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Coasties revive foul-weather warning flags

Double red-and-black storm-warning flags once heralded an impending hurricane, urging mariners to take cover and seaside residents to flee.

The flags disappeared from common use in 1989, when the National Weather Service discontinued the program.

This summer, the Coast Guard officially is bringing them back.

Starting June 1, select Coast Guard stations will hoist storm flags in foul weather: red triangle for small craft warning; double red triangle for gale warning; single red-and-black square for storm warning; and the feared double flags for hurricane warning.

“[This is] a Coast Guard initiative to reinforce the Coast Guard’s role as lifesavers, reaffirm to local communities the Coast Guard’s role as experts concerning local boating matters and visually communicate ... the lesson of Hurricane Katrina to take personal responsibility for individual safety,” said Rear Adm. David Pekoske in an announcement May 30.

Some marinas and stations voluntarily have carried on the tradition of hoisting such flags, but participation was spotty.

The Coast Guard hopes that residents in storm-prone areas will see the flags and listen to National Oceanographic and Atmospherics Administration radio broadcasts for further details, officials say.

According to NOAA, more than half the country’s population lives along the coasts. In 2003, roughly 153 million people lived in 673 coastal counties.