Category: Blog

Good afternoon everyone!  It has been a stormy day in Ft. Morgan so much so that it has been unsafe for me to be on the beach taking photos today.  It seems like it is clearing a bit so I will try to get some photos up from the beach in a bit.  For now I wanted to post some fishing pictures from one of our friends who lives out here in Ft. Morgan, Shane.  He was determined to go fishing for the start of snapper season. These photos were taken the 1st day of snapper season which I believe was the 1st.  Don’t loose heart all of you fishermen and women we are still making some great catches of oil free fish.

Right now off of our cost we have at least 60 vessels skimming the oil that is found.  It is still so far out that we can’t see these boats.  We are thrilled and impressed with the response of the Coast Guard and our local fishermen that have been put to work in this effort to protect our beaches!

Thanks for checking in with us I will get the answers to your comments asap!!!!

• As of this morning, no oil has reached the beaches of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Ft. Morgan. The extent of that impact is unknown and this is only a forecast. Like the weather forecast, it is subject to change. See the current NOAA map and forecast here and check back frequently for changing conditions.
• No health advisories or closings have been issued for our beaches or the waters off Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan at this point.
• The City of Gulf Shores has contractors working to lay protective berm across Little Lagoon Pass, preparing in advance of any oil to preserve the waters and habitats of Little Lagoon.
• Perdido Pass is open. At this time, there is no announcement from state officials regarding closing the pass to recreational or commercial boat traffic. Ono Island has closed its canals and harbor. Ono Island is privately owned and the decision was made by their private neighborhood association, not any government agency.
• NOAA has extended the limit of the closed fishing area to the line where federal waters meet Alabama state waters. To view a map of the closed area, go to https://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.
• All appropriate protective measures, including oil-absorbing booms, are being placed along beaches, bays, inlets, and sensitive areas in an effort to keep oil from reaching Alabama’s shoreline. National, state and local response teams are deployed at sites along the coast to deal with local effects.
• We will continue to monitor the situation and post information pertinent to our local area here as it become available.
• For detailed information about the entire incident, visit the NOAA (https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/) or Deepwater Horizon (www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com) response sites.

I spent some time at the beach today with my super fun nephews, they are 2 and 4!  We had a great time in the sun and probably got a little too much sun.   Splashing and romping, enjoying every second of our time watching the helicoptors and planes fly over, seeing the beach through their little eyes.  Hope you all can make it down to the coast, and have a great time making memories with the ones you love, this summer.  

To date, no oil has reached the beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, and according to NOAA, none is expected for at least the next 72 hours. At its closest point, the slick is still approximately 40-50 miles from the western end of our island. See the current NOAA map and forecast here.

The incident team at the spill performed a controlled burn earlier this week, and with winds blowing from the south, odor from the burn was reported in Orange Beach and Fort Morgan Wednesday afternoon and evening. However, the winds have changed direction and the odor should be a temporary and hopefully isolated incident.

The Alabama Department of Public Health and Alabama Department of Environmental Management have stated that there is no foreseeable need to close beaches and, short of a drastic change, they have no plans to do so.

An erroneous e-mail has been circulated stating that Governor Riley had ordered the beaches closed. That e-mail is false. A press release from the Governor’s office verifying that the beaches ARE open was issued Monday, May 17th. Click here to read the release.

Although NOAA has closed commercial fishing in a limited area of the gulf between the Mississippi River and Pensacola Bay, there is a large area of the gulf still open. Charter boats are leaving Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan every day to fish areas up to 25-30 miles out and in our inshore waters. To view a map of the closed area, go to https://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.

All appropriate protective measures, including oil-absorbing booms, are being placed along beaches, bays, inlets, and sensitive areas in an effort to keep oil from reaching Alabama’s shoreline. National, state and local response teams are deployed at sites along the coast to deal with local effects.

We will continue to monitor the situation and post information pertinent to our local area here as they become available.

The latest update from the convention and visitors bureau is below. I spent some time out of the office on the beach it is as pretty as it gets down there. The water is perfectly clear, not too hot, and of course sugar white sand still there as always. Our friends the Hockman family sent us some more, great pictures to show everyone.

Thanks guys for sharing your family memories with everyone!!!

1.) There have been no reports of odor along the beaches of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan. At its closest point, the slick is approximately 50-60 miles away from the most western tip of our island.
2.) The Alabama Department of Public Health and Alabama Department of Environmental Management has stated that there is no foreseeable need to close beaches and, short of a drastic change, they have no plans to do so.
3.) Although NOAA has closed commercial and recreational fishing in a limited area between the mouth of the Mississippi River and Florida’s Pensacola Bay, there is a large area of the gulf still open. Charter boats are leaving Orange Beach, Gulf Shores & Fort Morgan every day to fish areas up to 25-30 miles out and in our inshore waters.