Beach Safety / Molly’s Patrol

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Daily Beach Report for Saturday, May 13, 2023

• Today’s flag color: Single Red Flags. Single Red Flags represent High Hazard with High Surf and Strong Currents. For your safety we ask that you stay on the shore.
• Gulf temperature: 77 Degrees
• Surf conditions: Choppy with waves at 2 to 3 feet and strong west running currents.
• Rip current forecast: Moderate Risk
• Daily weather: Sunny with the high temperature in the low 80’s.
• Wind: Southeast winds around 10 mph.
• UV index: Very High
• Tides: Low Tide is scheduled for 4:31AM & High Tide is scheduled for 4:58PM.

For the latest local weather updates, go to the Orange Beach Weather page or visit the National Weather Service-Mobile Alabama page.

Sign up to receive daily beach conditions and warning flag status by texting ALBEACHES to 888777. For additional weather alerts and warnings for the local area text ALERTBALDWIN to 888777. You can easily opt out of text alerts by texting STOP.

What Does Each Flag Signify?

Medium Hazard

High Hazard

Dangerous Marine Life

Medium Hazard, Marine Life

High Hazard, Marine Life

Water Closed to Public

Surf Rescue was formed in 2008 starting out under Parks and Recreation, daily patrols consisted of two lifeguards covering seven in a half miles of coastline and educating visitors about beach and water safety. On January 1, 2012, Surf Rescue was moved to the Fire Department, and the Beach Safety Division was created. Surf Rescue has grown tremendously to where it is at present day operating as a Certified Lifeguard Agency under the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA).

Operation Hours
Lifeguards operate on a seasonal basis from March 1st to October 31st.
March to May: 10am-6pm
Memorial Day to Labor Day: 10am-8pm (6pm until sunset is a reduced workforce of lifeguards)
September to October 31st: 10am-6pm
November to February: NO LIFEGUARDS ON DUTY (Limited patrols & response)
**Operation hours are subject to change due to weather**

Lifeguard Staff
Our Lifeguard staff is comprised of 28 Employees
2 Full-Time: Beach Safety Chief and Beach Safety Supervisor
2 Part-Time: Beach Safety Supervisors
24 Temporary/Seasonal: Beach Safety Lifeguards

Coverage Areas

• Lifeguards cover almost 8 miles of coastline ranging from Flora-Bama to the Gulf State Park Pavilion using static Lifeguard Towers and roving Lifeguard Units.
• Lifeguards have six static towers stationed at public beach access points: Tower 1 Shell Beach, Tower 2 Alabama Point East, Tower 3 Cotton Bayou East, Tower 4 Cotton Bayou West, Tower 5 COASTAL/Resident Beach, Tower 6 Romar Beach. (For a google map view of our towers please view the section below)
• Roving Lifeguards cover the rest of the beach using 5 Honda UTV’s, 2 Beach Trucks, and 2 Jet Ski’s.

As Lifeguards our goal is to provide a safe beach environment for all of our visitors. Feel free to stop by any lifeguard tower to ask about current beach conditions or regulations.

If you want to help the community and further Beach Safety education please see the information below:

Community partners and business owners please click Here if you would like access to resources at your location.

BEach SAFE Campaign Homepage

2023 Lifeguard Hiring process:

1. Please fill out an application at https://www.orangebeachal. gov/jobs
2. Start getting into swimming shape. Potential lifeguards are required to complete a 500 meter swim in less than 10 minutes. If you need access to a pool the Orange Beach Aquatics Center ( 4853 Wilson Blvd Orange Beach, AL ) is available to you free of charge, just sign in at the front desk and let them know you are training for your lifeguard tryout.
3. Sign up for and attend a lifeguard tryout: 2023 Lifeguard Tryout Sign Up
4. After successful completion of a tryout candidates will be eligible to attend 40 hour USLA Lifeguard Academy on March 11-12 & 18-19 weekends
5. At completion of the USLA Lifeguard Academy. Lifeguard candidates will be interviewed and selected.

Orange Beach Surf Rescue typically offers two Junior Lifeguard Program sessions each Summer. Registrations are handled online on ActiveNet. Links to the registration site are below. (Please note: Parents/guardians will need to create an ActiveNet family account before enrolling. Find instructions after the Junior Lifeguard information.)

Junior Guards will learn vital skills in all areas of water safety. Learning topics will include rip current safety, beach safety, CPR, physical health, teamwork, and water rescue. In addition, Junior Guards will perform daily physical exercises in the form of running, swimming, or a game. Instructors cover how rip currents are formed, how to identify them along the beach, and how to escape if caught in a rip current. At the completion of the program, Junior Guard should have an overall higher level of water confidence and improved swimming ability. Each Junior Guard will receive a rash guard, hat, bracelet, and completion certificate.

Participants will need running shoes, swimsuits, goggles, towels, lunch, and snacks daily.

Pick up / Drop off Location

Orange Beach Aquatics Center
4853 Wilson Boulevard
Orange Beach, AL 36561

Sessions

• Session 1 – Junior Lifeguard (Ages 9 to 11), June 12 to 16, 2023
• Session 2 -Junior Lifeguard (Ages 12 to 15), June 19 to 23, 2023

For more information, contact the Beach Safety Supervisor at 251-979-8645 or E-mail Beach Safety Supervisor.

Creating Your ActiveNet Account

To register for activities, you will need to create an Active Orange Beach account. View Creating Your ActiveNet Account Instructions (PDF) for more information.

Register for Activities on ActiveNet

Register your account on the ActiveNet Orange Beach website. After an account is created, you can enroll in an activity.

In July of 2003, while on a youth church group trip to the Gulf Coast, Molly with a group of friends were swimming in the Gulf waters when the unthinkable happened. Molly was only 15 years old when she drowned, due to a rip current.

Molly was an outstanding and beautiful young lady. She spent the first part of her last summer on a mission trip, ministering to and feeding homeless children in San Francisco. This experience influenced her decision to devote her life to children’s ministry. Molly loved children and had compassion for those who were deprived of a life like hers, one in which she was so richly blessed and loved.

The Bryant Family knows Molly made her mark in this world but realizes she would not want them to end her mission of giving others hope. They have diligently sought to make a difference: working toward the implementation of beach and water safety standards. The Bryant Family continues to work to make Orange Beach the safest beach along the Gulf Coast and to give the legacy of Molly Bryant and her love for children the gift of a safer environment for our children and our children’s children. Beach safety is vital to the entire community and specifically to those that choose to spend their vacations in our city.

Surf Rescue received the title “Molly’s Patrol,” thanks to the generous donations from Tommy and Rebecca Bryant. Molly’s Patrol was established in the memory of Molly Bryant to further educate beachgoers about the hidden dangers of rip currents and other beach hazards.