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Positive signs at river’s mouth
Published October 21, 2009
The expression goes that some people need a figurative 2-by-4 across the head before they get the message.
Freeport officials are hoping a couple of 4-by-8s before the eyes will do the trick with fishermen and beachgoers.
The message intends to be large, bilingual and direct: Avoid the mouth of the Brazos River. People who don’t too often die.
It’s a message those of us who live near the Gulf Coast know well when we head to Bryan Beach. We’ve read the sad stories of when people waded near the mouth of the Brazos River and were swept into the Gulf by unexpectedly swift currents. Usually when that happens, a funeral follows in the days immediately after.
That’s what happened Oct. 11, when Houston residents Terrill Richmond, 28, and Damian Crumity, 29, died after being swept into the Gulf while fishing at the river’s mouth. Another Houston man, 46-year-old Francisco Garcia, died last year saving his 9-year-old nephew who was caught in the current. Two years ago, the rip current claimed a 6-year-old Richmond boy.
Each of those tragedies occurred despite there being signs in place warning of the danger of the area, and frequent reminders in The Facts — both stories and editorial — to not go into the water there without a life jacket. It hasn’t been enough.
The signs have a tendency to fall over because of the changing terrain and also have been vandalized by passers-by. And stories in the local paper don’t do much good if you live in Houston or Fort Bend County.
Freeport now will go big so people can go home safely. City employees are working to create large signs — probably 4 feet high by 8 feet wide — warning of the swift currents at the river’s mouth. The warnings will be spelled out both in English and Spanish.
Recognizing many of the casualties are visitors to the area, the city also is reaching out to Houston TV stations — again including Spanish-speaking outlets — asking them to do stories about the risk. We hope those stations take up Freeport’s suggestion that could prevent a tragedy before they have to report on one.
We would prefer, as would area law enforcement, the Coast Guard and other would-be rescuers, to not have to tell another story about someone losing their life at the Brazos River mouth. We think the more noticeable signs and communicating with potential visitors through Houston-area media are good steps for getting out the message that can save lives.
This editorial was written by Michael Morris, assistant managing editor of The Facts.
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