ABSTRACT
Ofšcial statistics from the National Weather Service (NWS) show that in the past 20 years the state of Florida has had more deaths from rip currents than from more notorious natural phenomena such as hurricanes, lightning, and tornadoes combined (Figure 7.1). Various estimates of the number of U.S. rip fatalities range from 35 to 200 annually. Worldwide, the number of rip current-related deaths is not well known, but an estimated 155 nations face rip currents.
