Port Huron’s 50th annual Float Down is set for next Sunday, and local officials are urging participants to bring more than a pool float and optimism to the St. Clair River. The roughly seven-mile drift begins at Lighthouse Beach and runs toward locations leading up to Chrysler Beach in Marysville, sending floaters into a fast-moving international waterway.
According to MLive, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department is asking participants to have a properly fitted life jacket for every person, stay hydrated, keep a first-aid kit nearby and remain aware of their surroundings. Officials also recommend wearing water shoes, watching for underwater hazards and arranging reliable transportation before getting in the river.
Why Deputies Keep Treating It Like A Rescue Operation
The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Marine Division is responsible for waterways across the county and works with local law enforcement, federal agencies, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and area fire departments during emergencies. The department’s annual report says its 34-member marine division oversees safety at several major water events, including the Float Down, while also conducting patrols, inspections and search-and-rescue operations.
The warnings are rooted in more than general boating advice. In a joint statement, the Canadian Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard said a 19-year-old experienced swimmer drowned during the 2014 Float Down, prompting a cross-border search-and-rescue effort that was suspended after 36 hours. In 2016, high winds and heavy rain pushed about 1,500 participants toward the Canadian shoreline, leaving some stranded, injured or suffering from hypothermia.
The scale of the event can overwhelm even a large response effort. About 5,000 people took part in the 2017 Float Down, when more than 160 people needed assistance and three were rescued, according to MLive. This year’s checklist also calls for working navigation lights, a proper fire extinguisher, the required number of unexpired flares and adequate cabin ventilation to prevent carbon dioxide poisoning on enclosed vessels.
Cold Water And A Border Can Complicate A Casual Float
The Float Down has drawn repeated warnings because fast current, cold water, changing weather, alcohol use and limited rescue resources can turn a leisurely drift into a serious emergency. Last year’s warning likewise urged people to use the buddy system, carry identification in waterproof bags, avoid alcohol and mark flotation devices with contact information.
On a river where participants can be swept toward another country or separated from their group, preparation is the one part of the day they can control. The 50th anniversary may make the Float Down feel especially celebratory, but responders are asking everyone to treat next Sunday as a serious water-safety operation.
