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Racine deploys water safety enhancements, beaches on Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is considered the deadliest of the Great Lakes. Numbers show Lake Michigan has had the most drownings in the past two years. Now, Racine wants to change that.
RACINE, Wis. - Lake Michigan is considered the deadliest of the Great Lakes. Numbers show Lake Michigan has had the most drownings in the past two years. Now, Racine wants to change that.
"We’re not messing around anymore and we want people to enjoy the lake but we owe it to our citizens to mitigate drownings as much as possible," said Jonathan Delagrave, Racine County Executive.
Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave
"We have very swift water currents. These high power currents that are getting people into trouble just behind me," said Capt. Bradley Friend of the Racine County Sheriff's Office and Dive Team Commander.
On Thursday, July 7, Racine County, city officials, and community safety personnel discussed technological upgrades that could prove to be life-saving on Racine's North Beach and Zoo Beach.
No lifeguards on duty sign at North Beach in Racine
The upgrades start with new signs that people will see at both North and Zoo beaches. The signs will highlight some of the dangers that Lake Michigan presents. The Racine County Sheriff's Office also plans to deploy a small Zodiac boat, a pair of rapid-response jet skis, and more.
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"Utilizing drone systems to help drop, what we call here a rescue stick, a self-inflation buoy so to speak. If we have someone that's in trouble, we can fly one of these drones out and drop one of these rescue sticks out to the water to help that person who is in need," Friend said. "In addition, we have remote control buoys that can be driven out to someone that's struggling in the water -- and it gives them a stable platform until our rescuers, lifeguards, or our boat patrol gets on scene.
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Racine deploys water safety enhancements along beaches on Lake Michigan
Racine officials talk about recent water safety enhancements deployed at beaches along Lake Michigan.
The dive team commander said boat patrol will also upgrade its sonar systems – and be able to get to a person in need quicker.
"Some rapid response jet skis which will be outfitted for dive rescue personnel which can get on scene much quicker than a large boat like that," Friend said.
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The Racine County Executive said the new tech costs $150,000.
"It’s one-time money and we feel that’s pretty reasonable price to… for county taxpayers to mitigate potential drownings," Delagrave said.
Racine mayor Cory Mason said the city spent a similar amount of money on technology and water safety improvements.
North Beach, Racine
The technology is great, but it takes cooperation from the public, Mason reiterated.
"We still need people to follow the rules," Mason said. "We still need people, ah, this help us mitigate the drownings that might occur. But we still need people to listen and follow the safety instructions that are there if there is a dangerous undertow; it is not safe to be in the water."
Racine Mayor Cory Mason
Learn more information about the Racine County Dive Team.