Swiftwater Charity Competition

Rigg International Swiftwater Challenge

Nancy Rigg has been instrumental as a guiding force behind swiftwater rescue training and standards worldwide since a personal tragedy changed her destiny in 1980. Her fiancé, Earl Higgins was involved in the swiftwater rescue of a 12 year old boy in the flood-swollen Los Angeles River. Earl lost his life at the age of 29 during the rescue attempt in raging waters, while the young boy survived.

The 1980 floods in Los Angeles claimed over 30 lives. The deaths of at least 18 flood victims in raging rivers and streams, including Earl Higgins, were compounded by a lack of swiftwater rescue training and equipment for emergency responders. Nancy began to promote the concept of developing a multi-agency swiftwater and flood rescue program and increasing awareness through consistent and comprehensive flood safety education. Although there were dozens of additional flood deaths in the decade following Earl's death, Rigg's effort to promote change was stymied during many years of drought conditions.

In 1992, the drought in Los Angeles ended with torrential rains. The televised death of a 15-year old boy yet again demonstrated the need to implement a multi-agency swiftwater and flood rescue program and better educate the public, especially children, about the dangers of fast-moving floodwaters.

Nancy, a professional freelance writer and documentary filmmaker, played a key role in creating a pioneering flood safety education program, and published numerous articles on swiftwater and flood rescue in prestigious rescue magazines, including Advanced Rescue Technology Magazine. She also hosts two free online web newsgroups, the SwiftH20-News and the Drowning Support Network.

This year, Nancy was paid a great honor by the Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards Committee during the annual National Association for Search And Rescue (NASAR) conference in Reno, Nevada. In addition to receiving the 2003 Higgins and Langley Lifetime Achievement Award, Nancy was also presented with the SVC Distinguished Service Medal ~ only the second medal presented by this Canadian non-profit organization.

Nancy received these awards on behalf of her 23-year long, valiant efforts to educate, inform, and promote swiftwater and flood rescue training, response planning, and equipment development. Flooding is the leading cause of weather-related death worldwide. Even today, many public safety agencies lack adequate training and equipment to respond to lifesaving missions in floods.

During the NASAR awards presentation, the final surprise was the announcement of the first annual Rigg International Swiftwater Challenge! Proceeds will support the Higgins and Langely Memorial Awards.

Proceeds in future years will support the Higgins and Langely Memorial Awards.
Tax-deductible contributions to the Higgins and Langley Awards offer a special way to honor the lifesaving missions performed by rescue agencies all over the world!

Participation in the Rigg International Swiftwater Challenge supports camaraderie, teamwork and problem solving in a fun atmosphere and also celebrates the athleticism of professional water rescue personnel.

Higgins & Langley Awards Newsletter on Yahoo: A 501(c)3 non-profit designation.

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