The sheer number of people escaping to the mountains and waters means professional and volunteer rescuers charged with pulling people out of trouble are hoping for the best, but preparing for the w…
Hordes of Bay Area residents will head to mountains, beaches, lakes and rivers this long Fourth of July weekend. A few might not come back.
“What is usually one of the traditionally busiest times of the year for search-and-rescue is going to be significantly more dangerous this year,” said Brian Ferguson, spokesman for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Anticipated torrential runoff this weekend “is going to create perhaps the most dangerous water conditions that we’ve had on a holiday weekend in many, many years,” Ferguson said.
Sheriff’s departments typically coordinate search-and-rescue operations, which can include firefighters and other emergency workers along with trained volunteers. In Butte County, Sheriff Kory Honea said he is anticipating “some high activity” for his search-and-rescue team. “I think the biggest area of concern for us is people tubing on the Sacramento River,” Honea said. “The river’s running pretty high.
U.S. Coast Guard data show that in California last year, boating-related accidents killed 43 people, with 39 dead each year from 2019 to 2021. While major ocean swells are not expected over the holiday, strong currents can pull swimmers into trouble “even when it’s not crazy big surf,” Kine said. Lifeguards in the Santa Cruz area — including several added for the weekend to patrol State Parks beaches on foot and in trucks — are are not anticipating severe riptides, but even moderate ones pose risks, Kine said.
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