NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. — UPDATE: Eight people were rescued from the Wilmington area on Sunday. This is by far the lowest amount of rescues since Wednesday.
Beachgoers, beware!
Rip current risk is still high at some North Carolina beaches, as of the evening of June 22.
According to the National Weather Service, the risk of life-threatening rip currents is high from Emerald Isle to Cape Hatteras.
The rest of the NC coast is currently at a moderate risk.
In high-risk zones, the surf zone is dangerous for all levels of swimmers. The National Weather Service warns swimmers to stay out of the water.
In moderate risk zones, life-threatening rip currents are possible. Swimmers are encouraged to swim near a lifeguard.
There have been more than 140 rip current rescues in the past week in North Carolina.
According to lifeguards at Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach over 40 people were rescued on Wednesday, almost 30 on Thursday, and almost 20 Friday. An additional 59 people were rescued on Saturday.
What is a rip current?
Rip currents, according to the National Weather Service, are " powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore."
They can extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone and past the line of breaking waves.
How to get out of a rip current:
According to the National Weather Service if you get caught in a rip current do the following:
- Try to remain calm to conserve energy.
- Do not fight the current. Think of a rip current like a treadmill you can't turn off. You want to step to the side of it.
- Swim across the current in a direction parallel to/following the shoreline.
- Once out of the current, swim back towards shore.
- Rip currents typically weaken beyond where the waves are breaking - when the current weakens, swim down the beach some before heading back to shore.
- If you can't escape the current, try to float or calmly tread water.
- If at any time you feel you will be unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, wave your arms and yell for help.
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