Rip Current — Coastal Chatham, Georgia

2015-09-27 · Coastal Chatham, Georgia

Event narrative

Chatham County Emergency Management reported that rip currents in the waters off of Tybee Island caused 3 fatalities and 2 injuries in a group of people during a religious celebration. First responders on the scene pulled 5 people out of the water and rushed 4 of them to Memorial University Medical Center. Two of those pulled from the water were pronounced dead at the hospital and crews searched area waters for a third person for 2 days following the event. This person was never found and was presumed deceased.

Wider weather episode

The combination of persistent and strong northeast winds, and elevated tides due to astronomical influences resulted in an enhanced risk of rip currents along the southeast Georgia coast.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 602563. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.