4 men rescued near Tybee Island Saturday after bad weather, officials say
At least four men were rescued Saturday afternoon after they were stranded on Tybee Island in 30 mph winds and 8-foot waves, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Sunday via social media.
The men, who were camping overnight Friday on the island, were running out of food and water supplies and were unable to get back to the mainland on their kayaks, the Coast Guard said in a press release Sunday. A helicopter crew transferred all four men to a boat ramp on the south side of the island.
The aircrew conducted three landings to get the kayakers to the mainland, according to the rescue’s flight mechanic, Dylan Melton.
“We remind all mariners to stay vigilant and constantly monitor weather conditions including wind speeds prior to and during underway voyages,” Melton said.
The men were in stable condition following their rescue, the press release said.
‘Freeze Watch’
Over the weekend, high winds between 50 and 60 mph overturned vehicles and caused power outages, according to previous reporting from the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. A power outage map from Dominion Energy reported outages Saturday for 305 customers on St. Helena Island, 237 in the Beaufort-Port Royal area and 66 in Bluffton.
A freeze watch has been issued until Monday at 9 a.m. by the National Weather Service. Temperatures as low as 32 degrees are expected in portions of southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia.
The drop in temperature could harm crops and outdoor plumbing, the Federal Emergency Management Agency warned Sunday. To prevent the possible burst of outdoor water pipes, residents can drain and wrap them, FEMA said. People with in-ground sprinkler systems can drain them and cover pipes that are above ground to prevent any freezing.
The National Weather Service in Charleston forecasts winds between 8 and 14 mph Sunday on Tybee Island. Winds are expected to calm down Sunday night with a high near 49 and a low of 45 degrees. In Beaufort County, the high is estimated to be around 51 degrees during the day and can drop to as low as 39 degrees at night, the NWS said. Winds from 7 to 9 mph are expected throughout the day and will calm down at night.
