Yellow Flags Return to Panama City Beach After Surge in Water Safety Violations

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Water conditions in the Gulf are starting to calm down, bringing a welcome change of pace for local beachgoers. Panama City Beach officials transitioned safety flags to yellow on Thursday, signifying a moderate risk of rip currents.

The shift comes exactly one week after the last double red flag alert, which legally closes the water to the public. Since then, conditions progressively improved to single red flags before finally dropping to yellow.

Despite the calmer waters, local officials reveal they have been working around the clock to manage safety violations during recent hazardous stretches.

According to data from Panama City Beach Code Enforcement, officers have handled 122 double red flag violations so far this year. A significant portion of those cases occurred recently, with 44 civil citations issued this month alone.

Code Enforcement officers say they utilize marked beach patrol trucks to broadcast safety warnings along the shoreline. When addressing violators, patrols prioritize immediate hazards, focusing first on swimmers furthest out in the surf, unattended children, and repeat offenders.

Beach Safety Director Daryl Paul emphasizes that even under yellow flags, swimmers must remain vigilant. While the Gulf appears much calmer than in previous weeks, moderate rip currents can still pose a hidden danger.

“It’s important to remember that even though it looks great, it looks calmer than what it used to be, rip currents could still be present,” said Paul. “So it’s important to pay attention to the beach warning flags.

The Beach Safety team has remained highly active throughout the summer season, saying their primary focus remains on stopping emergencies before they start.

“We did have a few rescues, and we did have to get into the water, make a few assists, but since January 1st, we’ve been averaging about 30,000 preventative actions each week,” said Paul. “With this past week, we’ve made about 90,000 preventative actions.”

Paul thanks city leaders for their ongoing support of the beach safety program. He noted this has allowed the department to shift its focus from reacting to active water emergencies to actively preventing them, leading to a much safer environment on the shorelines.

Beach Safety is currently monitoring the weather forecast and expecting a small surf bump to develop over the upcoming weekend.

Residents and visitors can stay informed on daily flag changes by texting “PCBFLAGS” to 888777 to receive real-time mobile alerts.

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