It's been more than seven months since Hurricane Matthew swept across Flagler Beach, but ocean rescue officials are warning beachgoers of swimming near the sandbar that was created by the storm.

  • Hurricane Matthew shifted sandbar at Flagler Beach
  • Beach rescue officials said the shift increases rip current threat
  • Lifeguards rescued 99 rip current victims in 2016

The hurricane exposed more of the sandbar, and swimmers are at risk of getting caught up in a rip current.

"The key hidden danger is that it can't be seen and people go out there," said Tom Gillin, director of Flagler Beach Ocean Rescue.

Gillin said lifeguards are watching the sandbar area of the beach closely after the shape of the beach has changed.

"It acts just like a funnel, and all the water channels out through that one little gap," he said. "And that's basically what a rip current is."

Gillin said one side of the sandbar became shallower after the hurricane. The other side drops off deeper near the Flagler Beach Pier.

In addition, the shorter pier — which was damaged during the hurricane — moved the sandbar closer to the shoreline by about 150 feet. Now, more people are testing their luck but are getting stuck in tide transitions and need to be rescued.

"It's easier to get out, but not always easy to get back in," Gillin said.

Over the past nine years, Flagler Beach has reported about 800 rip current rescues to the United States Life Saving Association.

According to their report, lifeguards rescued 99 rip current victims last year.

Molly Grosso, a beachgoer, said she and her children would rather keep their distance from the area.

"We don't go too far," she said. "I know that there’s a sandbar out there and I used to — when I was younger — swim out there all the time. I just know it's bad out there."

Gillin's advice: always swim near a lifeguard and communicate with lifeguards when you arrive at the beach.

"If you know the hazards are out there, you're better apt to deal with them," he said.

If you're interested in learning more water safety, Flagler County has its water safety event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 3, at Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool, 339 Parkview Drive, in Palm Coast.