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Florida Beach Warning Flags (U.S.)

Description of the flags

See also:

External links:

Beach Warning Flag Brochure (pdf format)

Description of the flags

On 8 June 2005 the governor of Florida amended a 2002 state law to mandate adherence to the state’s beach warning flag program on all public beaches where a warning program is utilized. According to the Department of Environmental Protection press release at www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2005/06/0608_04.htm

"Three years ago, at the request of the Florida Legislature, DEP began developing uniform safety flags and notification signs for life-guarded beaches along Florida?s coast. HB 1395 expands the existing program to more beaches, allowing use of the warning flag system on non-life-guarded beaches. In addition, the amended law eliminates confusion for beachgoers, standardizing beach flags state-wide by requiring consistency with those issued by DEP.

The uniform flags and signs, which use the colors adopted by the International Lifesaving Federation, are available to beach communities free of charge through DEP's Coastal Management Program. Flag warnings and colors are:

Green: Low hazard, calm conditions, exercise caution.
Yellow: Medium hazard, moderate surf and/or currents.
Red: High hazard, high surf and/or strong currents.
Red over Red [i.e., two red flags]: Water closed to the public.
Purple: Dangerous marine life."

The lower red flag in the "red-over-red" illustration shows a no swimming logo in white.

The flags provided by the DEP are 29.25 inches by 39 inches (about 75 x 100 cm).

Joe McMillan, 23 June 2005