A former NFL quarterback, a firefighter from Georgia and two fathers who drowned while trying to save their children are among at least 10 recent victims of dangerous rip currents along Gulf of Mexico beaches.
The sheriff notes there is only so much local officials can do, so he's asking tourists and residents to pay close attention to the flag status at the beach.That message is echoed by Greg Dusek, a senior scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's ocean service unit. He said that people can't always see the deep channels on the shoreline caused by rip currents, or even tell how dangerous conditions are by the weather.
A rip current is a powerful, narrow channel of water flowing away from the beach and often extending through the breaker zone where waves form. They can emerge on sunny days, and can quickly sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea.
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