Many of us read about the freak thunderstorm that capsized 63 paddlers in the Chicago River around the 4th of July. Screaming children, valiant rescuers, negligent kayak tour companies, all the stuff that makes for great press and human interest. Hell, maybe we need to regulate those renegade kayak outfitters since we all know that every time something unsafe happens the cure is more regulation, right? Well, it seems that the Chicago Tribune, TV news, and all the other media outlets that jumped on this story like a mongrel on a juicy T-bone may have had it a bit wrong. More like completely wrong actually, if the trip report from Dave Olson, owner of Kayak Chicago, is correct. I have to thank Jeff Forseth of
SeaKayakSafety and fellow instructor/crony/
CASKA big shot Haris Subacius for the heads up on this story.
First of all I have to say that I automatically believe anything that comes from a guy named Dave Olson. I have met a few of us over the years and have found that we are all trustworty, loyal, helpful, friendly....you former Boy Scouts can fill in the rest of the adjectives. There are seven of us Dave Olson's with the same middle initial as mine in the Minneapolis phone book. This can be a double edged sword. I once received a phone call while in college from a woman that wanted to recap our wild weekend and get together soon. When I continued to express my ignorance of this wonderful liaison she finally realized I wasn't the Dave Olson she was looking for, got pissed, and hung up. To this day I wonder just how good of a time I really had with this mystery woman. Too often we are quick to jump to the conclusion that a tour company is irresponsible and is out for the almighty dollar rather than a responsible business that facilitates people to learn and enjoy our sport. Like human beings in general, there are shady operations out there, but the vast majority are ethical and reputable. From the detailed and factual incident report that I will publish in full along with Haris's preface, it would appear that everything was done by the book and according to procedure. It also becomes apparent that the authorities and the media seemed to create the story that they thought people wanted to hear. Without further adieu, here is the 'rest of the story', apologies to Paul Harvey:
The following story titled "Crews rescue 62 kayakers swamped in Chicago River during Storm"
appeared in the Chicago Tribune on July 1, 2012. The reporter, Erin
Meyer, made it sound like an unprecedented event in kayaking history—has
anyone ever heard of over 60 people needing rescue after a kayaking
accident. Lively debates immediately sprung up on CASKA and PCP bulletin boards as well as several places on Facebook (see CASKA and Inland Seas, Kayaking the Great Lakes).
The Tribune report surely made it sound like kayak vendors were
negligent in their duty to their customers. Curiously, the perspective
of the kayak vendors themselves was entirely absent from the story—a
sure red flag for anyone looking or a complete account.
As a representative of Chicago's paddling community, one of
CASKA's roles is to provide that community with information so that we
can make educated safe choices when it comes to paddling. Kayak Chicago and Water Riders
(mislabeled as Waveriders in the Trib article) are two of the providers
of kayak rentals, tours and lessons for the Chicago paddling public.
We reached out to them seeking their side of the story.
Attached you will find three incident reports provided to us by
the Kayak Chicago staff. We were in touch with Water Riders and will
publish their report on this blog as soon as it is available.
Let us know what you think, or if you have questions, or if additional information and reflection would be helpful.
Haris Subačius
President – Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Association
Incident report
We started the day as normal.
Guides and staff arrived at work at 9am, to prepare for our morning
Architectural History tour from 10am - 1pm. As always, radar was
checked, nothing showed up on radar and it was predicted to be a nice
day.
Participants for the tour were checked in and the day began as normal.
Participants were divided into three groups, Group 1 had 23 guests
and three guides, group 2 had 23 guests and 3 guides, and group 3 had 12
guests and 2 guides.
All lead guides are ACA certified instructors, and our guide to participant ratio is 1-8.
At 10:00am, all participants start with an on-land orientation in
kayaks, teaching paddle strokes, safety and rules of the river. Upon
launching the kayaks, all guests are given a balance check, making sure
they understand how to balance their boat.
Each group, then gathered on the water and was given another balance
check and a recap on paddle strokes. Once the group was comfortable, we
began the tour with a group, and the guides lead the group out.
Our Architectural History tour, is a narrated tour, stopping at
different sites along the river to rest and tell stories of Chicago's
history, architecture and the river.
Along the way, guides help guests refine paddle strokes and ensure
that they are staying to the right, out of the way of all other boats.
The lead guide is always the front of the group, and the sweep takes up
the back, making sure no one falls behind. If the group is large enough
for three guides, the 3rd guide is in the wing position, keeping all
guests to their right.
At 12:03 pm, I noticed the sky becoming grey. I quickly left my
meeting with our landlord and called our office to check radar. As I ran
around the building to our office, our site manager was already on the
phone, calling guides to get everyone off the water at the nearest
emergency take out. Following our safety protocol, all guides are aware
of every emergency take out on the Chicago River and evacuation plan in
the event of an emergency or inclement weather. Our manual and guide
training detail our emergency protocol and every guide is trained as to
how to handle these situations.
All guides are equipped with marine radios, a long tow line, and a
short contact tow on their rescue PFD. All guides also carry cell
phones, bilge pumps and paddle floats, first aid kits, and a spare
paddle. All guides use sea kayaks, spray skirts and high angle paddles
to allow for quick response, sprinting and efficient rescues.
As I got geared up to head to our motorized rescue boats, our land
staff was already assisting group 1, out of their kayaks and back on
land. Group 1 was all accounted for and off the water. Myself and
another lead guide, jumped into two separate rescue boats and motored
down the river to assist groups 2 & 3 to get everyone off the water.
As we motored down the backside of Goose Island the storm hit. We
approached the southern tip of Goose Island, to find 5 capsized kayaks
in the water. I checked on each kayak, and was radioed by our guides on
the water that all five boats in the water were blown off of the dock,
due to high winds. No one was in the kayaks when they blew off the docks
into the water. I checked in with my guides to confirm that all of our
guests were off the water in groups 2 & 3. They confirmed and said
that all guests were safe on land, and they had brought everyone back to
the dock and got them off the water.
During this time, the Chicago Marine Unit was picking up a family of
renters that had rented two tandem kayaks from Wateriders. They were
picked up at Erie park by the Marine Unit and brought on board because
there were two children involved. I was told that there was a total of 3
kayaks from Kayak Chicago's tour that capsized when the winds hit. They
were immediately T-rescued by our guides and escorted to the dock. None
of Kayak Chicago's guests were assisted in any way by the Chicago
Marine unit or Chicago Fire Department both of which were on the scene
in their boats.
Wateriders also had a group on the water, when the storm hit. I
cannot speak for Wateriders, as to how many of their guest capsized but,
in the incident reports written by my guides, they state that they
rescued several of Wateriders' guests. One of our guides stated that he
was assisting a woman with a T-rescue and the Chicago Fire Department
yelled to the woman and instructed her to let go of the kayak and swim
to the sea wall so she could climb out on a rusty broken ladder.
After being told that everyone was accounted for and safe on land, we
motored towards group 3 whom I had spoken to by radio and confirmed
that everyone was safe and on-land. NO ONE capsized in group 3 and all
were off the water and safe when the storm hit.
As I motored to the confluence, I was in radio contact with our lead
guide who was assisting the Marine Unit in rescuing two of Wateriders'
renters downtown. The Marine Unit had Wateriders' guests on board and
our lead guide was towing one of Wateriders tandem kayaks back to the
dock. I took over the tow and we motored back to the dock at the East
Bank Club where the rest of group 3 was waiting with our other guide.
With everyone safe and accounted for, we put the group in cabs to get
back to our river location. I was told that two of the people on land
were Wateriders guests so I put them in my boat and motored them back up
to Wateriders dock. The guides in group 3 stayed behind to daisy chain
the kayaks and tow them back with rescue boat 2.
When I arrived back at Wateriders dock, where group 2 was, I was
greeted by the Chicago Fire Department Chief, who wanted to speak to me
to confirm that everyone was off the water. I confirmed, after all three
of our guides had already confirmed with him. My confirmation was not
good enough for him and he asked me to generate a roster of all
participants on the tour. We called back to our office and had the site
Manager text the list of guest names to our phones as well as the
officer's phone. The Marine Unit called in for a CTA bus to take all
guest back to our river location office.
I docked my boat at Wateriders dock and ran out front to see the bus
off. I was greeted by several officers who were so nervous that they
were shaking while trying to radio their boss. This was well after the
incident was over. Many of the police commended our guides for an
incredible job in getting our groups off the water.
I was then told by the lieutenant that myself and the owner of
Wateriders needed to come back to the Marine Unit station to be cited.
When I asked why, they said we will talk about it in the office. I then
asked permission to finish taking care of our situation so we could get
all of our boats back to the office and greet our guest upon arrival
back at our office. He said that was fine. We collected our gear, and
towed the kayaks back to our location.
Upon my return all the guests had already arrived back and were
checked in and accounted for by our land crew, who again confirmed that
all guest arrived back safely.
Once I had gathered my things, I jumped in my truck to drive to the Marine station.
Once at the station, I was told that the Owner of Wateriders was
already there and left. I was sat down and told that the reason we were
being cited was for negligence. I then produced our procedural manual,
and outlined for all three officers our weather contingency plan,
emergency protocol, and emergency take outs. They were not interested in
the fact that our guides followed our Emergency protocol to the T. They
would not even look at our Manual to show proof of our emergency plan
that was followed. I told the officers that I was extremely proud of my
guides for getting our guests off the water and safe on land. The
officer said that, regardless of anything, we were negligent because we
put guests on the water with an approaching storm. When I told them,
that we were not aware of inclement weather until 12:03pm, which is just
after the Chicago forecast was broadcasted, he told me that I should
have known that the storms were building and approaching. I stated that I
was not in my office watching radar because, when we checked in the
morning, radar was clear and it was a beautiful sunny day. He said, that
doesn't matter, I should have known. He then left the room to go talk
to his boss. When he was out, I was told that the only reason we were
being cited was that someone has to be held responsible due to the
amount of resources that were used. I told them, that we didn't call in
for help and we had our group under control.
When the officer came back in the room, he said, I want to give you
the benefit of the doubt and because the Chicago warning wasn't issued
until noon, he would not cite us. He then said, however the national
weather service issued a warning somewhere at 11:00am. When I asked him
when they were made aware he didn't answer.
I wanted to ask him, if they knew ahead of time, why they were not
out on the river getting people off the water. However, I decided not
to. I later found out that the national weather service didn't issue the
warning until after 11:30am.
After 30 minutes of defending myself and our guides, he stated, "so
you do not think that this citation is warranted." I told him no. He
changed his tone to become nice and friendly and said, well this is my
opinion, and I am entitled to my opinion. I was then forced to sign the
citation, after being told that it does not mean anything and I can
contest it in court. He then walked me out and shook my hand, and said
"Thank you."
I left, and headed back to the office. When I arrived, I was met by
my land manager who had the news up on the computer. The reports given
by the Marine Unit and CFD stated that they rescued over 62 kayakers
from the water and pulled out over 30 who had capsized.
This is a complete fabrication of the story. In fact, none of Kayak
Chicago's guests were rescued by anyone from the Marine Unit or Fire
Department. Our guides took care of our guests, making sure they were
safe and off the water, and then assisted everyone else from Wateriders
group. Wateriders staff was on the dock and they were helping people out
of their kayaks, not the Marine Unit or CFD. I know that there were a
couple people that were pulled out by the Marine Unit, but none of
those, were Kayak Chicago Guests.
Once I saw the news release, I began to get calls from the media
looking for a statement and interviews. I accepted and had several phone
interviews telling our side of the story as to what really happened.
After the first interview, I called the Marine Unit to try and
understand why they would fabricate such an outrageous statement and I
was told that the morning crew had already gone home for the day and
there was no one that was involved that was still there. I explained to
the officer that I was receiving interview requests and he told me that I
should keep my mouth shut and not say anything and consult my lawyer. I
asked him why and he stated that I should not talk to the media. With
that, I then proceeded to accept every phone interview and on-camera
interview so that we could get the real story out.
Since then, my interviews have been taken out of context and changed to fit what the media thinks makes for a good story.
I am truly appalled that the Marine unit and the Chicago Fire
Department are taking credit for all of the rescues and make it sound as
if there were over 30 people capsized and swimming in the river. They
made the situation sound 10 times worse than it actually was. They never
even made mention of the fact that our guides did the majority of the
rescues.
I was also told by my land manager that one of the Officers came into
the office and complimented our staff and guides for a great job on the
river today. The Officer then said, my shirt is wet, can I have one of
your Kayak Chicago shirts. He was given a shirt. This Officer then
reported later that we did nothing wrong.
I will say, that I am very happy that we have the resources available
to us, in the time of an emergency, and was happy that they were there
to help but I cannot believe that they are blaming the situation on us
for not being able to get our groups off the water in time. The original
predictions for the storm were expected to hit at 1:30pm, which would
have given us ample time to get off the water, 30 minutes before it was
projected to hit Chicago. The storm, was moving so fast that it arrived
almost an hour before it was supposed to. Unfortunately, due to the
design of the Chicago River being constructed of concrete walls, there
are only so many take-outs that are accessible by kayak.
What have we learned from this event?
It is now standard a policy that we keep radar up on the office
computer at all times and check it every half hour even on a beautiful,
sunny days.
I learned what a media frenzy can do and that I cannot even trust the word of those that are supposed to protect us.
Chicago weather is extremely un-predictable. We have cancelled
numerous tours this season, and over the 13 years that we have been in
business, due to the possibility of a potential storm that could
possibly hit Chicago. Nine times out of 10 times the storm either
dissipates or changes course and never hits Chicago.
Once again, I am extremely proud of our guides as to how they handled
the situation. They followed our standard safety procedures and were
able to get all of our guests off the water to safety.
In the end, the fact that everyone is safe and no one was injured is what matters most.
This is the first, and only incident, we have ever had in the 13
years that we have been guiding tours and teaching classes in Chicago.
Dave Olson 7/2/2012
I would suggest that anyone reading this pass it on to fellow kayakers and help get the word out on what would seem to have been a well organized and effective response to an 'act of nature' that unpredictable and sometimes violent entity that often conspires to throw us off our game. Too often our sport gets a black eye when 'kayakers' a very loose description that encompasses everyone from BCU/ACA certified coaches to the knucklehead in the 8 foot rec boat heading for the sea caves on Lake Superior in cutoffs and a T shirt, make the news in a negative way. I think this story, as Dave Olson recounts it, is a very positive one, a story that should reassure people thinking about giving kayaking a try.
(storm photo via Amy Keyes)
