Grayton Beach Drowning

[Smiling JOe]

Two ideas:

1. Get the airplanes that fly with the banners ... fly a "There May or May Not Be Sharks in the Water". Anything to get people out of the water.

2. Since the sheriff's department and fire/lifeguard departments are really undermanned, why not create a network of volunteers that would be able to go to their designated beach area when red flags are posted and advise people on the beach.


Aside from these and the existing flag system, residents are just going to get out of their comfort zone and tell people around us that they need to get out of the water when red flags are flying.

Just curious as to how you think it would benefit anyone by having a plane fly a banner which states that there "may not be sharks in the water?"

On the other idea, I don't tell anyone about the flags unless they ask, or if I overhear their conversation questioning the flags' meanings. People often tell me that they are pretty much told to F O when informing "swimmers" that they shouldn't be in the water.

Days like today, when the currents are pushing at least 3 mph and the seas are rough as they were, I am surprised to see that the double reds weren't flying. I just don't get that. On recent Chamber of Commerce days (picture perfect flat water), I've seen yellow flages flying, and today, not closed water?

I'm really getting to the point where my philosophy is "sink or swim, or stay out of the *^#@#@ %$%@ water!"

 

[Bobby J]

I'm really getting to the point where my philosophy is "sink or swim, or stay out of the *^#@#@ %$%@ water!"

My feelings exactly!!!! We can not govern everything.

 

[Ocean Lover]

All I can say is the flag system was made clear to us from the packet we recieved from the rental company and it was posted on the refridgerator in the condo. A flag was visible from our walkway yet we saw many people in the water every day. (spring break) The life guard was going into the water to tell people to get out, yet when he walked away they either got back in or someone else would. Parents were letting small kids play and boogie board in the more shallow water and I really was afraid one of them would get swept away. I'm sure they thought that was "okay" and nothing would happen to them. Thank God nothing did happen.

 

[For The Health Of It]

consistancy to our flag system is a key. when we have a red flag out on clearly a green day we have problems. Last week, I had family in town that stayed on the beach.
Two of the days, the water was flat as a lake, I even took my 6 year old niece out on a surf board, yet we had a red flag. I witnessed 4 families heading down to the water and stating that the flag should be green. Two days later when the water got up, and a red flag was needed and flying, people did not believe it. We must have a consistent approach.

 

[TNJed]

Aren't the flags raised on a given day the same throughout Walton County regardless of individual beach conditions? Perhaps if one area, no matter how small, is in yellow or red conditions then the entire county gets the same flag.

I have no knowledge of this being the case, but I could understand it as currents move and they wouldn't want to fly green flags everywhere if a yellow or red condition was present and likely to move. Maybe there just aren't enough employees to spot check all the beaches throughout the day?

 

[Will B]

consistancy to our flag system is a key. when we have a red flag out on clearly a green day we have problems. Last week, I had family in town that stayed on the beach.
Two of the days, the water was flat as a lake, I even took my 6 year old niece out on a surf board, yet we had a red flag. I witnessed 4 families heading down to the water and stating that the flag should be green. Two days later when the water got up, and a red flag was needed and flying, people did not believe it. We must have a consistent approach.

Touche...
I have seen flags that do not match the surf far too often.
The bottom line is that the individuals are solely responsible for their actions. I doubt that you will ever see the county playing a much larger part because it could ultimately wind up being a liability case down the road.