TORRANCE — LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, local officials and members of Los Angeles County’s deaf and hard of hearing communities June 18, celebrated the launch of the Beach Emergency Evacuation Lights System or BEELS.
Originally conceived by Department of Beaches and Harbors safety officer Randy Dean and developed with input from the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, BEELS is the first beach evacuation warning system worldwide to incorporate flashing lights specifically designed to alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing to an evacuation.
In addition to flashing lights for people who have hearing challenges, BEELS features announcements in English and Spanish that indicate the type of emergency and whether it is a water-only or full beach evacuation. The audio also includes a siren to warn people who may not understand either language.
BEELS’ lights and speakers are mounted on two lifeguard towers, the permanent lifeguard and restroom building, and the restroom building on the north end of Torrance Beach. During tests, the lights could be seen from more than a quarter of a mile away, and the audio measured 109 decibels at the water in front of the lifeguard building.
Once the pilot project at Torrance Beach has finished, DBH plans to expand the system to cover beaches along the LA County coast.
Details: beaches.lacounty.gov/BEELS and bit.ly/BEELSmedia.
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