Damon Point in Ocean Shores has been closed since Jan. 27, yet people continue to ignore warnings and barriers, putting themselves and others at risk by tempting fate and Mother Nature.

Authorities responded to another rescue call at Damon Point last Thursday, and multiple agencies were called in to assist.

Ocean Shores City Administrator Scott Andersen said that someone who does not heed the warnings and makes their way out to Damon Point could lose their life. Andersen said people are coming up with creative ways to bypass the city’s barriers.

“It’s closed, that’s why the city has those barricades that are put out there, we’re telling people it’s closed, we’re telling people it’s dangerous, we’re going to have to have the police come to the next city council meeting to reiterate that,” Andersen said. “What they’re doing is trespassing across tribal land, the Quinault RV park, the marina down there, that’s how they’re accessing it and someday someone is going to die out there.”

Andersen said people who continue to ignore the closure will be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and get stranded or worse.

“They’re going to be out there really at the wrong time and lose cell service and not be able to call and be rescued,” Andersen said. “That’s almost what happened (with the latest rescue), she would not have survived if she didn’t have the ability to call that in.”

Ocean Shores Police Chief Neccie Logan said that it’s not just currents and cold water that puts people at risk.

“Temperatures out there, you get stuck out there and you can’t get back, and depending on the time of day, if the tide isn’t low enough until the following day that is low enough for you to get back, you’re staying out there all night,” Chief Logan said. “The temperatures drop out there and if you’re not dressed appropriately you’re definitely in danger of hypothermia from the ambient temperatures and the winds that are chilling. Most people don’t pay attention to the tide charts. The currents that run through there are incredible.”

Anderson said the city of Ocean Shores is looking to work with the Quinault Indian Nation and the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop solutions.

“We have to talk to Quinault. Everyone keeps saying we’re doing overkill. I have let DNR know repeatedly; they’re supposed to put out some dangerous hazard signs,” Andersen said. “None of that is city property; city property is all blocked off. The Department of Natural Resources owns Damon Point, and of course, the Quinault Indian Nation owns the marina, and that’s what they’re cutting across to get to Damon Point. The problem is it’s ‘Damon Island’ now, it’s not 24 hours a day, but when that tide comes back in, people are getting stranded out there, that’s why we put up signs everywhere. People ignore them.”

Rescue operations, while necessary to assist people in trouble, also put a tremendous strain on local police and fire departments and emergency medical services. Andersen said the city is going to start seeking recompense for these rescue services.

“The next time this happens, this time too, they’re going to have to pay for this, the cost of the rescue,” Andersen said. “We can’t be more obvious; the way we’ve barricaded that area, put out signs, there’s not much more we can do. You’ve got a handful of people who don’t want to listen, that’s life. But one day, someone is going to die out there, unfortunately.”

Chief Logan said using a Sea-Doo for the most recent rescue operation was challenging and dangerous for the rescuer as well. Ocean Shores only has two people trained for Sea-Doo rescue operations.

“We had to use all of our resources, go pick up one of our Sea-Doos and put it in the water, and as soon as that Sea-Doo hit the current of that ‘river’ it was incredible to watch it take the Sea-Doo out into the bay and then have him come back and park on the other side of that spit to get the person we were rescuing and get them loaded up and back in,” Chief Logan said. “People don’t realize how swift that is actually moving and if they tried to cross it themselves, they’re going to be swept out into the bay in very cold temperature water. People just don’t realize how deep it can get, it can get as deep as four or five feet. You can’t tell just by looking at it.”

In addition to having to pay for their own rescue, Chief Logan added that trespassers also run the risk of prosecution if they ignore the warnings and barricades and continue to find their way out to Damon Point.

“If we have to expend our resources to get you back, we’re going to be filing charges and we are going to be charging you with the expense of all those resources being used to rescue you,” Chief Logan said. “When you’re committing a crime by trespassing to get to that point to begin with we are absolutely going to be charging you when we get you back across. You need to consider your safety and the rescuers’ safety if it comes to that, it’s not just you that you’re putting at risk, it’s the people who are coming out to save you who are also at risk.”

In recent weeks, numerous people have posted on Facebook about their plans or desires to visit Damon Point as the spring and summer vacation season ramps up. Andersen says the city will look at additional ways to get the word out about the Damon Point closure but admits it’s difficult to reach people who are traveling any distance to Ocean Shores.

“It’s hard. We have put it on our Facebook, we’ve put it on our social media. We’ve pulled Damon off the convention center website, we’ve taken it out of all our advertising, but it’s really hard to communicate with tourists,” Andersen said. “Possibly (a sign) at the city gates, a lot of people won’t even know it’s called Damon Point, some do. We can always do more.”

Chief Logan’s message to those who choose to defy the warnings: “Don’t do it.”