This Spring Break, South Padre Island officials are more prepared than ever with over 100 additional staff, 1,100 volunteers, new surveillance cameras and 186 law enforcement officials present during the weeklong event.
SPI officials spoke about how the city has prepared for Spring Break in a news conference earlier today in City Hall. Mayor Dennis Stahl, City Manager Susan Guthrie, SPI Police Lt. Juan Herrera, Beach Patrol Captain Jim Pigg, Environmental Health Director Victor Baldovinos, Shoreline Management Director Brandon Hill and Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Keith Arnold were the speakers.
“Spring Break is an annual event,” Stahl said. “It brings many college students here, but it also brings many families to South Padre Island. We offer a lot of different things to do here. … We trust that it’ll be a safe and a great Spring Break. These folks standing before you have worked awfully, awfully hard to make sure of that.”
Guthrie told attendees SPI officials will set up an emergency operation center in City Hall. The center will be used as the command station for all Spring Break-related issues or concerns.
“It’ll be manned by myself, the fire chief, representatives from the police department, staff from the state emergency operation center, as well as representation from our hospital system here in the [Rio Grande] Valley,” she said.
The emergency operation center will have access to live streams from cameras installed throughout the Island.
“We have cameras all over the Island that are observing crowds and gatherings so that we can ensure that we’re deploying our emergency services appropriately,” Guthrie said.
SPI has also installed license plate recognition cameras on the causeway that connects the Island to Port Isabel. The city will monitor traffic coming from the causeway in hopes to minimize congestion.
Guthrie said Beach Reach, a Christian organization composed of college students, will be present during Spring Break again this year.
Beach Reach will bring 1,100 students and volunteers to the Island who will provide transportation, ministry services and meals for Spring Breakers.
The Island will also see help from an additional 139 hired staff, which include 40 off-duty officers, doubling last year’s number; 25 jailers; 20 traffic control personnel, who will manually override traffic signals; 20 code enforcement officers; six public works crew members; 12 shoreline crew members; and 16 Beach Patrol officers.
As previously mentioned, 186 officers will be present on the Island during Spring Break, which include law enforcement officials from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and Texas Rangers.
Several SPI staff members have licenses to operate drones.
“We will be using [drones] in a myriad of ways,” Guthrie said. “One of those is to observe crowds. We won’t be flying over crowds, but possibly adjacent to crowds observing just to keep everyone safe.”
During his speech in the conference, Herrera provided tips on how to stay safe during Spring Break:
–Stay with friends at all times
–Do not drink beverages left unattended
–Do not drink and drive
–Use the city’s public transit services, such as Island Metro and taxis
–Ensure property is locked and secure
The lieutenant also said the use of golf carts have become more popular than ever, but visitors must remember to follow all traffic laws when using them, including wearing seat belts and not driving on bike lanes.
From March 1 to April 30 last year, the police department received 5,176 calls for service. Of those, 1,123 incidents were reported, including 721 arrests and 234 motor vehicle accidents.
Herrera said the Island saw more than 13,000 vehicles commuting for Spring Break last year.
Pigg provided information on flags that have been placed throughout the beaches.
Red flags indicate hazardous surf conditions, which include rip currents and big-wave action, he said.
“If you get caught in a rip current, try to remain calm,” the captain said. “You don’t want to fight the current. You want to remain calm. Wave your arms. Yell back to the beach for someone. Once the current does release you, you can swim back parallel to the beach and get back to safety. At that time, someone from the beach patrol will be there to assist you.”
Yellow flags mean calm to moderate water conditions; however, Pigg said that does not mean it is safe to go in the water.
Blue flags represent marine life presence, such as jellyfish and stingrays.
Pigg said a single location may have a combination of flags. He also recommends beachgoers to not swim alone, drink lots of water and use sunblock.
Beach Patrol will also have a mobile medical unit stationed next to Clayton’s beach resort.
The unit will be operational from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. March 15-17, Pigg said.
“What that’s going to entail is having an emergency medical ambulance that’s going to be stationed there with a mobile medical unit,” he said. “We’re going to have 17 additional personnel there from doctors, from nurses to extra paramedics.”
Ten ambulances will be added to the Island’s three, making it 13 units available during Spring Break. Beach Patrol will also have 16 lifeguards available.
Similar to Herrera, Pigg provided statistics from the department during the conference. Beach Patrol responded to 544 calls and spent $66,015 last year in overtime, buses and additional personnel.
Another department that has increased in numbers is Environmental Health.
Baldovinos said his department went from five to 25 department staff members.
The Environmental Health director also said all commercial activities on right-of-ways, vacant lots, from a vehicle and on the beach are prohibited.
Littering glass on the beach is also prohibited.
Baldovinos said visitors bringing pets should check if hotels, motels or condominium complexes are pet-friendly prior to arrival.
“When taking pets on the beach, please make sure they stay on the leash for everyone’s safety, including your pets,” he said. “Lastly, if the sand is too hot for your feet, it’s too hot for their paws.”
For more information, call Environmental Health at 761-8123.
Last year, Shoreline Management department staff worked 623 hours overtime. This year, Hill said the department has increased its crew from six to 18.
Shoreline Management will have two large beach cleanings each day during Spring Break, one in the morning and evening.
However, the department will be on the beach all day using its beach cleaner, cleaning via vehicles and by foot.
Hill also encourages beachgoers to clean after themselves and to pick up any trash they see laying around.
Lastly, the director advised visitors to be cautious when digging holes as they can collapse.
On behalf of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Arnold said the department anticipates a slightly larger number of visitors than last year. He said actual figures will not be available until after Spring Break.
The director also said March is the Island’s third-highest-visitor month.
SPI’s total economic impact from Spring Break last year was $30.5 million.
