Mayor presents proclamation to Tellico Lake U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla

Loudon County Mayor Buddy Bradshaw presented the Tellico Lake U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla on Friday afternoon, May 3, with a proclamation acknowledging and supporting the upcoming National Safe Boating Week, which will be held May 18-24.

According to a press release from the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), NSBC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service are celebrating 25 years of partnership for the annual National Safe Boating Week.

BE RESPONSIBLE

National Safe Boating Week is held annually the week before Memorial Day as part of the NSBC’s Safe Boating Campaign, a global awareness effort that encourages boaters to make the most of their boating adventure by being responsible.

NSBC and NOAA offer boating safety resources online at www.safeboatingcampaign.com/resources/national-safe-boating-week-toolkit and www.weather.gov/safety/safeboating-week.

Accepting the proclamation was USCG Auxiliary members Jim Robosan, Steve Hyde and Ron Kopp.

“It’s tremendous that we recognize and promote boater safety,” said Bradshaw.

“Look at our many hundreds of acres of water and the many tragedies that we’ve had (in Loudon County).

“We don’t want any more of those, and it’s just important that people act like they have some sense when they get out there is the biggest part.”

Bradshaw said boater safety is particularly important in Loudon County due to an immense part of the county’s tourism and industry relating to water sports.

“We appreciate these guys and all they do,” Bradshaw said.

DROWNINGS, ETC.

On average, 700 people die each year in boating-related accidents in the United States, according to the proclamation. Nearly 70 percent of those deaths are caused by accidental drownings.

With most of these cases, wearing a life jacket and being educated on safe boating practices could have prevented deaths.

“Some of the stuff we’re doing right now for boaters safety is getting the boats ready. We’re doing a lot of vessel safety checks right now,” Robosan said.

VESSEL CHECKS

“We schedule at different marinas to come in and check your boat out to make sure you have all the right life jackets, throwable cushions, fire extinguishers. … All the proper stuff you need for your boat so if you do have trouble, you have the right equipment to be safe.”

Boat owners can schedule a vessel check at their home, as well.

Kopp said it can be $200 an item if the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) pulls a boater over and they don’t have the proper safety equipment.

The Tellico Lake Auxiliary performs free vessel safety checks and training to anyone in the area.

Information about the Tellico Lake USCG Auxiliary, and how to schedule a safety check, can be found at www.tellicolife.org/us-coast-guard-auxiliary.