Beach warning flag signs now posted on Waste Management trucks in Walton County

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WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - When many visit South Walton, one of the first things they do is head to the beach and take a dip in the water. But the Gulf isn’t always safe.

“It’s crucial that people have correct situational awareness as to what the conditions are on the beaches at any given time, and they need to know what the flags mean so they can conduct themselves accordingly,” said David Vaughan, beach safety director for the South Walton Fire District.

SWFD has worked for years to educate people on beach safety, and it’s continuing that effort by working with Waste Management to raise awareness of beach warning flags.

“Having the Waste Management trucks out and about doing what they do, and they’re getting blanket coverage so they’re reaching into the deepest corners of the county and they’re out on the main thoroughfare so it’s all eyes on this messaging at all times,” Vaughan said.

Fire marshal Sammy Sanchez came up with the idea to get the information out any way they can.

“You have to explore every avenue,” Sanchez said. “Waste Management is certainly a visible entity in this community. Their big green trucks are everywhere so it just kind of goes together. I think people see them, they know who they are and kids love garbage trucks for some reason.”

Walton County Public Information Manager Louis Svehla said working with private companies helps spread the message.

“They were kind of all in from the beginning,” Svehla said. “They understand the safety down the beach area, making sure our visitors especially understand what these flags mean, they’re not here for extended periods of time, they don’t know what happens as our residents do.”

The beach flag warning magnets will be on 23 waste management trucks.

The same beach flag warning magnets are also on Walton County code enforcement vehicles.