With the holiday weekend ahead and the weather forecast in everyone’s favor, be it for boating or fireworks, Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson wants to remind the community to be careful this Labor Day weekend.
With moderate northern winds in the forecast for the otherwise beautiful late summer days ahead, Sheriff Hanson says that smaller boats could face issues in the water, particularly starting on Saturday afternoon and into Labor Day. To try and prevent any accidents, the Huron County Sheriff’s Office is teaming up for the fourth year in a row with the village of Port Austin and its fire department to provide loaner life jackets, seeing that, out of nearly 100 tickets being issued last year during the holiday weekend, most were to kayakers without a lifejacket.
Sheriff Hanson also urged kayakers and other boaters to tell someone on land where they are heading and when they’ll be back, as well as to keep one’s phone in a safe place, like a waterproof container. Also, despite it still being summer, on the water, temperatures will dip, with nearshore surface water cooling to the lower 70s, conditions that can and will cause hypothermia during long term exposure, so be sure to dress appropriately when heading out on the lake.
Meanwhile, if you’re staying on land for your holiday, Sheriff Hanson has tips for that as well. In regards to firework safety, he urges citizens to be careful and respectful while using fireworks, especially if you plan to be drinking or otherwise under the influence.
If you’re planning on being on the road, Sheriff Hanson says that “drivers need to look twice for motorcycles while driving,” citing several accidents and close calls that have happened in the past year alone. He also reminds drivers to avoid being under the influence, another common cause of accidents during the holidays.
