Become a Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean Ambassador or Sponsor!
About:
The LTBRTO Ambassador Program
Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean is an award-winning public outreach campaign that focuses on reducing the number of lives lost each year and protecting the lives of Outer Banks beachgoers by bringing awareness to an array of potentially life-threatening beach and ocean hazards, such as rip currents, severe weather, extreme heat, offshore wind, shorebreak, holes in the sand and encounters with marine wildlife.
The National Weather Service ranks rip currents as the third leading cause of weather-related fatalities nationwide—and the number one leading cause of weather-related fatalities in North Carolina. Our coastal community on the Outer Banks of North Carolina hosts millions of beachgoers from places far and wide where ocean hazards—particularly rip currents—are often given little to no thought. As a result, beachgoers who are unaware of the dangers posed by such hazards often treat ocean swimming the same way they would when swimming in a pool, lake or river, which leads to many lives being lost to the power of the Atlantic.
Launched in 2018, the Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean campaign is a collaborative effort that brings together a diverse group of local entities, including Dare County Emergency Management, municipalities, ocean rescue agencies, as well as the National Park Service and numerous nonprofit organizations and business partners. Learn more by clicking the tabs below to find additional information.
Duties of LTBRTO Ambassadors
The role of any ambassador is flexible. Ambassadors may choose to help with:
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Marketing the campaign by visiting local businesses to share beach safety information and materials
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Distributing Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean stickers and materials
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Discussing ocean hazards with beachgoers
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Assisting ocean rescue personnel with simple tasks like raising Beach Warning Flags as conditions change
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Sharing beach condition reports with the National Weather Service
Volunteer may donate as many or a few hours as they would like. Past volunteers have documented their work with the Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean campaign to receive college credit.
For more information about becoming a Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean Ambassador volunteer, contact Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson at drew.pearson@darenc.gov or 252-475-5897 or Dare County Emergency Management Planner James Wooten at james.wooten@darenc.gov or 252-475-5894.
Let’s Work Together
Dare County Emergency Management
370 Airport Road
P.O. Box 1000, Manteo, NC 27954
252.475.5897