The following is a statement from Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson:
“We at the Huron County Sheriff’s Office want everyone to enjoy this important holiday weekend. However, activities that usually accompany it have on occasion made for a bad holiday weekend experience. To name two of those activities that can be problematic are fireworks and boating.
Improper use of fireworks has disrupted neighborhoods, caused property damage and even worse, caused serious injuries to a few. Safety and exercising caution when using fireworks is a priority, with being respectful of your neighbors in a close second. Every year, our County’s law enforcement agencies respond to late hour noise complaints and property damage caused by fireworks. We ask firework enthusiast to be mindful and be careful when using them.
Our county’s shoreline consists of nearly 100 miles of shoreline. Although sun and precipitation free days are in the forecast for this weekend, moderate to strong northerly breezes appear to be on tap through Saturday night. These forecasted winds and cooler air temperatures are likely to create unfavorable boating conditions in the unsheltered and open waters of the county.
If at some point you are able to get out, make sure your boat is properly equipped and observe state and federal laws that pertain to safe boating. For the last several years, Huron County’s north shore has become a very popular kayaking destination.
These waters have also been the scene of many emergency situations involving kayaks, which have included near death experiences, as well as death. Kayakers are strongly encouraged to understand that even though this time of year is considered to be the unofficial start of summer, water temperatures are only in the near 50 degree range and short term exposure in it can lead to hypothermia.
Kayakers also need to know their physical limits while kayaking, along with understanding exactly what type of sea conditions their kayak can take. Near shore southerly breezes can also leave a false impression of favorable kayaking but the further you go offshore, the waves and currents do increase and it does become difficult to return. Under no circumstance should anyone venture out without a proper fitting life jacket. The most common causes of death in kayaking accidents are overturning or falling overboard.
This has occurred too many times in our county and simply possessing a life jacket could have been the difference between life or death. If you don’t have a life jacket in the Port Austin area, an assortment will be available at the life jacket station on the Bird Creek Beach, courtesy of a 3rd year effort of our office, the Village of Port Austin and the Port Austin Fire Department.
This further narrows the excuses of why someone left shore without a life jacket. When done with the borrowed life jacket after their trip, all that has to be done is return it. Last year our Marine Deputies issued nearly 100 total tickets, with the majority to kayakers for not having a life jacket. Besides the importance of a life jacket and having proper attire for the cold water conditions, we ask kayakers to at least carry a cellular phone in some type of water proof container.
One other very important safety precaution is to always let someone know where you’re going and when you’re supposed to be back. We also ask that kayakers be respectful to property owners and their privacy rights.
Several trespassing complaints have been handled, many resulting in enforcement action.”
