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June 26, 2026
Lulu's Law Became Federal Law
The law requires the FCC to formally allow a shark attack to qualify as an event for which a Wireless Emergency Alert may be transmitted.
Lulu's Law + Beach Buddy
One Official Alert. Another Layer of Beach Safety.
Lulu's Law creates a federal path for shark-attack Wireless Emergency Alerts. Beach Buddy is designed to complement those official alerts with a location-based in-app warning, mapped information and practical safety guidance for beachgoers.
Different systems. One goal:
help people know when something important has happened near
the water and give them useful information to respond.
Beach Buddy is an independent supplemental beach-safety and marine-awareness service. It is not an official government alert system and does not replace Wireless Emergency Alerts, lifeguards, emergency responders, closures or other official safety instructions.
How the warning can travel
Step 1
Official Shark-Attack Alert
An authorized public-alerting authority issues a qualifying emergency warning.
Step 2
Beach Buddy Warning
Qualifying alert information can support an applicable location-based warning inside Beach Buddy.
Step 3
Useful Beach Context
Beachgoers can see the warning alongside relevant marine information, mapped activity and safety guidance.
Beach Buddy adds another layer of awareness alongside official
emergency alerts, helping beachgoers see relevant information
in one place.
Understanding Lulu's Law
What Happens From Law to Alert?
Lulu's Law creates the federal pathway. The actual warning still depends on the FCC framework and an authorized public-safety authority choosing to issue an alert.
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Federal Deadline: Dec. 23, 2026
The FCC Issues the Order
Congress gave the FCC 180 days from enactment to issue the required order covering shark-attack alert eligibility.
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Local Implementation
Authorized Authorities Send Alerts
The law does not automatically send a warning after every incident. Authorized public-alerting authorities determine when an eligible alert is issued.
The law is signed. Implementation is the next step.
Lulu's Law establishes eligibility for shark-attack alerts;
public-safety authorities remain responsible for issuing
official Wireless Emergency Alerts.
View the Official Law
Where Beach Buddy Fits
The Alert Gets Your Attention. Beach Buddy Adds the Context.
If an official shark-attack alert is issued, Beach Buddy can provide an additional location-based warning inside the app and help you understand what is happening around the beach.
Official Warning
An Alert Is Issued
An authorized public-safety authority sends an eligible shark-attack warning through the official alert system.
Beach Buddy
You See an In-App Warning
Beach Buddy can surface a relevant location-based warning so the hazard is visible alongside the beach information you are already using.
More Context
Check What Is Happening Nearby
Review available shark activity, marine hazards, conditions, safety guidance and other relevant information before deciding what to do next.
More Than One Alert
Beach Buddy Helps You See the Bigger Picture.
The official alert tells you about the emergency. Beach Buddy helps you understand the beach around it.
Shark Activity
See available tagged shark activity, sightings
and mapped shark incidents.
Marine Hazards
Check reported hazards and relevant coastal
safety information near the beach.
Surf & Conditions
Review surf, tides, wind, weather,
water conditions and beach flags.
Safety Guidance
Get practical marine-life and beach-safety
information for the location and season.
Beach Buddy adds another layer of awareness.
It does not replace Wireless Emergency Alerts, lifeguards,
emergency responders, beach closures or instructions from
public-safety authorities.
Beyond the Emergency Alert
An Alert Tells You Something Happened.
Beach Buddy Helps You Plan the Whole Beach Day.
Shark-attack alerts are important, but they are only one part of coastal awareness. Beach Buddy brings beach discovery, conditions, hazards, marine life and safety information together before you ever step into the water.
Emergency Awareness
Official Alert
Provides urgent public notification when an authorized authority issues an eligible Wireless Emergency Alert.
Critical when something happens.
Everyday Coastal Awareness
Beach Buddy
Helps you choose a beach, understand current conditions, see available hazards and shark activity, learn about marine life, and make a more informed plan.
Useful before, during and after the alert.
Find Your Beach
Discover beaches and compare amenities, rules and local information.
Check Conditions
Review weather, tides, surf, wind, water conditions and beach flags.
See Hazards & Shark Activity
View available marine hazards, shark activity, mapped incidents and safety information.
Know What Shares the Water
Get location- and season-aware marine-life guidance plus conservation information.
Better Beach Decisions Start Before You Go.
Beach Buddy puts beach discovery, conditions, marine hazards, shark activity, wildlife guidance and coastal safety tools together in one app.
Beach Buddy is an independent supplemental awareness tool. Always follow lifeguards, emergency responders, posted warnings, beach closures, evacuation instructions and official government alerts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Beachgoers Should Know
A few important distinctions about Lulu's Law, Wireless Emergency Alerts and Beach Buddy.
Will Lulu's Law automatically send an alert after every shark incident?
No. Lulu's Law creates a federal pathway for eligible shark-attack Wireless Emergency Alerts. An authorized public-alerting authority still determines when an official alert is issued.
Will Beach Buddy send the same alert?
Beach Buddy can use qualifying official information to support a relevant location-based warning inside the app. It is a supplemental awareness tool, not the official Wireless Emergency Alert system.
Why use Beach Buddy if my phone already receives emergency alerts?
An emergency alert tells you about an urgent event. Beach Buddy gives you broader beach context, including available shark activity, marine hazards, surf, tides, weather, beach flags, marine-life guidance and other information that can help you make decisions before and during your beach day.
Does Beach Buddy replace lifeguards or official warnings?
No. Always follow lifeguards, emergency responders, beach closures, posted warnings and instructions from public-safety authorities. Beach Buddy is designed to provide an additional layer of information and awareness.
Can Beach Buddy warn me about hazards other than sharks?
Yes. Beach Buddy brings together multiple types of coastal information, including marine hazards, beach conditions, wildlife guidance and other location-relevant safety information.
Do I need Beach Buddy Pro to receive basic safety information?
Beach Buddy provides core beach-safety and awareness information to users, while certain advanced features and tools are available through Beach Buddy Pro.
Official instructions always come first.
If a lifeguard, emergency responder or public-safety
authority tells you to leave the water or beach,
follow that instruction immediately.