Georgetown County celebrated the launch of its new Safer Shores beach signage project with a ribbon cutting on July 30, marking a significant step toward improving safety and wayfinding for residents and visitors along the Hammock Coast.
The project, a collaboration between Georgetown County Government, the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Georgetown Class 32, equips county-maintained beach accesses with colorful, family-friendly signs designed to help beachgoers stay safe and navigate with ease.
The idea originated with Jason Walters, Georgetown County Recreation Manager and a member of Leadership Georgetown Class 32, who saw a pressing need for clearer beach access identifiers after discussions with public safety officials. That need became even more urgent this summer, following two tragic drownings in rip currents on local beaches.
“Beach safety isn’t just about lifeguards and warning flags — it’s also about making sure people can get the right information at the right time, and that emergency responders can find them quickly if something goes wrong,” Walters said.
Each Safer Shores sign features a unique, color-coded animal symbol tied to the beach access number, making it easy for children and non-English speakers to remember their location. The signs also include QR codes linking directly to the National Weather Service’s beach forecast webpage, where visitors can check real-time surf conditions, rip current risks, and other safety alerts before entering the water.
In addition, all sign locations are integrated into Georgetown County’s 911 Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. This means that if a beachgoer calls for help, dispatchers can immediately pinpoint the caller’s location, allowing first responders to arrive faster and more accurately.
The Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce — serving as the region’s official destination marketing organization — played a key role in funding, design, and outreach for the project, ensuring it aligned with the Hammock Coast’s identity as a safe, welcoming destination for families.
“Safer Shores is a perfect example of how government, business, and community leadership can work together to make our beaches safer,” said County Administrator Angela Christian. “It’s not just a sign project — it’s a public safety tool that can save lives.”
With the ribbon cutting complete, the Safer Shores signs are now in place and ready for use. County officials hope they will not only improve emergency response times, but also raise awareness about beach hazards and prevent future tragedies.