"Love the beach. Respect the ocean." Those are the words Dare County Emergency Planner James Wooten hopes every Outer Banks visitor will hear this summer.

What You Need To Know

  • In 2018, just over 10% of the nation's rip current drownings occurred in Dare County

  • The number of rip current deaths has dropped since the Love the Beach Respect the Ocean campaign launched in 2019

  • Outer Banks visitors can sign up for text alerts to receive the daily rip current forecast

Wooten told us that in 2018, there were 10 confirmed rip current fatalities in Dare County. That was just over 10% of all rip current drownings in the country that year.

The next year, the Love the Beach Respect the Ocean campaign was launched to inform and educate the many visitors to the Outer Banks about the dangers of rip currents.

Rip currents are powerful channels of water that can pull even experienced swimmers away from shore.

As part of the campaign, Outer Banks residents and visitors can sign up for text alerts to receive the daily rip current forecast.

There's even a sweet incentive to sign up for the alerts. Wooten said, "People can show proof they have signed up for beach alerts, go to their nearest Duck Donuts location and get a delicious Duck Donut."

Since the campaign launched, the number of rip current drownings have dropped along the almost 80 miles of coast in Dare County.  According to Wooten, there were two rip current drownings in in 2020 and none reported in 2021.

He was quick to point out the new campaign should not take all the credit. 

Lifeguards play a vital role in keep beach visitors safe every summer.

We also spoke with Nags Head Ocean Rescue Captain Chad Motz. He's been rescuing swimmers caught in rip currents for over 20 years.

In addition to knowing the rip current risk each day, he had more advice for a safe day at the beach. "Swim near a lifeguard. Don’t swim alone,” Motz said.