As Hurricane Frances moves east, changes in ocean may affect S.C. coastline
BY DAVID QUICK
Of The Post and Courier Staff
As Hurricane Frances approaches the East Coast, public safety officials on the islands will be keeping a closer eye on the beach in anticipation of rip currents and beach erosion. Many anticipate larger waves starting today that can eat into a beach, and rip currents that can trap a swimmer or surfer.
A rip current is a narrow, powerful current of water running perpendicular to the beach, out into the ocean. The currents, which can move at 5 miles per hour or faster, may extend 200 to 2,500 feet in length, but they are typically less than 30 feet wide.
People caught in rip currents are advised not to panic, to swim parallel to the shore to get out of the rip current and then swim to beach.
"Mother Nature can take even the best of swimmers," said Brian Mack, lifeguard supervisor at Folly Beach County Park. "If you're not a good swimmer, I'd stay out of the water altogether ... Anytime you have large waves and an onshore wind, you have dangerous rip currents."
Since school started, lifeguards at the Folly and Isle of Palms county parks have gone to a weekend-only staffing schedule. That means the only protection comes via onlookers and public safety officers, who will have their hands full preparing for the storm.
Isle of Palms Fire Chief Ann Graham said the department has been called on numerous times this summer to rescue people thought to have been caught in a rip current, but those currents aren't the only ones to worry about during these storms.
During a rescue last weekend on the horizon, Graham said she saw a couple get swept 100 feet down the beach by currents in just seconds.
"I believe the bad currents (associated with Frances) have already started and will only get worse," she added.
Sullivan's Island Fire Chief Anthony Stith said the island suffers fewer rip currents because of the jetties, but the current pulling toward Breach Inlet and the Isle of Palms can be equally strong. During Tropical Storm Gaston, Stith said the water, oddly, was flowing directly toward the Isle of Palms.
Beach erosion is brought on by the highly erosive storm surge conditions during a hurricane that exceed the normal protective dune line. Accompanied by extremely high winds, heavy rains, erosive surf and storm tides, hurricanes are the most damaging and common natural disasters that occur in South Carolina. The storm tides, in combination with heavy winds and rain, produce tidal flooding that can erode a beach before and after a storm.
Last weekend's brush with Tropical Storm Gaston eroded portions of the Isle of Palms near the pier. Hurricane Hugo flattened much of the dune line of the island.
Even with the dangers, the Ocean Surf Shop on Folly was buzzing with anticipation Wednesday with the approach of the storm. Owner Bill Perry, who monitors buoys that are located 40 and 200 miles out to sea for upcoming surf conditions, thinks the swells will start to pick up this morning.
"It won't be nearly as big as what's coming Friday and Saturday," Perry said. "There will be some rip currents and only experienced surfers should be out there."
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