Not one, but two red flags will be flown this year at state park beaches like PJ Hoffmaster, Grand Haven, Holland and Pere Marquette. The double red flags come with a warning: stay out of Lake Michigan, or risk a $500 fine, and potentially your life.
With 45 drownings last year in Lake Michigan alone, public safety officers are constantly looking at new ways to reduce the number of fatalities each year, and while one source told WGVU that Municipalities simply cannot afford the financial responsibility that would come if lifeguards were implemented and then failed in a rescue attempt, the new double red flags are an additional layer of safety this year when high winds and strong currents make swimming extremely dangerous.
The new system now consists of four flags, green when the water conditions are ideal, yellow when caution is recommended, red, when swimming is not recommended, and double red, when swimming is not allowed.
The system is in place and ready for swimmers visiting Michigan beaches for Memorial Day weekend.
