Beach Safety

16 09, 2020

Purple is an important color in the Beach Flag Warning System

By |2020-09-23T16:17:00+00:00September 16th, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

There are many things to be aware of when you’re enjoying a day playing and swimming at the beach. If you take precautions with sunscreen and water safety, observe the warning flags, and practice the Leave Only Footprints program, a fun day at the beach will remain fun!   Those familiar with the Alabama Beach Warning Flag System probably know what the green, yellow and red flags indicate. But do you know what the purple flag means? The purple flag is flown when dangerous marine life [...]

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26 08, 2020

The Gulf Shores Public Beach is accessible for everyone

By |2020-08-19T18:48:52+00:00August 26th, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

Gulf Shores Public Beach wheelchair accessible mats For someone with mobility difficulties, the beautiful white-sand beaches in Gulf Shores used to be difficult to access. A specialty wheelchair was needed or other measures had to be taken to get a little closer to the water. That all changed on January 24, 2018, when the City of Gulf Shores installed their first Access Mat on the east side of the public beach. A few months later, another mat was installed on the west side of the public [...]

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25 05, 2020

Beach safety: Understanding the flags on the beach 

By |2020-05-18T20:26:00+00:00May 25th, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

Green, yellow, red, purple, double red. Those are the flag colors you see flying along the Gulf of Mexico beaches in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. The flags are there for your safety, but do you know what they mean?    Weather and wildlife conditions - locally and offshore - can cause dangerous situations at our beaches. It may be easy to recognize high surf and dangerous waves, but rip currents may not always be visible on top of the water. Conditions can change quickly, so always exercise caution, even on calm days.   Let’s take a look at our flags, one [...]

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22 04, 2020

What do flags on the beach mean? 

By |2020-04-01T17:54:20+00:00April 22nd, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

Before entering the water, it’s important to note what color flag is flying near the shore. The flags are there to alert us to the condition of the water. They inform us regarding whether it’s safe to swim, including warnings of marine pests. The United States Lifesaving Association and the International Lifesaving Federation developed a flag warning system to inform swimmers of water hazards. Below is the definition of each so you will know the meaning on your next beach trip.   Yellow Flag Meaning: Medium hazard  Moderate surf and/or currents [...]

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4 03, 2020

Beach Safety: How to avoid getting caught in a rip current and how to break free

By |2020-02-27T18:11:10+00:00March 4th, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

A day at the beach filled with sun, sand and surf is what summer is all about. To make sure your beach trip is a safe one, be sure to watch out for rip currents. A rip current is a relatively strong, narrow current flowing outward from the beach through the surf zone, and it presents a hazard to swimmers. A simple trick to identify rip currents is to observe from the shore the patterns of waves breaking. Look for [...]

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23 08, 2019

5 beach usage guidelines on the Alabama Gulf Coast

By |2019-08-20T10:32:40+00:00August 23rd, 2019|Blog|0 Comments

Summer is in full swing, and nothing says summertime like a fun-filled day at the beach. When you visit the beaches in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, there are just a few beach-usage rules to keep in mind: Keep off the dunes, vegetation and bird nesting areas. It may be tempting to walk up on the dunes for a photo op with those gorgeous sea oats, but please, please, please . . . resist. Our sand dunes and beach vegetation [...]

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24 05, 2019

Don’t overheat at the beach

By |2019-05-17T09:26:13+00:00May 24th, 2019|Blog|0 Comments

The last Friday in May is National Heat Awareness Day. For those of you who don’t know, it gets hot — very hot — in the South. Particularly in coastal Alabama, where the heat and humidity work together to create a double whammy. If you aren’t used to dealing with this weather, it can be a potentially critical issue. Heat exhaustion and dehydration can cause fatalities. A few ways to prepare for this mix of sun, heat, wind, and water include [...]

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2 05, 2018

What to do when you see red beach flags

By |2019-08-01T11:14:44+00:00May 2nd, 2018|Blog|0 Comments

How do you know if it’s going to be a safe day for swimming at the beach? Actually, it’s pretty simple to find out. Call 251-968-TIDE (8433) or 251-981-SURF (7873) to check surf conditions in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The beach warning flag system is color-coded. Just think of the flags as traffic signals. Of course, red means stop. If a red flag is flying, that indicates high surf with strong currents. It’s dangerous even for experienced swimmers. High [...]

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27 02, 2018

What you shouldn’t take to the beach

By |2018-02-27T23:42:10+00:00February 27th, 2018|Blog|0 Comments

When you visit our beaches, it’s important to know the rules and restrictions. Leave Only Footprints regulations prohibit leaving any items overnight on public beaches in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. In addition, several items are prohibited anytime on the beach, including: Glass containers Metal shovels or excessive digging Litter Tents or structures larger than 12 x 12 Overnight camping Fireworks Loud music Fires Pets Vehicles The reason for many of these restrictions concerns safety, others are for the comfort [...]

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