GALVESTON, Texas — Hundreds of thousands of people are expected on Galveston Island for the long Fourth of July weekend.
"We're going to have a big, big, big weekend here in Galveston,” said Galveston Island Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis.
Davis said if you're headed to the island over the weekend, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to make sure you and your family are safe.
- Remember to swim near a lifeguard station if you get in the water. There are more than 30 on the island.
- Be aware of the ever-present rip current risk. Yellow flags on Friday indicated the threat was moderate.
- Swim closer to land. On Friday, the Coast Guard had to rescue a swimmer who drifted too far out.
- Stay hydrated.
If you want to bypass the crowd but still have a festive Fourth of July weekend, check out this list of events happening in the Greater Houston area. The list includes fireworks shows, festivals and parades.