Freeper Beach Report, Oil ashore in Orange Beach, AL (VANITY)

Self ^ | June 12, 2010 | Commish

[commish]

THe wife and I are spending the weekend in Orange Beach, AL celebrating 15 wonderful years of marriage, and I thought I would go ahead and update Freepers on the current oil situation.

I was truly hoping to see minimal impact, but unfortunately that is not the case. Don't get me wrong, the brilliant white sand beaches are still here, there is no oil smell in the air, and the sun is bright and beautiful; however the oil is here and the effects are everywhere.

The biggest effect however is not environemental, it is with the people. A palpable pall has settled over this area, with everyone we have encountered in a depressed and almost defeated mood. the beaches, while no where near empty, are ghost towns compared to past visits, and there are no waiting lines in the restaurants, very little traffic etc. The devestating effect to the local economy is extremely evident and it is written on the faces of everyone. it is truly heartbreaking to see this vibrant wonderful area basically brought to its knees.

Now, on to the oil. when we got here yesterday there was not muchoil evident, and this morning there were just scattered tar balls on the beach.

However as today progressed we noticed boat and aireal activity picking up, and a little after noon it was evident why. A large slick was visibly noticible just off shore and around 1:30 CT it bagan washing ashore in Orange Beach.

Below are pictures I have taken:

White Sand Beach, Orange Beach, AL - June 11, 2010:

Scattered Tar Balls, Early morning JUne 12:

Tar Balls, Orange Beach, Early morning June 12:

Large amount of tiny tarballs washing ashore, 11 Am June 12:

OIl washing ashore, 1 PM June 12:

Large oil amounts beginning to come ashore 1:30 PM June 12:

Large slick begins coming ashore, Orange Beach, Al, JUne 12, 2010, 1:30 PM:

Second larger slick just offshore, 2 PM, JUne 12, Containment vessels racing to intercept:

Large amounts of oil in water JUne 12, 2010, 2 PM;

Containment efforts, Orange Beach, Al, 3 PM Ct , June 12, 2010:

[chemengineer42]

you are 100% correct I work with several former BP employees that quit because they valued there life over a job. we cannot let the “Poor Pensioners” get away with saying BP cannot pay because we will loose money. If you were dump enough to buy BP stock then you deserve to loose your money.

[northwinds]

We need to encourage BP to stay afloat...not shut it down. The company has a $20 billion a year cash flow that needs to be maintained so that they can pay for the clean-up and the liabilities from lost jobs/businesses. BP has committed to doing that. It is my understanding that under federal law BP's liability is capped at $75 million after the clean up. If the company gets dumped on too much they can file for bankruptcy, merge or any number of legal movers....leave $75 million on the table and walk away. Accidents happen when we try to extract deposits from the earth. This could have happened to any of the oil companies. Hold BP accountable and force them to use that cash flow to make everybody whole in the end. Then beef up the government regulatory scheme, in conjunction with the expertise that the oil companies have, to make sure an accident of this magnitude never happens again.

[commish]

Thanks. I have been so upset at the MSM portrayal of everything and everyone covered in oil. Every story starts with the condo floors stained with oil, residents covered in oil, blah blah blah.

Even today that is not the case, but as my pictures show it is bad here. But as I said up top, the biggest impression on me is the feel of impending doom that everyone here has.

We make frequent trips down here as we live on 3 hours inland, and one of the wonderful things about Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Perdido Key is the people and the atmosphere. Every day is literally a party, and everyone glows with the joy of living in paradise. This whole ares really is intoxicating and the feeling is very contagious when you are here.

as we have gone to out favorite places and restaurants, we are seeing the same people and getting our usual warm greeting, smiles and hugs; but the wonderful party feeling is completely gone. You can see and FEEL the worry on everyones and face and in there minds, and to me that is what is hurting the most right now.

I have utmost confidence in the power of nature to overcome, adapt and recover in time. Today there are no signs of Katrina, Ivan, etc., and it a few years there will be no signs of BP in my opinion; but I am not sure when or if the people will ever recover the atmosphere. I hope I am wrong, and that when we return on our next trip that it will be back, but right now I have to admit I am somewhat in shock.

[Caipirabob]

Thank you for the real news on this. Prayers for our friends and family in the area, and all others.

Also, try to have a wonderful time all the same.

[momtothree]

I don’t think you are overreacting at all. I am not seeing a lot of info on the regular media. This is one forum that people can actually inform other people. Thank you for the info. Be strong.

[tropical]

The beach is just gorgeous in Alabama! I’ve never visited the area but it is spectacular as your photos clearly show. I’ve loved the ocean since I was very young and the gulf coast beaches are a special favorite.

I’m so sorry to hear how dispirited those who live and work in the area feel. This spill comes at a time when people make plans for summer vacations, weekend getaways and day trips. It is a heartbreaking situation.

[SaraJohnson]

Ok, sounds good. But the government had best do it and Republicans should be leading the way to do this. BP now has a history of being deadly polluters and they need to have a noose around their necks. They do right - they live. They screw with America - they die.

[SaraJohnson]

Right! If you want to be a corporation in the US, you can’t oppress or kill people!

[valkyry1]

Its worse in some areas, globs 4 inches thick are coming ashore.

More Crude, Tar Washes Up on Ala. Beaches; Company Is Given Two Days to Expedite Process of Blocking Further Oil Leaks

[bboop]

I am totally with you. We need to encourage BP not rag on them incessantly. Gets SO old. Accidents happen. Obama should let the Dutch etc. in with their good plans, IF, that is, he really wants a solution and not just a scapegoat.

Assuming a lot, isn’t it?

[Charles Martel]

as we have gone to out favorite places and restaurants, we are seeing the same people and getting our usual warm greeting, smiles and hugs; but the wonderful party feeling is completely gone. You can see and FEEL the worry on everyones and face and in there minds, and to me that is what is hurting the most right now.

Have you seen any impromptu artwork by the locals that skewers BP and/or the administration for the way this mess has been handled thus far? I saw some exampls of that on the way to Grand Isle a few days go. The side of a tattoo parlor on LA Hwy. 1 has a handpainted (and quite disrespectful) copy of the blue/red Obama campaign poster, wth "HOPE" replaced by "NOW WHAT??!" in oily black dripping letters.

Speaking of restaurants, one in Covington, LA is trying to lighten the mood a bit with a sign out front: "Our oysters are Wooed and Nude and have no Crude!"

[sybilll]

Thank You for posting this. It is heartbreaking seeing my favorite destinations decimated.

[commish]

That picture is just up the beach from our hotel. it looks like it was taken later in afternoon than the pics I posted as the tide is much furthur out. That is probably the oil we were seeing come ashore when we left the beach.

[blam]

Thanks for the udate and the pictures.

Terrible.

On the way home tonight from my regular Saturday night poker, heading south toward Dauphin Island, I ran into an area with an overwhelming smell of oil in the air.

I just don't know.

[commish]

THere is a slightoil tinge to the air this morning. Not a lot, but it is not the normal salt air smell this area is so famous for.

[commish]

Wife and I just got home. Despite the oil we had a lovely time in Orange Beach.

I wanted to share some final thoughts and a few more photos.

While the oil was sad to see, and the environmental impact is horrible, it is nothing compared to the impact to the people on shore. The empty hotels, half empty restaurants, vacant streets where all heartbreaking to see in an area that relies on tourism to survive. And most infuriating is IT IS THE MEDIA'S FAULT

That is also the biggest impression I left with, the people of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are not angry with BP -- don't get me wrong, they all expect BP to settle claims and pay up in the end, but every person I talked to said that more than BP they want two things:
1. For the Government (IE Obama) to SHUT UP, quit grandstanding, and quit playing politics with their Lives and their homes. Either get your asses down here and help clean up or get the hell out of BP's way and let them do it.

2. They want the media to quit sensationalizing and tell the TRUTH!!! QUIT SCARING PEOPLE AWAY! Stop the stories about oil covering everything. The media is completely destroying the Gulf Coast economy when it is being hurt enough already.

The manager at the hotel we stayed at and I chatted this morning. He said that if anyone from CNN, MSNBC, FOX, etx stepped foot in his hotel they probably would not leave in one peice. He had just got off the phone explaining to a lady who was supposed to come down later this week that contrary to what CNN was saying, there was no Oil in the hotel, the boardwalks and floors and plants were not coated in oil, and the beach was fine for sunbathing etc.

THat is the true tragedy and true story here - Businesses on the brink of bankruptcy because the Government and the media are scaring everyone away.

[commish]

More photos:

OIl booms and containment ship, JUne 13, orange Beach, FL:

Oil washed ashore, Orange Beach, FL, June 13:

OIl and Tar Balls in surf, June 13, Orange Beach, Fl:

OIl washing ashore, JUne 13, Orange beach, Fl:

OIl on beach and in surf, Orange beach, Fl, June 13, 2010:

Oil in surf taken from 6th floor of hotel, Orange Beach, FL, June 13, 2010:

[commish]

Added some new pictures

[valkyry1]

Thanks for the new pics. sad, real sad.

[a real Sheila]

“The people affected haven’t done anything to deserve the hard times they are facing...”

Um, THIS should make it rather clear WHY the response was delayed and coastal residents are being punished. They won’t see ONE DIME of money either if Obama gets his way and has a BP escrow account.

http://philhardwickblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/2008_election_map-counties.jpg