After Hurricane Sandy dislodged the last of the remaining buoys which marked the Prefabricated Erosion Prevention (P.E.P) reef which lies just yards from shore and extends 1000 yards from Humiston Park to the Village Spirers condominium complex on Vero Beach’s central beach in the heart of the beachside business and hotel district, members of the Vero Beach Lifeguard Association volunteered their time to replace the buoys supplied by Indian River County.   

Red and white buoys mark each section of reef.  The red buoys are on the inshore sections of reef while the white buoys mark the off shore sections. The reef is similar to concrete highway dividers with some modifications and stands approximately four feet high and two feet in width.  The PEP reef was installed a few year ago in an effort to abate beach erosion.

The Vero Beach Lifeguard Association, which mission is to promote lifeguarding and water safety, gladly volunteered to install the buoys.

“It may impose a hazard to swimmers who may not be aware of the reef’s placement”, states  Scot Caviness, a member of VBLA’s board of directors and beachside business owner.

“Most tourist and even locals are unaware of the PEP reef, rip currents and the drop off in these waters so VBLA does its best to education the public and help when it can.  Our county and my business depends on tourism so we have an obligation to keep people safe out here”, added Caviness.

For more information or to schedule a FREE water safety class by VBLA log onto http://www.vbla.org/.