Sometimes we can get too comfortable with our surroundings and forget about the wrath of nature.The Category Four Hurricane that is currently sweeping through Gulf of Mexico has landed in Louisiana destroying homes, power lines and oil infrastructure as it advances.
The most powerful nation in the world can do little but watch and hope evacuation orders ensure that lives are not lost.
Natures fury struck close to home last night on a rugged beach on the Northeast Avalon. A series of rouge waves rolled onto Middle Cove Beach, a popular tourist spot which has become a mecca for bonfires. My family and I enjoy the beach. We have the occasional fire with friends. At night the beach is alive with dozens of fires.
Last evening giant waves rushed up the beach and caused havoc and chaos as unsuspecting people were swept towards the ocean. A number of people were sent to hospital after they were rescued. Most of the fires occur well above the high tide mark.
Apparently, the waves swept water up as far as far as the parking lot which is 100-120 feet from the waters edge. Keeping in mind that the area is a bowl, these must have been giant swells. Lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers were swept away as hero's grabbed as many people as possible and got them to safety.
If we had not come out to St. Bernard's for the weekend, chances are that we would have been down there for a fire last night. Instead we had our day on the water and a fire in pop's backyard fire pit.
Rouge waves have been known to wash people off the rocks and shores along the rugged coast. I can remember being warned about teasing the waves. A practice where kids run down the beach after a big wave has crashed on the rocks and follow the foam as it retreats and than boot it back up again before the next wave crashes. Despite warnings tourists and locals have been washed off the rocks at Cape Spear and Fort Amherst.
On October 15, 1989 Pierre Gallien, Gregory P. Peddle, and Raymond C. Welcher perished when their fast rescue craft overturned in an attempt to rescue a diver off Middle Cove.
Thank god no one was killed. It just goes to show that mother nature and the fury of the sea are to be respected and feared!
2 comments:
They were not trying to dopen a rescue at that point it was a retrieval of my father's body who died 2 days prior. And from all records they had found his body at the time their boat capsized.
Thanks for the clarification. Sorry about your loss
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