GALVESTON, Texas — Busy beach days are ahead for Galveston with a holiday weekend and potentially dangerous conditions due to Hurricane Beryl.
Typically on a holiday weekend, Galveston Island can expect up to 500,000 visitors. With so many people, they’re being asked to enjoy the beach responsibly.
“We have all hands on deck,” Peter Davis, Chief of Galveston Island Beach said.
He said they would be watching swimmers, but also said that each tower can be monitoring 1,000 to 2,000 people at any given time.
“When you come down, swim near a lifeguard tower, that’s the number one tip. Second is you want to avoid rip currents. 80 percent of rescues, near drownings, and drownings occur because of rip currents,” Davis said.
He said it's best to stay away from structures like piers or jetties to avoid rip currents. Rip currents can be dangerous and hard to spot for even trained lifeguards to see.
Swimmers are encouraged to avoid swimming on the ends of the island, which has a strong tidal current risk.
Some beachgoers like Kristin Kelly from Pasadena try to practice caution at any given time.
“That’s what I tell my daughter, don’t get too far out there,” Kelly said.
Davis also encourages people to be mindful of the heat, saying they’ve dealt with several heat-related illnesses throughout the year.
He recommends staying hydrated, wearing the right clothing and periodically seeking shade or a cool area. Watch for signs of heat exhaustion among yourself or your group.
Hurricane Beryl could change water conditions on the island. Strong rip currents will be expected no matter where Beryl makes landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center. Davis said they are monitoring the forecast and staying in contact with the National Weather Service.
“We do want to be very cognizant that the effects of the storm could send some waves our way, maybe some wind, maybe some bad weather, and…that will increase the chances of having issues when you go out in the water,” Davis said.
You can check on the conditions of the beach and other resources online at Galveston Island Beach Patrol’s website.