It’s almost beyond belief that 10 people have drowned on Alabama and Florida Panhandle beaches in less than two weeks, with eight of those in the last eight days.

That rate, nearly a drowning a day, has left one sheriff desperate for the public to understand the risks involved in entering the Gulf waters when the risk is elevated.

He took to the department’s Facebook page to vent his frustration.

“I’m beyond frustrated at the situation that we have with tragic and unnecessary deaths in the Gulf,” wrote Bay County (Fla.) Sheriff Tommy Ford. “I have watched while deputies, firefighters and lifeguards have risked their lives to save strangers. I have seen strangers die trying to save their children and loved ones, including two fathers on fathers day.”

Of the 10 drownings since June 15, six have been on Bay County beaches, including three on Saturday which claimed a 68-year-old Michigan man; a 63-year-old Georgia man; and a 39-year-old Georgia woman. On the same day, a 58-year-old man from Tennessee drowned on Miramar Beach in Walton County.

Ford calls the lifeguards, deputies and firefighters who respond to water rescues “heroes,” and bemoans the resistance beachgoers often seem to have to obeying safety warnings.

“These same heroes, who have risked it all to save others, have been cursed and given the finger, while trying to warn visitors of the life-threatening dangers,” Ford wrote. “We have used the tools provided by the county commission to fine violators $500 for entering the water on double red flags.

“We don’t have the resources or time to cite every single person that enters the water but we do our absolute best to use it as a deterrent to entering the water.”

Joethan Phillips understands Ford’s frustration. As the Beach Safety Chief for Gulf Shores, he says one root of the problem is people simply not understanding the flag system.

“I think that’s a lot of it,” Phillips told AL.com. “I just think a lot of people don’t know what the flags mean or even if they’re there.”

There are five different flags or combinations of flags to alert beachgoers to the current conditions:

• Double red flags: The water is closed to the public. Violators can be arrested and fined.
• Single red flag: High hazard, indicating high surf and/or strong currents. Anyone other than the strongest swimmers are advised to stay out of the water. In nearly all of the recent drownings, the beach was under single red flag warnings.
• Yellow flag: Medium hazard, indicating moderate surf and/or currents.
• Green flag: Low hazard, with calm conditions.
• Purple flag: Stinging marine life present, such as jellyfish or stingrays.

As noted the single red flag, indicating high hazard, is meant to alert those who are not strong swimmers to remain on the shore. It’s worth noting that in the recent spate of drownings, the average age of the male victims was 56.

Phillips noted, however, that each case is different. In some of the recent drownings, the victim had gone into the water to assist a family member who had come under distress due to the current or surf conditions.

Phillips is hopeful the Beach Safe Campaign, launched in a cooperative effort by Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan, along with local tourism groups, will help educate the public on beach safety.

The campaign includes billboards, a text message system to alert users to the current beach conditions, safety flag logos and videos on rip currents, with those materials also shared with condominium owners and other industry partners, Phillips said.

“We’re working hard through the beach safety initiative to reach out and provide as much information as we can to everyone,” he said

Strong rip currents have been singled out in several recent incidents, including those where the swimmers were ultimately rescued. Bay County took to Facebook again Monday to drive the message home that rip currents can be deadly.

“You say you are a ‘good’ swimmer, an experienced swimmer, a competitive swimmer. But you are no match for a rip current,” read the post, which was accompanied by aerial photos taken from a BCSO helicopter showing the underwater trenches caused by rip currents just off the shore.

“They say a picture is worth a thousand words,” read the caption. “We hope so.”

Further illustrating the dangers of rip currents, data from the National Weather Service shows that between 2002-2021, rip currents have been responsible for more deaths (191) along the Alabama and Florida Panhandle coast than tornadoes, lightning, tropical weather systems, and flooding — combined (170).

Phillips was asked about beachgoers who ignore the red flag warnings and go into the water, thus putting his personnel at risk.

“That’s right, but that’s also what we train for,” he said, “to go into the Gulf waters and pull people out.”