SAFE COROLLA SAFE COROLLA Currituck County Beach Conditions & Safety Information #KnowBeforeYouGo Overview Beach Conditions Ocean & Rip Current Safety Corolla Beach Rescue Public Beach Access Locations Know Your Location Lightning Sand Holes Pets & Wildlife Additional Information Overview Beach season is officially upon us and one million visitors are expected to visit Corolla beaches this summer for fun in the sun. While fun should be a priority, so should beach safety. This site will provide all-inclusive beach conditions and safety information via maps, videos and current forecasts that pertain to the twenty four (24) mile stretch of beach strand in Corolla. The mission of safety is a collaborative effort to inform beachgoers of potential hazards and dangers and how they can utilize their knowledge to empower themselves to be safe in the aquatic environment. Each year, from the third Saturday in May through Columbus Day, the SAFECOROLLA website & text notification system is active for beach-goers to receive information. To receive text notifications straight to your phone, simply text SAFECOROLLA to 888-777. Beach Conditions Beach conditions/forecasts will return in May 2022 - have an awesome offseason! Current Beach Weather + Forecast Tempest Weather Station at Corolla Light Ocean & Rip Current Safety Rip Current Escape Tips Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that are prevalent at any beach with breaking waves. Moving at speeds of up to eight feet per second, rip currents can move faster than an Olympic swimmer. Rip currents are the deadliest weather-related hazard in coastal North Carolina. If swimming in the ocean, how would you escape a rip current? It is important to relax and if possible, swim parallel to the shore and swim back to land at an angle. If unable to swim, yell or wave for assistance. For a deeper look into rip current safety information, you can visit the official National Weather Service Rip Current Page. Check out the below video as we dive into how they form so you can identify them while at the beach this summer. To receive text notifications about current beach conditions in Corolla, text SafeCorolla now to 888-777 on your phone. How Do Rip Currents Form? Additionally, it is critically important to understand how waves that break directly on a steep shore can cause serious injuries. The best way to always be wave safe is to choose guarded beaches; lifeguards are trained to help if you get in trouble. They are also the best source of information about beach conditions and hazards. Keeping yourself safe while also helping others can save lives. Rough Surf & Shorebreak Dangers Corolla Beach Rescue The Corolla Beach Rescue mission is to ensure the safest beach and aquatic environment possible through close public observation, interaction, and education. Their highly qualified team of lifeguards are on-duty daily from 9:30am-5:30pm throughout the summer, and you can scope out lifeguard tower locations in the map below. During peak season, their team operates seventeen (17) stationary lifeguard towers and ten roving patrols, and welcome approximately one million beach goers each season. The Roving Patrols (4wd trucks and ATV's) travel from the county line, north to Penny's Hill for your assistance. County staff encourage you to visit one of the lifeguard towers as they will be able to share invaluable insight, and the current beach conditions. When red flags are up, please do not enter the ocean. Many times, the person who enters the ocean to help someone else is in more danger of drowning. If you see someone in distress, dial 911 immediately and most importantly – know your location on the beach. If you must enter the ocean to help someone else, take a flotation device with you as it could save your life! With this interactive map, the user can find the nearest lifeguard tower to their house/spot on the beach and determine the distance to that tower. Public Beach Access Locations The county has sixteen (16) public beach access locations. The map shows each access and their features. Please be aware that the drive-over ramps at Southern Beach, Albacore, Herring and Corolla Village Road accesses are *only* accessible for vehicles during the off-season from October 1-April 30. The 4x4 beach vehicular ramp, which provides access to the northern beaches, is available year-round however this ramp requires a 4x4 vehicle for travel, and a County-issued parking permit from Memorial Day-Labor Day. With this interactive map, the user can find the nearest public beach access to their house, determine the distance to that access and see what features each access offers. Know Your Location Despite what you may have heard, 911 operators cannot immediately locate you when you call from a cell phone. Send a text message to everyone in your vacation party with the address of your accommodations. When visiting the beach, pay attention to what street you access the beach from, the closest lifeguard tower or what milepost you are located at. Every second counts in an emergency. Lightning Every year, lightning strikes and kills people on or near bodies of water. Summer is the peak season for outdoor and water-related activities, and when most lightning deaths and injuries occur. Lightning cannot be prevented, but the vulnerability of lifeguards, beach-goers, and patrons near bodies of water can be minimized. If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. When thunder roars, go indoors! While every state has reported lightning-related fatalities, the highest numbers are reported in states bordering the Great Lakes, southern states bordering the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and the four corners states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. When hazardous weather is nearing Corolla, a text notification will be sent out through the SAFECOROLLA system to "give a heads up". For more info on lightning safety, visit the NWS Lightning Safety & Resource page. Lightning Safety Sand Holes With a wide-open beach full of sand beneath our feet this summer, it can be a challenge for some beachgoers to resist the urge to pick up a shovel and start digging – sometimes aiming to create a hole for kids to play in. Whatever the reasons, it is important to recognize the immense danger potential associated with digging holes on the beach and understand that it can lead to serious injury or death. Not only is it dangerous, but the county also has an ordinance in place regulating the digging of deep holes on the beach. If you do choose to dig a hole, please remember to fill it back in so it does not become a danger to other beachgoers, Corolla Beach Rescue, Fire-EMS & Sheriff, beach drivers, and marine life. Here are some good rules to follow: Never dig a hole deeper than the knees of the smallest person in your group Always fill in the holes you do dig each time you leave the beach for any period, whether during the day or at night Do not dig near the dune line or foreshore where emergency vehicles regularly travel Never attempt to dig a tunnel on the beach Pets & Wildlife The beach can be a blast for both pets and their owners. Please be courteous and clean up after your pet. All pet waste must be collected immediately and deposited in appropriate containers #scoopthepoop In Corolla, pets are allowed on the beach but must be on a leash. To keep your dog safe, avoid the beach at the hottest parts of the day, and provide your pup with plenty of access to shade and fresh, cool water. Try to keep activity to a minimum. Sure, you can play fetch with your dog—just make sure they have plenty of time to rest, get out of the sun and drink water in between games. You may have noticed wild horses roaming the beach freely, particularly in the 4x4 area north of Milepost 13. While they are indeed beautiful, please take notice that it's against the law to both feed & get closer than 50' to them. If you spot a violation, it can be reported to the County's non-emergency line at 252-232-2216. Sea turtle laying and hatching season is May thru September. Holes in the sand are obstructions for female sea turtles laying nests on the beach at night and hatchlings heading out to sea roughly 60 days later. If you spot sea turtle tracks or an injured sea turtle, please report it to the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles at 252-441-8622. Additional Information To learn more about beach topics such as 4x4 driving, wild horse awareness, beach parking permits, and beach regulations, visit https://co.currituck.nc.us/beach-parking/currituck-outer-banks-beach-driving/.