What are double red flag warnings and can you be fined for ignoring them?

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Ernesto is now a post-tropical cyclone, but as it tracked north through the Atlantic, it caused rip current risks in the cape fear. 

During past storms—including Debby earlier this month—some beaches have flown double red flag warnings.  

If you see double red flags flying, it means the water poses a high risk for drowning, and that the water is closed to the public. In some places like Emerald Isle, you can even be fined for going into the water during those warnings.

But as Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue Captain Sam Proffit explained, not every beach uses those flags.  

“So, some beaches will fly double red, some have purple as well, things like that, but here at Wrightsville Beach it’s a three-flag system. Again, green, yellow, and red,” Proffitt explained. 

Some beaches like Surf City have a double red flag system, but have never flown in. Meanwhile, other beaches like Oak Island flew a double red flags earlier this month during Tropical Storm Debby.  

WWAY reached out to local leaders to see if a double red flag fine is something that’s ever been considered. New Hanover County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield said it’s not been discussed at the county level, and that such a policy would likely be decided by beach towns. 

“I think each beach town has the ability to make their own decisions on what they think is right for their town when it comes to the double red flags and keeping people out of the beaches, because it will be their law enforcement, basically, that will police those beaches and make sure that folks aren’t out there,” Barfield noted. 

Brunswick and Pender Counties also told WWAY fines would fall under the jurisdiction of each beach town. 

Even there’s not a fine in place, Proffitt said you should still take those flag warnings seriously. 

“You know, just because you’re not getting a fine doesn’t mean you should go out into the ocean,” Proffitt said. 

A spokesperson for the town of Surf City told WWAY that fines haven’t been discussed there, but that if they were introduced, it would be at the discretion of the police chief, fire chief, and the town council.