As spring break bears down, officials remind beachgoers to follow flag system for safety

PANAMA CITY BEACH − With the spring break season here, Daryl Paul says it's crucial for everyone to follow the beach flag warning system.

As beach safety director for Panama City Beach Fire Rescue, Paul said the flag system is his department's "frontline communication" with the public. It's designed to help protect beachgoers against dangerous currents in the Gulf of Mexico.

"Our flags are the first things that we're thinking about (each) day," he said. "We have them spread out pretty good. (If) you walk down to the sand, look to your left or right, you'll see one somewhere."

Paul said rip currents pose the biggest threat to local beachgoers. These fast moving currents are created by deep channels in surrounding sandbars. The best way for someone to escape a rip current is to swim parallel to shore until they've broken free.

Panama City Beach lifeguards performed 118 rescues last year, Paul said. They also conducted more than 25,100 "preventative actions," when lifeguards use their judgment to help beachgoers in potentially dangerous situations to prevent actual rescues.

One of nation's bestPanama City Beach ranks in Top 25 Best Beaches in the U.S. list, according to Tripadvisor

High expectations:Panama City Beach tourism officials are optimistic for booming spring break season

Partial beach closure: Panama City Beach City Council votes to temporarily close portion of beach overnight

"If we see something happening and we know the outcome of what's going to happen is a rescue, we get in early," Paul said.

Common flag colors used in beach flag warning systems include a green flag for low hazard conditions, a yellow flag for medium hazard conditions, one red flag for high hazard conditions and two red flags for very dangerous conditions.

Panama City Beach never flies green flags, however, because officials say beachgoers should always be cautious anytime they enter the Gulf.

"When people see that green flag ... they drop their level of security," Paul said. "We always tend to stick to (at least) yellow because there's always going to be a rip current present. There's always, always going to be a deep spot in the sandbar somewhere."

It is illegal in Panama City Beach to get in the Gulf during times of double red flags. Violators can be fined up to $500, with a 50% discount given to those who pay within 20 days of receiving the ticket.

According to Lanie Smith, code enforcement manager for Panama City Beach, the Beach experienced 13 double-red days with 118 citations in 2020, 32 double-red days with 252 citations in 2021 and 24 double-red days with 24 citations in 2022.

Smith said some of the most common excuses code enforcement officers hear for why someone was in the water under double red include: they were just washing off sand, they were hot, they don't care about the rules or they paid too much money to not enjoy the water.

None is acceptable.

"Once double red flags are announced, we hit the beach and begin making announcements, educating people and warning them of the $500 fine," he wrote in an email. "We place temporary signage on the beach ... point out the flags on the flag poles, inform people of the text message system and refer them to the city website for the daily flag status.

"We then circle back around and issue citations to those who ignored the warning."

As of Wednesday, Panama City Beach still was looking to hire 15 seasonal lifeguards. Applications can be submitted through the city's website.

Beach flags are determined each day based on a variety of factors, including surf forecasts, weather patterns and lifeguards physically testing the strength of currents.

Those interested in staying up to date on beach flags can sign up for daily text alerts by texting "PCBFLAGS" to 888777.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach reminds beachgoers to follow flag warning system