Volusia County, FL – Update: Due to rip currents, Volusia County Beach Safety is flying the red flag at the beach.
Officials hope to reopen vehicle access ramps in the early afternoon on Saturday. The following ramps are expected to open, tide permitting:
Earlier Reporting:
Due to storm debris washing ashore on Volusia County’s beaches, Volusia Beach Safety will be flying the double-red flag, meaning no swimmers or surfers are allowed in the water.
Officials have closed off beach access ramps due to the rough surf and amount of storm and vegetative debris in the water and on the beach. Nearly every conservation pole for the County’s Habitat Conservation Plan has been removed by the debris.
The water is not expected to be safe to swim and surf in until Sunday. Beach Safety has been working to restore conservation poles, allowing some beach access ramps to re-open on Saturday. If you plan on walking on the beach, you are asked to be careful and to pick up any litter you see, if you are able to. If you do find trash, you should place it into a trashcan as high tide is expected to reach the sea walls, taking everything on the ground with it.
The debris that has washed ashore includes lumber, pallets, appliances, driftwood, mangrove root systems, plastic items and large amounts of seaweed. In some cases, seaweed has piled up 2-3 feet tall by seawalls and at the base of the dunes.
The seaweed and other vegetative debris will help nourish and trap sand to protect the dunes. Beachgoers are warned that the vegetative debris will not be removed because it helps protect these dunes, which will then protect the area from future storms. The vegetative debris is expected to smell.
The washed back seaweed is expected to bring baby sea turtles with it as it is their source of food and shelter. If you find a baby sea turtle, do not put it back into the water as it will not be strong enough to swim back to the floating seaweed beds in the ocean. Instead, bring baby sea turtles to the nearest lifeguard in a damp towel.
Any changes in beach conditions will be announced by Volusia Beach Safety. The National Weather Service advises that the east coast of Florida will have minor flooding during high tide. A Coastal Flooding Advisory is in place for Volusia County and a Coastal Flood Warning is in place for areas near the St. John’s River.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
