Ken Grimes from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

Ken Grimes’ middle name may not be “Crisis,” but it could be.

When Grimes, the city administrator at Orange Beach, speaks to groups, he opens with a definition of the word crisis: a crucial or decisive point or situation – a turning point – an emotionally stressful event or traumatic change in a person’s life.

Since Grimes’ job began in 2002, he has come to know the definition all too well. Consider:

• Hurricane Ivan (2004)
• Hurricane Katrina (2005)
• Hurricanes Gustav and Ike (2008)
• Hurricane Ida (2009)
• National recession (2008-09)
• Real estate bubble bust (2009)
• BP oil spill (2010)
• Gulf State Park fire (2011)
• Hurricane Isaac (2012)
• Gulf Coast deep freeze (2014)
• Rain/flood (2014)

Ken Grimes, Orange Beach city administrator: “Our flag system is always present and obvious. When people mind the warnings, they will return home with pleasant memories.”

But Grimes’ presentation isn’t all doom and gloom. He does end with a couple of positive slides, including an aerial photograph of Memorial Day showing hundreds of boats enjoying the beautiful turquoise water. His last slide is one that shows a gorgeous sunrise and the words: “The sun will come up tomorrow!”

From his office in City Hall at Orange Beach on a recent beautiful, sunny day, Grimes shared why his work requires both optimism and attentiveness.

“This job comes with many challenges,” he said. “Orange Beach has a population of 5,800 people, but on July the 4th, we will have over 100,000 people enjoying our beautiful beaches. Their safety is the number one concern for all of our city officials and for me.”

He has seen too many people lose their lives as victims of rip currents or other accidents, and he works tirelessly to reduce that number every year.

“It breaks my heart when I see someone lose their life just because they got in the water on a rough day,” Grimes said. “Our flag system is always present and obvious. When people mind the warnings, they will return home with pleasant memories.”

Grimes tips for beach safety: Rip currents present the greatest single danger. If you find yourself caught in one, do not panic. Swim parallel to the beach. When you feel the rip current release, swim back to shore.

Grimes hopes beach visitors will keep in mind three basic tips:

• Rip currents present the greatest single danger. If you find yourself caught in one, do not panic. Swim parallel to the beach. When you feel the rip current release, swim back to shore.
• Alcohol can be deadly when overdone and combined with rough waters or high-speed boating. Make sure your alcohol intake is moderate, especially if you plan on swimming or getting in a boat.
• High-rise balconies are a real danger, especially for families with small children. Make sure there is always an adult with children on the balcony.

A few other risks are sunburn, afternoon lightning storms and dehydration. Grimes said people need to be aware of warnings along the beach and the location of lifeguards.

Another danger is for bikers along the highway due to high summer traffic. Biking paths are available from Orange Beach to Gulf Shores.

“The main thing is for people to follow warnings given by our city, fire and police officials,” Grimes said. “If there is an evacuation due to a hurricane, do not attempt to stay and fight it. Also, the flags on the beach are big. If you see a ‘red’ or a ‘double red’ flag, do not go into the water. I have seen too many drowning victims, and it tears me up every time.”

Grimes’ goal for every person visiting the beach this summer is to go back home with happy memories. He hopes that when they put their hands in their pockets weeks later and find a bit of sand, a tiny smile will break.

Alabama Bright Lights captures the stories, through words, pictures and video, of some of our state’s brightest lights who are working to make Alabama an even better place to live, work and play. Award-winning photojournalist Karim Shamsi-Basha tells their inspiring stories. Email him comments, as well as suggestions on people to profile, at karimshamsibasha@gmail.com.