Dawn
Beach Fanatic
Gary Wise is awesome, by the way. He cares. Thank you Gary! He is the man behind the red, green, yellow and purple.
According to Gary Wise, South Walton Fire District’s Beach Safety director, “People need to understand the beach flag system is in place for a reason,” especially those unfamiliar with the characteristics of our coast.
The Beach Safety program was established seven years ago.
“After Black Sunday, the County Commissioners approached me and consulted me on setting up a program,” said Wise, who has been the director of the program since the beginning.
Black Sunday refers to June 8, 2003, when eight swimmers drowned off the coast of Okaloosa and Walton counties after being carried out to sea by heavy rip currents.
Wise, a native of Sydney, Australia, has lived in the area since 1991, but has been involved in types of beach safety programs for most of his life.
“I’ve been a member of Surf Life Saving since 1978,” said Wise of the Australian beach safety program.
According to Wise, “Rip currents are extremely dangerous anywhere.”
However, along the Walton County coast, it can be especially treacherous.
“We have a very unique coastline, it’s very open, and the flow of water is not impeded,” he said.
There are four flag designations dealing with the rip currents: green or low hazard; yellow, or medium hazard; red, or high hazard; and double red, water closed to public. The purple signals the presence of marine pests.
Lifeguards along the 26-mile stretch of Walton County beach are the eyes of the program and report on what flag to fly on a given day.
“(Conditions) are constantly monitored by the lifeguards on duty,” said Wise. “Myself as beach safety director makes the determination based on the feedback.”
Though Wise said that due to the direction of wind and swell, rip currents may vary on different beaches, the flags are consistent across the county.
“We decide what beach flags to fly in accordance with the worst conditions in the county,” said Wise. “The only time that may vary is if you clear the water and put a no swimming flag out, which is done in a localized area.”
Lifeguards assess the potential danger swimmers may face, focusing on the wave height and timing of waves, which are responsible for creating rip currents, according to Wise.
“For every action of waves coming in, there has to be an opposite return of that water,” said Wise. The greater strength of the waves crashing on the beach, the greater the risk for swimmers to be pulled to sea with the outflow.
Though Wise said swimmers should always swim near a lifeguard and approach one with any questions, being swept up by the rip current is a real risk, even for seasoned swimmers.
“First thing is not to panic, secondly is signal for help, try and swim in the direction in the course of least resistance to the nearest sandbar where the waves are breaking,” said Wise.
Visit www.swfd.org/beach.php for the SWFD’s twice-daily updates on the beach flag status.
According to Gary Wise, South Walton Fire District’s Beach Safety director, “People need to understand the beach flag system is in place for a reason,” especially those unfamiliar with the characteristics of our coast.
The Beach Safety program was established seven years ago.
“After Black Sunday, the County Commissioners approached me and consulted me on setting up a program,” said Wise, who has been the director of the program since the beginning.
Black Sunday refers to June 8, 2003, when eight swimmers drowned off the coast of Okaloosa and Walton counties after being carried out to sea by heavy rip currents.
Wise, a native of Sydney, Australia, has lived in the area since 1991, but has been involved in types of beach safety programs for most of his life.
“I’ve been a member of Surf Life Saving since 1978,” said Wise of the Australian beach safety program.
According to Wise, “Rip currents are extremely dangerous anywhere.”
However, along the Walton County coast, it can be especially treacherous.
“We have a very unique coastline, it’s very open, and the flow of water is not impeded,” he said.
There are four flag designations dealing with the rip currents: green or low hazard; yellow, or medium hazard; red, or high hazard; and double red, water closed to public. The purple signals the presence of marine pests.
Lifeguards along the 26-mile stretch of Walton County beach are the eyes of the program and report on what flag to fly on a given day.
“(Conditions) are constantly monitored by the lifeguards on duty,” said Wise. “Myself as beach safety director makes the determination based on the feedback.”
Though Wise said that due to the direction of wind and swell, rip currents may vary on different beaches, the flags are consistent across the county.
“We decide what beach flags to fly in accordance with the worst conditions in the county,” said Wise. “The only time that may vary is if you clear the water and put a no swimming flag out, which is done in a localized area.”
Lifeguards assess the potential danger swimmers may face, focusing on the wave height and timing of waves, which are responsible for creating rip currents, according to Wise.
“For every action of waves coming in, there has to be an opposite return of that water,” said Wise. The greater strength of the waves crashing on the beach, the greater the risk for swimmers to be pulled to sea with the outflow.
Though Wise said swimmers should always swim near a lifeguard and approach one with any questions, being swept up by the rip current is a real risk, even for seasoned swimmers.
“First thing is not to panic, secondly is signal for help, try and swim in the direction in the course of least resistance to the nearest sandbar where the waves are breaking,” said Wise.
Visit www.swfd.org/beach.php for the SWFD’s twice-daily updates on the beach flag status.