For about the past four hours the Coast Guard has been transmitting urgent notices on VHF Channel 16 notifying boaters that they've received reports of "a person in the water."
There's been too much static, every time, to make out a specific location beyond "Chesapeake Bay" but that's an awfully, awfully big place.
Given the chance to write down a list of "Things I'd Like to Avoid And Not Think About," finding myself floating alone in a vast body of water subject to strong tides and currents, especially at night, would surely be found close to the top of the list.
Apparently no one, not even the Coast Guard, knows exactly where that lost person might be or exactly where to start looking; in essence, their broadcasts are asking boaters to be aware of a report of "a person in the water."
But imagine this what-if: What If the lost person also had a way of communicating, like a hand-held radio ... and could immediately respond to the message heard from the folks who're searching, standing by and ready to assist with the rescue?
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11:15 am 2:00 pm 6:00 pm EST
