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"Je'Sani Smith Beach Safety Alert" being put into place just in time for Spring Break

Electronic message boards will be put on the J.F.K. Causeway, the ferry, and county beaches so people can be warned of dangerous rip currents in the ocean.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — If you frequent the beaches here in the Coastal Bend then you'll be happy to know that a new system is being put in place to keep the community safe from rip tides.

The City of Corpus Christi joined forces with Nueces County and the Texas Department of Transportation to unveil the first-ever beach safety alert.

The "Je'Sani Smith Beach Safety Alert" is being put in place at all county beaches like Bob Hall Pier. 

Brent Chesney says the electronic message boards will also be put on the J.F.K. Causeway and ferry in Port Aransas so people headed to the beach can be warned of dangerous conditions.

"A digital marquee message board has been donated by Tressa and Dr. Chris Majka with the Texas Eye Care Network along with $10,000 in funding from the Port of Corpus Christi. We have never in the history of our City or County had this type of Beach Safety Alert," stated officials.

The alert system is named in honor of Je'Sani Smith, a King High School student who tragically drowned back in April of 2019.

"Ms. Kiwana Denson created the Beach Safety Task Force to raise awareness about beach safety after losing her son Je’Sani Smith to a rip current in 2019. Her efforts have garnered the support of state, county, and local officials who continue to work together in her son’s memory," added officials.

Je'Sani's mother, Kiwana Patterson-Denson, has been working to get a system like this put in place ever since the tragic incident.

"And so for me, as a mother first and human caring for all people, and their wellbeing, I just feel its a moral and social responsibility that we make people aware of the safety measures that we're taking to make them safe," said Kiwana.

The sign being placed at county beaches, the ferry, and the J.F.K. Causeway were donated from the Texas Department of Transportation. 

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