Our Story

By Judy Schink​

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It was a beautiful sun-kissed afternoon on February 13, 2021 when Dave went kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico.  He told me, “We’ll go for a walk when I get back.”  Walking on the beach together was a regular part of our six years of being snowbirds in Florida.  However, as the sun began to set and Dave did not appear for our walk, I worried and called 911.   I was told to contact the Coast Guard Station in Destin, Florida and the search began.  Soon officers arrived from the local Okaloosa Sheriff’s Department, and then from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation to fill out the reports needed to join in the search efforts.   They called in additional drone operators and marine unit officers.  Each agency moved forward and the search for Dave expanded.

The night passed with no news of Dave.  Then morning greeted us with the heaviest fog of the year.  The Coast Guard sent out a “PAN” radio message for emergency help.  They needed “eyes on the water”; a term they used for those helping look in a maritime event.  Earlier, the Coast Guard told us that they usually get a really strong turnout.  However, that day due to the dense fog creating a near zero visibility on the water, few were on their boats to hear the emergency call for help. Only one boat that morning showed up capable of handling the gulf waters.  The dense fog had also grounded the two search planes.  The available helicopter crew couldn’t see much either.  On land, it was agonizing waiting for the sun to burn off the fog.  We were crestfallen to hear of the poor turnout to the PAN radio alert. We knew there were numerous boats in the harbor, but they were masked in the gray hazy mist.  The fog advisory had kept most captains at home and without the ham radios turned on, there was no way to ask for their help

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Eventually, the fog lifted.  That afternoon, they located Dave’s kayak and half of a broken paddle, but Dave was not in sight.  A race with time was now critical for Dave was definitely in the water and the ocean’s temperature was only 55° F.  We did not give up hope though.  Dave had several things going for him.  He had a knack for solving complex problems and often worked on top secret government computer programs.  His co-workers called him “crazy smart” and  “MacGyver.”   Another positive was Dave jogged or biked daily and was in great shape. He was on the swim team in college and still swam like a fish.  I had watched him put on his lifejacket, so he should be floating along even if he was tired beyond swimming.  Before arriving in Florida, Dave had put the recommended emergency whistle and a flashlight into the kayak’s airtight cubby.  He was also wearing a windbreaker and long pants to help keep him warm.  So, although it was becoming doubtful, the Coast Guard decided to continue the search.  Since the fog had dissipated, the airplanes could now take flight and the air crews could see again.

While the hours passed, family and friends gathered around.  Our eldest son, Dan, had grabbed a flight from Minneapolis and joined in the wait for what we were praying would be good news.   Upon arriving he heard about the visibility problem during the start of the search since the heavy fog had limited the use of the search planes and helicopter.  Next, he learned about how no one was on their boats to hear the PAN radio call for help and the weak one boat response.  Dan then exclaimed, “We need an Amber Alert for boats.”  I replied, “Yeah, and we’ll call it Aqua Alert.”   The officer waiting for news with our family looked at us and responded, “That’s a great idea!  That’s a really great idea!  You have to tell my partner.”

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We then, started filling the time with ideas to help in searches.  We came up with a more few good ideas such as: 1) glow in the dark or infra-red fabric required on lifejackets and infra-red fibers mixed into the plastics of kayaks/paddleboards so they would show up for those wearing night goggles during searches, 2)metal bars embedded into the haul so radar could ping and locate missing paddle craft, 3) webwatchers- volunteers that would review recent video from building roof cameras for an Aqua Alert’s missing vessel, 4) safety chains so paddles couldn’t separate as Dave’s had.  More and more ideas bounced around until the daylight again faded and another long night passed.

At noon on the third day the search was called off.  Bad weather was moving in and would put those in the search effort in danger.  The Coast Guard, sheriff’s marine unit and the FWC work together had completed an immense search covering over 9,000 square miles.  However, not their endless efforts, their amazing search patterns, nor the hours of prayers from family and friends, brought Dave home to us. Dave was lost and gone forever. 

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The officer who liked our Aqua Alert idea, did have us share the idea with the other members of the search teams.  We said, similar to Amber Alert, an Aqua Alert would notify volunteers on their phones when a person/boat was missing.  Boaters familiar with the area could sign up to get the calls. Boaters in the area could then join the search when authorities felt "more eyes on the water" would be beneficial. 

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In Dave’s case, if additional boaters had been looking for him early on, we believe he would have been rescued and still enjoying retirement today.

Currently, the Coast Guard uses VHF radios, better known as ham radios, to ask for help in searches.  This has many limitations since to hear the call for help a person must: 1) be on the boat, 2) have the radio turned on, and 3) have the radio tuned to the Emergency Channel.  The Coast Guard PAN radio calls are effective only when people are on the boats.  With our Aqua Alert pilot program in Florida, people sign up to receive Aqua Alert search notifications on their phones.  Description of the boater, boat type and location last seen can be shared quickly.  Volunteer boaters already on the water can immediately begin to search, providing a fast and effective response to help save lives.  All authorities involved in water searches receive a special message with other pertinent information as soon as the situation is confirmed.  In Dave’s situation, it took over an hour for all the agencies to get individual reports of the needed information to begin their searches.  With the rip currents that day exceeding 5 mph, Dave was carried away faster than an Olympian can swim.  This created a very large search area.  We truly needed “eyes on the water” but there was no system in place to save him.

The authorities involved in Dave’s search were very enthusiastic about the Aqua Alert idea and strongly encouraged us to pursue it.  Since then, we have been working diligently to make Aqua Alert notifications a reality for our nation.  To help prove Aqua Alert was a good idea, we established the first Aqua Alert pilot program in Okaloosa County, Florida.  

Captain Gary Jarvis was the Mayor of Destin in 2021.  Upon hearing our Aqua Alert idea, he was immediately excited and orchestrated many meetings to help make Aqua Alert possible.  Working together, we got approval from the City of Destin and the Okaloosa County Commissioners. Then with the collaborative efforts from the US Coast Guard, Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the Okaloosa County Sheriff Department, the first Aqua Alert pilot program was established in September of 2022.  Our heartfelt thanks for the extra hours these agencies and their officers put in to figure out the specific protocols of the first Aqua Alert pilot program.   Additionally, our appreciation for the Okaloosa’s Sheriff’s Department willingness to extend it’s 911 call system to include the Aqua Alert pilot program.   Without this joint multi-agency collaboration and support, Aqua Alert would have remained 

Currently, six Aqua Alerts have been called in our Florida pilot area. Over 200 additional boats respond to one of the Alerts. One of those volunteer boats spotted and actually saved a very frightened child from the 55° water.  Overall, the Aqua Alerts have been called six times.   Those searches have resulted in the rescue of four individuals, two of which were children.

At the Coast Guard’s request, we also took Aqua Alert to Congress.  Dan focused on the nation perspective.  He contacted Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-US) who drew up the Aqua Alert Act and introduced it to the House.  The Aqua Alert Act received unanimous support in the House and then passed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (2023).  Under this law, additional Aqua Alert notification projects are currently being developed by the U.S. Coast Guard.  These Aqua Alert pilot programs will use the Wireless Emergency System and messages will be sent directly to cell phones in the local area of an alert. There will be no need to sign up to receive an Aqua Alert notification.

The Long Island Sound Sector of the US Coast Guard began their pilot program in May 2025.  This fall, the East Great Lakes Sector involving Lake Erie and Lake Ontario began another Aqua Alert pilot program.   Additionally, the Los Angeles Sector of the US Coast Guard is scheduled to begin a pilot program in the spring of 2026!  Although no actual alerts have been called by the Coast Guard’s Aqua Alert pilots yet, we are hoping for the best results and saved lives once they are  fully functional and operating.

Throughout this Aqua Alert journey, we have been determined to save other families from the terrible loss we have faced when we lost Dave. We will continue to work on Aqua Alert pilot programs until it reaches from coast to coast, covers inland lakes and rivers, and extends beyond our borders to other nations.  The technology is advancing and has become available to nearly everyone.  We welcome anyone who wishes to join us on our endeavor to save lives and make a nationwide Aqua Alert System a reality for all waterways.  Please feel free to contact us if you have questions.  

Thanks for taking the time to read and support our site.  

Any donation to help us build Aqua Alert projects across the nation would be greatly appreciated.  

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Sincerely,

Judy Schink

Widow of David Schink