Volusia County will replace beach flags with new surf condition warnings Saturday

Volusia County is changing its beach flag warning system starting Saturday, replacing orange flags that identify staffed lifeguard towers with flags that focus on current surf conditions.The change is intended to reduce confusion for beachgoers, particularly tourists who may not understand the difference between the county’s staffing indicators and its water-quality warnings.Under the new system, beachgoers will see either a red flag, indicating rough surf and dangerous rip currents, or a yellow flag, indicating a moderate risk of rough surf and rip currents.Hailey Monahan with Volusia Beach Safety said the previous system sometimes prompted questions from visitors who were unsure what the different flags meant.“Most of our visitors at our beaches are tourists. They’re not from here, they’re not really aware of the different surf conditions,” Monahan said.Beachgoer Jeff Johnson said he believes the simpler system will benefit visitors.“I think it’s a benefit to everyone because most pe