North Carolina Coastal Town Adds Safety Measures To Warn About Rip Currents

A North Carolina beach town will use a new system to warn swimmers about dangerous rip currents. This comes after three people died off of Emerald Isle's coast this spring.

Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast moving water prevalent along the East Coast.

Emerald Isle has been using a single red flag to keep beachgoers out of the water when they occur. Now the town is switching to double red flags to warn swimmers about an extreme high risk of rip currents.

According to the News & Observer, those who don't listen to the warnings could face arrest or a $100 fine. The new system has been in the works for a while, and supporters say it's timely. Last month, two teenagers from Wake Forest High School died after they were caught in a rip current near Emerald Isle.

Nearly two weeks later, a Marine drowned while swimming in waters off the town's coast.

The new flag warning system will go into effect this year.