Double Red flags flying on the beach

[TNJed]

...On another note, I feel that they went a little overboard by posting a double red flag. I took off work and surfed most of the day yesterday, and while there was a little current, there was nothing that a swimmer with any experience could not handle. On my way to work, I noticed that we are still flying a double red today. Now that makes no sense at all, because the gulf resembles a lake today more than an ocean closed to the public because of high surf...

There's a lot of shoreline out there and conditions which are present in one area are probably not the same throughout. It could be red in one place and green in another, but the SWFD is going to go with the roughest conditions they find because rip currents move and the potential is there for a calm area to turn rough.

I would think it's much easier and more prudent to just say the beach conditions are ______ flagged today instead of Grayton is green, Seagrove is yellow, Blue Mountain is red, etc.

Yes?

 

[Kurt]

On the beachcam, it looks like the flags are one red and one purple. So does that mean the water is closed to the public?

A single red is a high hazard warning and purple is marine pests present (jellyfish) but not closed to swimming.

 

[seacrestkristi]

That is really scary I love swimming in the Gulf. What's the difference in a long shore current and a rip tide. Do they pull you under and pound you around? It must be impossible to stay afloat even if you don't panic. Has anybody ever been caught in one of these scary things? That life jacket idea is a really good idea, SJ. Could you still get pulled under with it on though? I'm sticking with green flags from now on. I have to admit I'm guilty off dipping in the edge when the flag is yellow, like in 2-3 feet, but no more. You could probably still be in danger cuz maybe the yellow flag is about to get changed. Some nice person could get hurt just tryin' to save me.

 

[TNJed]

I don't know the technical differences between all the rip tide/current terms but the overall condition is the same I believe.

An undertow is that force you feel pulling the sand out from under your feet as a wave recedes. While this force can get very strong and knock you off your feet what it won't keep you from getting back to shore. That's what a rip current does. It's a circular current that pulls away from shore and out to sea.

When people get caught in one they usually panic and try to swim straight back to shore against the current. Like trying to swim upstream in a river.
What you should do is swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current and THEN you can make your way back to the shore.

If you're in a river you don't swim upstream to reach safety. You swim sideways to reach the shore. Same thing basically.

 

[Smiling JOe]

 

[Smiling JOe]

I feel the problem started with Walton County only flying a yellow flag yesterday until the incedent occurred. The yellow flag does not post the same fear in people heads, and make pople respect the ocean the way that a red flag does. On another note, I feel that they went a little overboard by posting a double red flag. I took off work and surfed most of the day yesterday, and while there was a little current, there was nothing that a swimmer with any experience could not handle. On my way to work, I noticed that we are still flying a double red today. Now that makes no sense at all, because the gulf resembles a lake today more than an ocean closed to the public because of high surf. All this is accomplishing is a negative impact on tourism. Now, while my prayers go out to the families of the victims, people need to understand that it is up to them to make wise decisions. People will always drown as long as there is water, but a little common sense goes a long way.

I disagree with a couple of things. Yesterday at Grayton Beach around 2pm, the waves were crashing very hard on the beach. A good swimmer wouldn't have been to easily able to swim out there, especially if they weren't used to rip currents. Secondly, in my opinion, if there is a drowning, I think there needs to be a shift to dbl red if not already, to warn other people of the hazard. Actually, I am all for raising the black flag at half mast to really get the point across. Screw tourism, we are talking about giving people more knowledge to make better decisions and possibly saving their lives.

From what I could see today for a breif stop at the beach, was what should have been a yellow flag day, but was a single red. It certainly was lake-like, but I could not see any rip currents from my location, though there was a medium east->west push. I did see several people.

 

[Smiling JOe]

That is really scary I love swimming in the Gulf. What's the difference in a long shore current and a rip tide. Do they pull you under and pound you around? It must be impossible to stay afloat even if you don't panic. Has anybody ever been caught in one of these scary things? That life jacket idea is a really good idea, SJ. Could you still get pulled under with it on though? I'm sticking with green flags from now on. I have to admit I'm guilty off dipping in the edge when the flag is yellow, like in 2-3 feet, but no more. You could probably still be in danger cuz maybe the yellow flag is about to get changed. Some nice person could get hurt just tryin' to save me.

I like to ride the rip currents in my kayak, because it gets you past the break lickidy split. Rip Currents do not pull you under, only push you out from shore. When caught in one, it is best to just relax and tread water. You should be able to practically float without much effort. The rip currents may only push you out anwhere from 25 - 100ft, then once you get kicked out of the rip current, the waves will practically push you back to shore with little effort. I think riding them in a kayak can give you the best idea of how they work.

 

[katie blue]

Well, that picture sure brightens up an otherwise sad thread.

Cutie patooties!

 

[Beach Runner]

Miss Kitty is in SoWal? I knew Mermy was.

 

[kathydwells]

Miss Kitty is in SoWal? I knew Mermy was.

This picture is from last year....