Thank you for visiting The islander Newspaper Online.

We are currently updating our website to provide you better service and function.
If you would like to access the new site, please, click here: The islander Newspaper

Sorry for any inconvenience. Our new site and service will resume shortly.

Web Master

The Award Winning & Best News on Anna Maria Island, FL Since 1992

"The Award Winning & Best News on Anna Maria Island, FL Since 1992"

Monday, Mar, 18, 2024
Florida Press Assn. Award-Winning Web Site
Home Latest News Weather Sports Real Estate Classifieds Island Guide islander Store

 SECTIONS

 • 

Main News

 • 

Classifieds

 • 

Opinions

 • 

Streetlife

 • 

Calendar

 • 

Fishing

 • 

Sports

 • 

Real Estate

 • 

Obituaries

 • 

Weather

 Features

 • 

Cortez Cook Off: The Results

 • 

Anna Maria Island Bridge FDOT replacement bridge

 • 

National Hurricane Center (Atlantic)

 • 

Advanced Search

 • 

I love AMI

 • 

Mystery Story

 • 

Fishing Laws

 Classifieds

 • 

Classifieds Page

 • 

Place An AD

 • 

Items for Sale

 • 

Garage Sale

 • 

Estate Sale

 • 

Announcments

 • 

Lost & Found

 • 

Pets

 • 

Transportation

 • 

Boats & Boating

 • 

Fishing

 • 

Kids 4 Hire

 • 

Help Wanted

 • 

Health Care

 • 

Services

 • 

Lawn & Garden

 • 

Landscaping

 • 

Home Improvement

 • 

Business Opportunities

 • 

Rentals

 • 

Real Estate

 Weather

 • 

Today's Forecast

 • 

10 Day Forecast

 • 

Today's Tides

 • 

Emergency e-mail

 • 

Storm Watch

 Archive

 • 

News Archive

 • 

2009 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2008 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2007 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2006 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2005 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2004 Top Notch Gallery

 Useful Links

 • 

Island Links

 • 

i.wed

 • 

islander Store

 • 

About this Site

 Contact Us

 • 

islander Store

 • 

Subscribe

 • 

About Us

 • 

e-mail us

Story Tools

Dolly delivers rip currents to Island

As Hurricane Dolly socked south Texas last week, the storm sent rip currents to Anna Maria Island’s Gulf coast.

Manatee County lifeguards handled more than 20 rescues in a few days, said Jay Moyles, chief of the division.

“We had 20 this week compared to none last week,” Moyles said. “My staff was very active.”

The county lifeguards responded to situations at Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach, Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and several outside the limits of the county beaches.

The rescues, he added, were due to swimmers caught in rip current situations.

“We need to let people know that these situations occur and that they can occur quickly,” Moyles said.

A weather-related event in the Gulf of Mexico, even if a storm is headed for Texas or Mexico, will impact Florida’s coast, Moyles said.

People “are under the idea that it won’t,” he said. “But we are going to get some surf impact - large waves and heavier winds.”

“The Gulf is, in essence, a closed body of water with just two exits,” Moyles said. “Once a storm gets in there, it’s a soup bowl.

Moyles suggested beachgoers look for flags at lifeguard stations that provide clues as to the conditions for swimming.

“They’re like traffic lights,” he said. “A quick glance is going to give you a lot of information.”

Green means go, conditions are good; yellow means caution; red means danger and double red means no swimming, “the beach is closed,” according to Moyles.

A rip current is a large channel of water that flows outward from shore. It is not an undertow.

“What happens is people get caught in one, they try to swim so feverishly back to shore that they become exhausted,” Moyles said.

None of the incidents last week resulted in serious injury, but earlier this year three people drowned off Longboat Key after becoming caught in a rip current.

The county has partnered with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration in a nationwide campaign to inform people about safe swimming.

The campaign, Break the Grip of the Rip, promotes some basic rules and recommendations:

  • Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don’t go out.
  • Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards.
  • If caught in a rip current, remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
  • Don’t fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim toward shore.
  • If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim toward shore.
  • If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, wave your arms and yell for help.
  • If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard or call 911. Throw the rip current victim something that floats and yell instructions on how to escape.

Get breaking news

Follow the islander on TwitterBecome a fan of The islander on Facebook

Sign up to receive breaking news alerts via e-mail. We'll send you a notice when the news and classifieds appear online every week, before the print edition hits the streets.

Click here for Gulf oil spill updates related to Anna Maria Island.

Historic Anna Maria City Pier Plank Walk

Put your name, your message, your memorial on the Historic Anna Maria City Pier prior to the Pier Centennial Celebration! And join the fun!

CLICK HERE for Stoltzfus e-mails and related court documents.


FREE Island
Vacation Guide:
get it here

Cortez Cookoff

Click here for 2010 Cortez Cookoff Winner and recipes

To advertise here, please
visit our rates page
or contact us at:
sales@islander.org
Phone: (941) 778-7978
Fax: (941) 778-9392

Back to top of Page

Home | Weather | Real Estate | Classifieds | Archives | Contact | Island Links
islander Store | Subscribe About this site | Classifieds Page | Place an Ad
For Sale | Garage Sales | Announcements | Lost & Found | Pets | Transportation
Boats & Boating | Fishing | Kids for Hire | Help Wanted | Health Care | Services
Lawn & Garden | Landscaping | Home Improvement | Business Opportunities | Rentals | Real Estate

Our Privacy and Copyright Statements © 1992 - 2009, The islander