After multiple drowning in Lake Michigan a week ago, Grand Haven State Park officials Wednesday implemented a double red flag system that warns beach goers when the water is off limits. In a Facebook post, the park said that the additional red flag "is very similar to how many ocean front communities post water conditions,” when high winds and strong currents make swimming extremely dangerous.
The announcement came after three people drowned in Lake Michigan on Wednesday, July 13th including a 7-year-old boy who died in South Haven, and a 16-year-old in Ferrysburg, just north of Grand Haven State Park. A 60-year-old also drowned that day in the Grand River Channel according to Ottawa County Public Safety.
Dr. Peter Wampler is with the Annis Water Resources Institute and is a professor of Geology at Grand Valley State University. He says, often the drownings are tourists to the area that don’t understand the risks of Lake Michigan.
“The rip tides and the rip currents are the biggest, single thing that gets people and surprises them, especially if they are not from the area,” he said.
New signs will also be posted at Grand Haven State Park on double red flag days warning people to stay out of the big lake. Swimmers who ignore them could be fined $500.
According to the post, during a water closure, the park is still open for “all other normal activities,”
