June as national Rip Current Awareness Week, coinciding with the traditional start of the summer vacation season. North Carolina Sea Grant is proud to be a continuing partner promoting rip current safety.

In the state of North Carolina, Governor Pat McCrory has proclaimed June 1-7, 2014 as “Rip Current Awareness Week.” View the proclamation here. The text of the May 14, 2014 signed proclamation follows:

RIP CURRENT AWARENESS WEEK

2014

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the National Weather Service reports at least seven fatalities due to rip currents along the North Carolina coast in 2013, with a total of at least 56 deaths since 2000; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Lifesaving Association reports 80 percent of all ocean rescues are related to rip currents; and

WHEREAS, millions of North Carolina citizens and visitors enjoy the ocean beaches each season, and inexperienced swimmers on unguarded beaches need to be especially aware of the hazard of rip currents; and

WHEREAS, people are more likely to protect themselves when they know what to do when they are affected by rip currents; and

WHEREAS, lifeguards, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, North Carolina Sea Grant, North Carolina beach communities and the USLA continue to promote rip current safety with signs and rip current forecasts, along with educational programs and the portal ripcurrents.noaa.gov;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAT McCRORY, Governor of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim June 1-7, 2014, as “RIP CURRENT AWARENESS WEEK” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this fourteenth day of May in the year of our Lord two thousand and fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.

Download the proclamation here.

To learn more about rip currents and how to stay safe this summer at the beach or seashore, visit: ripcurrents.noaa.gov.

North Carolina Sea Grant has rip currents products available as well. To learn more, search for “rip currents.”

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