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Across the United States, a surprising number of iconic beaches are heading into the season with lifeguard chairs sitting completely empty. Budget reductions, stalled hiring cycles, and a nationwide shortage of certified guards have all played a role, leaving visitors more vulnerable during peak months when beach traffic can rise by more than 40%. The absence of trained personnel means swimmers must rely heavily on posted warnings, personal judgment, and shifting surf conditions that often change within minutes.
1. Assateague Island National Seashore (MD/VA)
Assateague, which attracts over 2.3 million visitors annually, is experiencing one of its most noticeable shortages, with all 12 lifeguard positions remaining unfilled this season. The long, open Atlantic shoreline is known for rip currents that can reach speeds of 2 to 4 feet per second, making the lack of supervision particularly concerning. Rangers have increased signage, but they also warn that emergency response times may extend by 10–15 minutes depending on beach crowding and distance.
2. Sandy Hook, New Jersey
Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area, typically staffs around 35 lifeguards each summer; this year, fewer than 10 were hired, forcing the closure of several guarded zones. Daily visitor counts can exceed 20,000 on warm weekends, yet many towers now sit unused. Strong tidal pulls near the northern tip historically cause an average of 25–30 annual rescues, heightening worries. Park officials note that reduced staffing has already added up to 30% longer emergency response intervals along the peninsula.
3. Great Kills Park Beach, New York
Great Kills Park usually operates with 14 lifeguards, but staffing cuts have lowered active coverage to weekend-only supervision involving just 4–6 guards. On weekdays, when as many as 4,000 visitors still arrive, swimmers encounter unmonitored surf zones stretching more than 1.5 miles. The beach’s shallow drop-offs can suddenly deepen, contributing historically to around 18 rescues per season. With reduced oversight, rangers advise swimmers to stay within 100 feet of the shoreline for safety.
4. Chincoteague Beach, Virginia
Chincoteague typically hires 8 seasonal guards, but this year the number is zero, leaving all patrol towers inactive. Strong lateral currents and shifting sandbars create conditions that once required 40+ rescues in a single season, illustrating why the absence of supervision has sparked local worry. Beach attendance still reaches 6,000 on busy days, and emergency services report that reaching remote sections of the shoreline can take 12 minutes, nearly double their ideal response window.
5. Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina
Cape Hatteras spans 70 miles of dynamic coastline, yet current lifeguard staffing sits at roughly 40% of normal seasonal levels. Only 3 of its usual 7 guarded areas remain partially staffed. Rip currents here are among the strongest on the East Coast, accounting for 80% of local rescues, with flows sometimes exceeding 5 feet per second. With limited guards, NPS has logged a 25% rise in precautionary medical calls, many linked to inexperienced swimmers misjudging offshore winds.
6. South Beach, Miami, Florida
Despite being one of the country’s busiest beaches, South Beach faces an unexpected 30% staffing gap, leaving up to 12 towers unmanned during weekdays. Average daily attendance surpasses 50,000, and high-energy surf combined with alcohol-related incidents typically produce over 700 rescues per year. This season, officials estimate that response times have lengthened by 20–25%, particularly along the mid-beach stretch where fewer patrols operate. Visitors are urged to follow flag advisories closely.
7. Venice Beach, California
Venice Beach is seeing its largest shortage in a decade, operating with about 60 lifeguards instead of the usual 85, leaving several towers dark during morning and evening hours. The area records over 10 million visitors yearly and averages 500–600 rescues, especially near popular surf breaks. When multiple towers go unstaffed, rescue teams may need to travel an extra 0.4–0.7 miles before reaching swimmers in distress. County officials note a 15% increase in cautionary interventions so far.
8. Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
Waikiki, which welcomes nearly 5 million beachgoers yearly, is contending with a 25% reduction in available guards, resulting in shorter patrol periods and intermittent unstaffed towers. Though the water seems calm, offshore channels can draw swimmers 50–80 feet from shore within seconds. In recent years, lifeguards handled 1,200+ preventive actionseach season, but this year’s reduced presence has stretched remaining crews thin. Emergency services estimate a 10% rise in delayed responses along peak-hour stretches.