OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine — Public safety officials along Maine's coastline are on high alert as impacts from Hurricane Ernesto, which regained its strength, create turbulent conditions all along the East Coast.
A high surf advisory has been issued for most of Maine's coast until 8 p.m. Monday.
The National Weather Service issued the alert as Ernesto regained hurricane status Sunday and created life-threatening surf and rip currents for much of the East Coast.
The risk of rip currents isn't new, but Maine lifeguards, beaches, and public safety officials are reminding swimmers what to be aware of if they plan on going to the beach.
The Old Orchard Beach Fire Department posed safety reminders and advised that inexperienced swimmers should avoid the water due to the dangerous conditions.
The fire department in Kennebunk said even experienced swimmers should not go farther than knee-deep water. Lifeguards there have had to rescue several swimmers in recent days.
Yellow flag alerts, which means "take caution," are posted along several Maine beaches.
Those departments and Megan Arsenault, deputy director of the York County Emergency Management Agency, said if you do swim during this advisory, you should do so near a lifeguard.
If you find yourself caught in a rip current, try to relax and float; do not swim against the current. If you're able to, Arsenault said you should swim in a direction facing a shoreline and call for help if you're in a rip current.
She added that being aware and up to date on current beach conditions is important during the summer, especially when high surf advisories are in place. You can sign up for York County alerts here. Communities like Old Orchard Beach also allow people to sign up for beach alerts for the summer or during your visit.
“Knowing where to get information, being aware of what’s going on at the beach and in the water, and making sure that you’re safe before, during, and after you get to the beach is really something important—this week especially," Arsenault said.
She also said it's important to listen to official warnings, whether it's a threat of rip currents or other hazards, and she encouraged people to make a plan whenever you go to the beach.
“[Be] aware of what hazards are potentially there, [have] a rough plan if you need to get off the beach quickly or get out of the water quickly, knowing how to do that, communicating that with folks that you’re with, and knowing where to get reliable [and] up-to-date information and knowing where to get reliable information or ways that are easy, cheap, and effective to stay safe," she added.