She Lost a Hand and Leg. Her Story Sparked a New Federal Law.

Quick Take

• Two shark attacks struck the same Florida beach 90 minutes apart in 2024, with one victim having no idea the other had happened. See the 2024 attacks →
• Lulu's Law uses the same alert infrastructure as Amber Alerts, though critics say it has a built-in flaw that kicks in at the worst possible moment. How the alert system works →
• U.S. shark attack numbers tell a story that contradicts the headlines, and that story raises real questions about whether Lulu's Law is solving the right problem. Check the attack statistics →
• Even if Lulu's Law works exactly as designed, local governments hold a power over it that could quietly render the whole system moot. Explore the local control issue →

Coastal states are popular for their access to the ocean. However, those who choose to splash in the waves take on the risk of encountering a shark. While rare, attacks do happen. This is why lawmakers have passed a law to enable emergency alerts for shark sightings or attacks. But is Lulu’s Law—the legislation inspired by a teen who lost a hand and a leg—the solution to preventing shark attacks? Opinions are divided.

What Is Lulu’s Law?

Lulu’s Law aims to expand the use of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system for emergencies such as shark attacks. WEA is currently used for things like Amber Alerts and national emergencies. Once the law is signed, it will allow shark sightings or attacks to be included in the list of events for which the WEA can be used.

The intent of broadcasting shark sightings and attack alerts is to warn people in surrounding areas about shark activity. Beachgoers will receive real-time information about unusual shark activity, with the goal of preventing shark attacks.

Why Was Lulu’s Law Proposed?

In 2024, a 15-year-old named Lulu Gribbin was enjoying a day at the beach in Florida. As she swam in waist-high water, she was attacked by a bull shark. The injuries that Gribbin sustained were life-threatening, and ultimately, Gribbin lost her left hand and right leg.

Unbeknownst to Gribbin, another woman named Elisabeth Foley had been attacked by a shark just 90 minutes earlier and a few miles away. Foley lost her hand in the attack.

Lulu’s Law was proposed and ultimately passed by both the House and the Senate in May 2026 to prevent incidents like this. It is believed that if a shark warning message had been sent out via the WEA, beachgoers like Gribbin might have stayed out of the water after Foley’s attack.

How Many Shark Attacks Are There in the U.S. Annually?

Shark attacks make headlines. There is no denying that. But what the headlines fail to point out is that shark attacks are rare and have declined over the last five years.

The number of shark attacks in the United States over the last several years is as follows:

• 2025: 27 attacks
• 2024: 28 attacks
• 2023: 36 attacks
• 2022: 41 attacks
• 2021: 47 attacks

It should be noted that during the same time period, there were 16 fatalities.

While these numbers may seem frightening to some, the odds of being bitten by a shark are one in 11.5 million. Perhaps with a tool like Lulu’s Law, those numbers can decrease further.

Can Lulu’s Law Make a Difference in Preventing Shark Attacks?

Proponents of Lulu’s Law believe it will affect the number of shark attacks each year. While it can be a productive tool for keeping beachgoers safer, the implementation of Lulu’s Law may not be the be-all and end-all that supporters believe it will be.

Sending a text message to beachgoers in areas where sharks are known to congregate will increase awareness and may help prevent attacks. However, there are some limitations to Lulu’s Law that can limit its effectiveness. These limitations include:

• If people are in the water, they will not have their cell phones with them to see the warning
• Those visiting rural areas may not have cell coverage and, therefore, may not have access to shark warning messages
• The regions that will receive emergency messages have yet to be determined 
• The response time for sending emergency messages has yet to be established
• Regions that have known shark activity may change and ultimately make the emergency messages less effective

Lulu’s Law is well-intentioned. If there is a shark attack or conditions that make authorities believe an attack is imminent, those in neighboring beach regions should receive a warning as soon as possible to keep beachgoers safe. The effectiveness of Lulu’s Law will depend on local municipalities, which have the authority to decide whether to issue an alert. But with so few shark attacks occurring in the United States each year, opponents of the law have questioned whether the warning messages will truly make a difference. Whether the law will have a significant impact is a question that will be studied for years to come.