Last Thursday afternoon (July 19) seventeen people were killed on Table Rock Lake (near Branson, Missouri) when their boat capsized during a storm. Sixteen of the victims were tourists and one was a crew member.
The boat was a DUKW, better known as a duck boat. The duck boat is a six-wheel amphibious modification of the CCKW truck - and it was used by the U.S. Military during World War II.
I've always considered duck boats to be unsafe and would never ride in one. I don't think they should be used for tourists, and most especially not during a storm.
I'm only slightly familiar with duck boats - - but I'm very familiar with Table Rock Lake and Missouri storms.
When I lived in the Missouri Ozarks I visited Branson many times. I also sailed on Table Rock Lake countless times with my "friend" (I'm using that term very loosely - use your imaginations). We used to sail on his catamaran and were often recklessly drunk at the time. We got caught in more than one storm there and it's a very sobering experience.
When I heard the news about the recent boating tragedy at Table Rock Lake it touched me deeply and resurrected memories.
I loved the Ozarks and felt at home there. It is an intriguing and haunting place. The main reason I left was because of the very frequent and extremely severe storms. I never experienced more terrifying storms in my entire life.
Tennessee has bad storms. Two nights ago we had severe storms and were under a Tornado Watch - - but they are nothing compared to the Ozark storms.
I vowed that I wasn't going to blog for awhile due to many personal problems that I'm presently going through - but vows, I suppose, are meant to be broken.
I haven't been reading any blogs lately, but I didn't forget you....
Another photo of Table Rock Lake
That was a sad story. I heard about that and thought did they not learn from that when the same thing happened in Philadelphia years ago? Philly had a duck boat also for tourist, same company I believe. Ride the Duck, it was called. One could ride through the most historic square miles in America and through philly’s famous museum district, and Independence Hall before entering the Delaware River. The boat struck another boat and sank. Two Hungarians tourist went missing, to my knowledge never found, and 12 others sent fatally to the hospital. Then in 2015 another duck boat stuck and killed a tourist from Texas. Since then their insurance premiums went to 330% so the company finally folded here. Between the insurance and lawsuits here alone, I don't know how the company still survives at all.
ReplyDeleteI still miss you, but take the time you need. It's just a bit darker without your post music and humor.
Wow, I never heard about those tragedies in Philly - it's a relief to know that the company finally folded (but far too late). I heard of another duck boat accident that happened years ago somewhere in Arkansas, it might have been in Hot Springs. I think twelve people were killed.
DeleteHopefully things will improve for me soon (is that asking too much??).
I just haven't been in a humorous mood lately. I'm in my Heathcliff mode.
I don't think DUKWs look very safe either. What an awful tragedy that was. I don't think I'd like a place with heavy storms, although now and then I like to be able to sit inside and watch a real howler. Just not too often! I'm sorry the problems are continuing but glad to see another post from you, I miss em when they are not there! :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoy a "howler" once in awhile, too - but I never appreciated them in the Ozarks. Those duck boats have always unnerved me. I just don't like the way they look.
DeleteHopefully things in my chaotic life will improve soon and I'll be back to my old self (now there's a frightening thought....)
That's so sad! If you are taking tourists out you would need to keep track of the weather and why wouldn't they head for shore with storms coming? Apparently they didn't do either of those things. Tragic!
ReplyDeleteThe whole tragedy shows a LOT of irresponsibility and could probably have been avoided. It was sheer insanity to risk the lives of people out in that boat when there were storm watches and warnings. This storm wasn't just a freak fluke of nature - - there are always lots of dangerous storms in the Branson area, especially around this time of year. They should have monitoring the weather closely.
DeleteI think I read that nine of the victims were related. I also read that one of the survivors said they were told that they didn't need to bother with life jackets. Sheer incompetence.
ReplyDeleteSending positive thoughts your way, Jon. Hope things get better soon.
Your right - nine of the victims were from one family. One woman lost her husband and three children - what a heartbreaking tragedy!! They were from Indianapolis. This was indeed complete incompetence and hopefully the duck boat tours will be shut down forever (but too late...).
DeleteI definitely need positive thoughts....but I'm cautiously optimistic. Thanks.
I never considered the Ozarks as being a particular storm magnet. Thanks for the head's up … I won't be frequenting that anytime soon. Totally 'get' what you're saying about certain places resurrecting memories. I did that quite a bit last week, driving around spots I used to frequent in Tampa/St. Pete. Nostalgia overload.
ReplyDeleteI would have never believed the ferocity and frequency of those Ozark storms if I hadn't experienced them myself. I've heard somewhere that it has to do with the force of air that comes up from the Gulf of Mexico.....but I'm no scientist.....
DeleteI hope your stay in Florida was an enjoyable one.
I thrive on nostalgia overload.
having ridden the ducks in the wisconsin dells and visted the Ozarks without storms i too am greatly saddened by this tragedy. life is so short.
ReplyDeleteI honestly didn't know there were so many tourist duck boats around until I recently started reading about them. I really like the Ozarks but couldn't handle all the storms. I lived in Springfield - which I believe is the storm capital of the world (*smile*)
DeleteI understand the feelings, a tragedy connected to a place you have real connection to is especially difficult. The Duck boats are difficult enough, the canopy and side curtains make them very difficult to evacuate, unsafe.
ReplyDeleteI'm no expert, but the duck boats look extremely unsafe to me - and, as you pointed out, they're difficult to evacuate.
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