The Canadian Coast Guard spent an estimated $21,700 to rescue about 1,500 Americans who drifted into Canadian water and onto shore during a floating party along the St. Clair River in Ontario, CBC News learned early Friday. "This amount includes overtime costs and additional expenses including fuel and provisions for the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Limnos, the on-scene command vessel and several fast rescue craft that were used to assist Float Down participants who were in distress or urgent situations," coast guard communications adviser Carol Launderville said in an email to CBC. The Canadian Coast Guard and other federal, provincial and municipal authorities worked together in the weeks leading up to the event to ensure a co-ordinated response effort. The City of Sarnia had already said it spent $8,181 retrieving wet and wayward Americans and returning them home on 10 Sarnia Transit buses. "There were people in places you'd never think something would float, but there were Americans everywhere," Peter Garapick of the Canadian Coast Guard told CBC News the day after the event.

Source: CBC News August 26, 2016 13:13 UTC