OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WECT) – Four “Beach Warning Lights” signs were installed on Oak Island Tuesday, June 11, according to an announcement from the town.
Per the release, the signs “feature a fully automated wireless control system, which retrieves updates from the National Weather Service, and then displays the current Beach Warning condition on the built-in signal light.”
“This new notification system will greatly enhance the safety and visibility provided by the robust Beach Warning Flag system already in place,” Oak Island states. “With this installation, Oak Island has become the first town in the Carolinas to utilize this system.”
A sign was installed at each of the following locations:
- Barbee Boulevard near the pier
- Oak Island Cabana within the Middleton Park Complex
- 3rd Place E, near S Middleton Avenue
- The Point at the end of W Oak Island Drive
The signs, which are solar powered and use onboard data receivers for information, are estimated to be fully online by end of day Wednesday.
“Their effectiveness and durability will be evaluated during the 2024 Summer Season, to determine any possible expansion or adapting of the program in the future,” the town explains. “While the lighted signs provide beachgoers with conditions at a quick glance, it is still recommended to check the Beach Safety page of the Town Website for full forecast and safety information. This page also contains important information on Rip Current Safety, ‘what to do’ in an emergency, and how to use the Rescue Tubes.”
More information about beach safety can be found here.
Copyright 2024 WECT. All rights reserved.