New Beach Emergency Evacuation System to Be Tested at Torrance Beach
Testing scheduled for Thursday, April 29
TORRANCE, California—If you hear evacuation alerts or see flashing lights at Torrance Beach on Thursday, April 29, 2021, don’t panic—it’s only a test.
In fact, it will be the first official test of the Beach Emergency Evacuation Lights System (BEELS), a new beach evacuation alert system designed for all beachgoers, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. During a beach evacuation, BEELS will flash white LED lights mounted on permanent structures and some lifeguard towers, as well as broadcast an audible siren and an evacuation announcement in both English and Spanish. The announcement message will change depending on the evacuation type, and the lights will flash slowly for a water-only evacuation and quickly for a full beach evacuation.
Other beaches have audible sirens to warn visitors about beach evacuations, but BEELS is the first worldwide to incorporate flashing lights specifically to alert those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
While some of the tests scheduled for April 29 will have announcements saying, “This is only a test,” the actual recorded messages warning of evacuations will also need to be tested. This means that beachgoers and neighbors may hear evacuation alerts for tsunami warnings, severe thunderstorms, shark sightings, earthquakes, and other beach and water emergencies. These messages will be played at maximum volume, so people with sensitive hearing may wish to avoid the area.
BEELS is being piloted at Torrance Beach with the goal of eventually expanding it to every beach in Los Angeles County.
