Lavallette lifeguard headquarters. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
Lavallette, like most Jersey Shore towns this September, is predicting a busier-than-usual shoulder season as many part-time residents are expected to remain since they are able to work remotely.
Towns have decided to keep lifeguards on both weekdays and weekends for a few weeks, depending on the community, and some are still requiring beach badges. In Lavallette, beach badges will not be required after Labor Day, and while a full guard staff will not remain on duty, there will be a standby crew ready to respond to incidents.
A Water Rescue Response Team will work from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday, Sept. 8 until Monday, Sept. 14, said Borough Administrator Robert Brice. The guards, however, will not be manning lifeguard stands.
“They will be on standby at the Philadelphia Ave Lifeguard HQ, and not patrolling the beach,” said Brice. “They do not want to create the impression the beaches are guarded.”
The team will consist of two or three guards on weekdays and four to six guards on weekends. Normal lifeguard operation will cease at 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 7, and the Water Rescue Response Team will be in emergency response mode only.
Brice said the borough council will discuss whether to extend the emergency standby crew’s duties past Sept. 14 at their meeting next Tuesday, Sept. 8, which begins at 7 p.m.
