TORRANCE —If you hear evacuation alerts or see flashing lights at Torrance Beach on April 29, don’t panic—it’s only a test.
It will be the first official test of the Beach Emergency Evacuation Lights System or BEELS, a new beach evacuation alert system designed for all beachgoers, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. During a beach evacuation, BEELS will flash white LED lights mounted on permanent structures and some lifeguard towers. It will broadcast an audible siren and an evacuation announcement in both English and Spanish. The announcement message will change depending on the evacuation type, and the lights will flash slowly for a water-only evacuation and quickly for a full beach evacuation.
BEELS’ visible and audible evacuation alerts will notify a wider range of beachgoers if there is an evacuation.
BEELS is being piloted at Torrance Beach with the goal of eventually expanding it to every beach in Los Angeles County.
Time: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.April 29
Details: beaches.lacounty.gov/beels
Location: Torrance Beach, 387 Paseo de la Playa, Redondo Beach