The Awesome Power of Nature, Sometimes Terrifying, Sometimes Deadly

[Jack Flash]

It happened again over the weekend: a teen is missing and presumed dead after going swimming in Lake Michigan despite red flag warnings. Finally, officials had to close the beach, and even put up barricades because people were still trying to go in the water! (Teen presumed drowned in Lake Michigan; South Haven beach closed - mlive.com)

People drown every summer all over the country, but the Big Lake is not just like the old swimming hole we knew as children. Its rip currents can carry even strong swimmers miles from shore where they drown or die of hypothermia.

When the waves are high, people go out on the piers, not realizing how that volume of water can instantly sweep them into the lake to be bashed to death against the rocks.

A few years back, about this time of year, a young couple from Chicago came to South Haven to enjoy a night out. After dinning in a restaurant, they ignored all the "High Waves / Dangerous Conditions" warning signs went out on the pier to I guess experience the raw power of Nature.

Her body washed up on shore about a week later. They didn't find the guy's body till the next spring. The raw power of Nature indeed.

This sets me wondering about other states and how all over the country, particularly the East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast, Mountain States, Desert States, and can't forget Alaska, have stories of a similar nature. Let's hear them!

 

[JJEH]

The Awesome Power of Nature, Sometimes Terrifying, Sometimes Deadly

But always beautiful!

A sad story indeed. Many red flags are being ignored and some people pay the price.

We just had another Ft. Hood soldier die... drowned as well. Just sad...

 

[walkinghorse]

Around here it is people of all ages overestimating their abilities and underestimating altitude, heat and or cold, ruggedness of terrain, and how rapidly the weather can change.
And forgetting what a fire warning means! Custer County Search and Rescue stays busy as do the fire fighters!

 

[Rule3]

I have lost count, to many to remeber
What is even worse is the number of children drown in backyard swimming pools, Not just in Florida.


Then of course there is the number who die in HOT cars. The numbers will amaze you!.

 

[Rudi]

Nature is bigger than you.

 

[Sistema1927]

Around here, if we get "red flag" warnings it means that idiots shouldn't try to announce the gender of their baby using pyrotechnics.

 

[steelslaver]

Here mostly it is the brutal cold. You get complacent in the winter and it can kill you. Every winter it gets a few, snowmobiles, hunters, motorist on back roads. Avalanches are deadly too.

 

[6518John]

Around here it is people of all ages overestimating their abilities and underestimating altitude, heat and or cold, ruggedness of terrain, and how rapidly the weather can change.

I was working on a bat-winged, 18 foot brush hog last summer removing the guards on the gear boxes to grease the U-Joints. It was blazing hot, although fairly early in the morning. I was also working up on top of the metal deck of the brush hog.

I am fanatical about hydration and being careful, but was caught up in my work. I am afraid I am not as young and tough as I thought I use to be.

I stood up, stepped off the brush hog. That is the last thing I remember. The next thing I remember is waking-up looking at the sky and shooing away the grasshopper that was walking around on my face! I remember driving back to the shop, and my 15 year old driving me to the emergency clinic. Then the nice men driving me to the hospital in the back of an ambulance.

After a night in the hospital and a bunch of IV's, plus a lecture from my doctor, I was fine.

So when I point a finger at people doing stupid stuff, I have three fingers pointing back at me. At least I was going to go out working, not fooling around. I was going to file a comp claim, but I am excluded as the farm owner! I thought about a lawsuit, but you can't sue yourself for your own stupidity. I complain to the boss every morning in the mirror, but I haven't started answering myself. . . Yet! I am sure those days will come.

 

[Absalom]

This sets me wondering about other states and how all over the country, particularly the East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast, Mountain States, Desert States, and can't forget Alaska, have stories of a similar nature. Let's hear them!

On the Oregon and Washington coast, it's big logs. Lots of big trees along the PNW coastline up into Alaska means a lot of heavy-duty driftwood. These behemoths are fun to play on and around, but waves sneak up and move and roll them, and people die almost every year.

Just a random example:

Teen killed by log on Bandon beach identified - oregonlive.com

 

[snuffy51]

Best way to get old is to maybe stop and think every now and then. Your mother is not always around.

 

[Oracle]

I did a career in the U.S. Coast Guard, I served three years in the rescue coordination center Honolulu. Not a single year goes by without persons underestimating the power of nature. The north shore of Oahu especially during the winter has very heavy conditions. People wade out to get the dramatic super heavy surf film footage of a lifetime and for some it is exactly that.

 

[Kurusu]

Nature is beautiful, powerful... and ruthless.






And unforgiving.

 

[Rustyt1953]

The Cincinnati Coast Guard Station is 25 miles SW of me. Between barge traffic, boating accidents, flooding, drug trafficing, law enforcement duties and body recovery they stay busy.

The Ohio has taken many a life and is not to be trifled with.

 

[walkin jack]

Tragic story! Mother nature can be beautiful and also very dangerous. Never lose your your respect for Mother Nature. It could cost you your life.

 

[Jack Flash]

The Rocky Mountains are also not to be trifled with.

Years ago I was a co-op student working at IBM-Boulder (CO). They had an orientation for us in one of the large cafeterias where they had speakers tell us about the beauty of the area, various do's and don'ts, etc.

One speaker told us that many times co-op students get carried away seeing rock climbers going up sheer cliffs and decide to dive into the sport without learning to properly use the equipment or develop the muscle and stamina to safely participate in the sport.

He concluded that every summer, IBM would lose at least one co-op student who was killed in a fall when he attempted a climb he had no business being on.

 

[DeathGrip]

Don't nap under the coconut tree.

 

[Texas Star]

Many think signs don't apply to THEM.

I'm a bit concerned that recent shark programming may lead some to believe that sharks are basically friendly and curious. But some do attack, and results can be very grim.

If you see a beach sign warning of, Sharks/Tiburones, STAY ASHORE! There's probably been a recent attack

 

[vonn]

I am always amazed by the people who humanize animals and then wonder what happened when things go south.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I am always amazed by the people who humanize animals and then wonder what happened when things go south.

Walt Disney cast the hunter as the bad guy in 1942 with "Bambi".

 

[DeathGrip]

I am always amazed by the people who humanize animals and then wonder what happened when things go south.

PHOTO BOMB!!!!!