GALVESTON, Texas — Yellow warning flags flew on Memorial Day on Galveston beaches whereas red ones did all weekend as summer unofficially started on the island.
"We expect about 500 thousand people over the three-day weekend,” said Visit Galveston PR Manager, Mary Beth Bassett.
Most visitors come from Texas.
"We're Houston's beach," said Bassett. "But we also get regional visitors from Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio and touch states like Oklahoma and Louisiana."
Sadly, two visitors died in the surf in as many days this weekend.
One was a man from Louisiana and the other a woman originally from Honduras and most recently living in Houston.
"These are the first two drowning fatalities of the year,” said Galveston Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis.
Davis said rip currents remain a concern near jetties, piers, or other structures.
"Don’t think of it like a pool or a pond or a lake," said Davis. "If you’re comfortable in a lake to your chest, let’s go waist-deep at the beach, even on green flag days.”
He measures a busy weekend by the number of people his team move out of danger. That was more than 7,000 as of Monday afternoon.
"The waves are pretty rough, so that’s kind of scary," said Simone Benoit of Houston.
She said it’s especially important to watch out for children.
"Yeah, we’re definitely watching the kids and having them, you know, maybe at leg’s length in the water," said Benoit. "Not too far for the tide to carry them out.”
Most visitors had fun despite the potential dangers at the beach within reach for so many.
"Just a bunch of beautiful women, beautiful waves,” said one visitor.
Businesses certainly look forward to this time of year as well.
In fact, one restaurant told KHOU 11 News last Memorial Day weekend set a sales record. They were hoping for a repeat this year.