Live Beach Safety Cameras:
Summer beach events already in motion
Saturday, we have lifeguard tryouts. Lifeguard candidates will meet at the Field House at 7 a.m. If they pass the swim and interview, they still have to go through a grueling run-swim-run-swim-run in the ocean before being admitted to the 100-hour academy. If you know anyone interested, information is on our website. Also, we’ll have...
Security stayed busy during marathon weekend
By the end of the day Sunday, we were pretty beat up. Thousands and thousands of people were on the island, and we had a marathon weekend trying to keep them safe. By the end of the weekend, we had moved 1,761 swimmers from dangerous areas, such as the ship channel or areas near...
A busy beach weekend ahead
Last weekend was another busy one. Large crowds and moderate surf conditions were a tough combo for the lifeguards. We moved 521 people from dangerous areas, responded to six medical calls and worked with the park board security to reunite six lost children with their families. Our Tourist Oriented Police program logged 148 tourist...
Beaches are busier earlier and later now
Here we go! Another beautiful, busy weekend. No seaweed, calm water, perfect water and air temperature and large, well-behaved crowds. Any more of these and our property values will rise. Technically, that should be the last week of spring break, but I have a feeling if the weather holds, we’ll be looking at busy weekends...
Spring break was a water safety success
Spring break technically still is going on, but last week was the bulk of it. The crowds were, for the most part, very well behaved and consisted mainly of families and young adults out enjoying the fantastic weather and great conditions on the beach. We flew a yellow flag most of the time because of...
Volunteers needed for support network
Looks like the third year in a row that we’ll have another big spring break. Seems like one day its winter and the next the sun’s out, the water’s warm, and the beaches are packed — ready for another year on the beach and all the challenges, work and even joy that it brings. Spring...
Beaches are ready for spring break
Every year, it seems like spring break sneaks up on us. The weather suddenly is warmer, and the water now is in the mid 60s, which is warm enough for some. The last two years, we’ve seen very large crowds during spring break, and weather permitting, we should see this again. One major change for...
Effects of red tide, oil spill still are felt
As those who are around the water a lot are aware, we’ve had a year of red tide. Nothing severe, but it keeps popping back up. Every now and again, you see the telltale brown, oily-looking patches in the water and feel the tickle in the back of your throat when the water is choppy...
Erica Gentry
Erica Gentry started Galveston Island Beach Patrol with a bang in 2002. On her first day of work she remembers helping durning and after hours victim recovery. This did not make her shy away from lifeguarding work, quit the contrary, it cemented her desire to serve her community in the healthcare field. Since starting beach...
Inside story on beach cleaning
It’s a cold, rainy day in February. Hooded figures walk along the beach in front of a pickup’s lights. By 5 a.m., Ray Soto and the West End crew of the Park Board Beach Maintenance Department already are handpicking trash left by beachgoers or washed in with the tide. They find some large logs and...
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