Coast Guard emphasizes safety on water after 1,500 Americans float into Canada
The image of hundreds of Americans on inflatable rafts and makeshift platforms bobbing helplessly down the St. Clair River as strong winds pushed them towards the Canadian shore is one Peter Garapick isn’t going to forget.
The Canadian Coast Guard superintendent of search and rescue was on the water near Sarnia, Ont., when the festive air of the unsanctioned Port Huron Float Down turned tense as participants realized they were drifting towards a foreign country without their passports, cash or much clothing.
Now, just two weeks after some 1,500 stranded Americans were rescued, corralled and shuttled home, Canadian and U.S. authorities have met to discuss how they’ll prepare for next year’s event.
“I’m very proud of the multi-agency response in Canada and the States, we worked very well together,” said Garapick. “But we will engage and start the conversation with people who think they’re going to consider this and say, you know, start talking safety.”