Category: Blog
06/17/10 Ft. Morgan oil Leak update from the Dunes Beach
Good morning everyone! Sorry about yesterday. I took the day off and the office was really busy and unable to make a video in my place. I am back to day and things are just as lovely as when I left. I spent a lot of time on the beach this morning talking to different families and people who are here. everyone I spoke to is having a great time still the only thing they would change is a little bit of breeze because it is so warm.
06/17/10 Ft. Morgan oil leak update by Sunset Properties from The Dunes Beach
The water is amazingly clear, I was able to see fish and seashells in the water from the shore. the water has been so calm people are floating on rafts and getting great tans! The kids are running through the water scooping up whatever creatures they see and taking a closer look.
There is a clean up crew on the beach this morning. They cleaned up some debris that was found with oil on it. It was mostly seaweed and the larger seaweed plants that typically wash up this time of year. The beach is beautiful, and there is absolutely no smell today.
We look forward to seeing you very soon!
06/15/10 Oil Leak Update from The Dunes Beach, in Ft. Morgan
Good afternoon everyone. It is a sunny, hot day on The Dunes Beach in Ft. Morgan. There are a few clouds and a bit of a breeze that are keeping things cooled off a little today. I managed to not get wet today but saw lots of people enjoying the water again today. We have noticed some slight odor today and this is only the second time so we are feeling very blessed. The faint gas grill smell comes and goes and it seems to corresponding with when the oil is burned off of the surface of the Gulf. The water is still crystal clear and you can see to the bottom where fish are swimming and you have easy access to beautiful shells. A guest Mrs. Jones sent everyone a message today on the video. We look forward to seeing you soon.06/15/10 Ft. Morgan Oil Leak Update, from Sunset Properties
06/12/10 Ft. Morgan, The Dunes Beach, Oil Leak update
Good Morning Everyone!
It was another early morning dropping off the Turtle Patrol, we have five nests on Ft. Morgan so far, and the season is just ramping up. I stopped by on my way back into town to grab a quick video. All is very quiet on the beach this morning. No wind, which is strange, and just a couple of people the beach and water look clear and no smell still. It looks like the Gulf shores shrimping fleet is off the coast keeping an eye on our beaches making sure they stay safe and clean for vacationers. Thanks so much guys for keeping an eye on us! They didn’t seem to be skimming but just looking out for anything that could be out there. It is comforting to know they are out there. It looks like another HOT beautiful day at the beach. Hope to see ya’ll soon.
06/12/10 The Dunes Beach in Ft. Morgan Oil Leak Update from Sunset Properties
06/11/10 Ft. Morgan Oil Leak Update from the Dunes Beach
Good Morning everyone! This is a short post today I am off, today but wanted to be sure you got ta video this morning! It is shaping up to be another beautiful day, and I am sure the guests will be having a great time playing on the beach. Check out the great video from this morning that includes those pictures of the wedding arbor that I promised.
I had a comment a couple of days ago about these videos being real. Well whoever you are, they are real!!!! I am blessed to go down and make them each day and hope it is something I can continue to do after this event is over. The beach is amamzing today again and we hope to see you soon. If you are thinking of coming down give Becky or Tara a call, I am sure they can find you a great special for this weekend in on of the openings we have open! Talk to you again tomorrow… 06/11/10 Ft. Morgan Oil Leak Update video Katie From Sunset Properties at the Dunes Beach
Ft. Morgan Oil Leak update 06/03/10
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.
Ft. Morgan Oil Spill Update 05/22/10
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.
Oil spill update for 05/12/10 in Ft. Morgan
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.
10 Tips for Planning your Beach Wedding
It is that time of year again, I talk to a new Bride to be every week. They are all so very excited and looking forward to the warm days on the beach with friends and family, celebrating their marriage. I have found that everyone in the planning stages of a wedding run into the same problems. I wanted to give you a few pointers, from my experience over the last few years with brides, that will help you breeze your way through the rough planning stages.
1. Try to avoid a Saturday wedding! I know Saturday is an easy day for travel but it is a crazy day to try and get in a beach house for a wedding. Most beach houses rent from Saturday to Saturday during the Spring and Summer months. So you would either be checking in or checking out the day of your wedding, unless the house was booked for 2 weeks, which is often cost prohibitive during the summer months.
2. Be prepared to rent a house for an entire week. Again during the Spring and Summer months most houses only rent for a week at a time so be prepared for that full week rental.
3. Consider picking a date that is off peak season, such as early May or after Labor Day in September, or October. Usually the weather is better during those months, not so hot, and the rental rates are lower for you and your guests.
4. See if the company you are renting with has any wedding packages or specials available. Often companies will give a little discount for everyone in the group if you rent multiple properties. They have rentals and you and your guests get a discount. Everyone wins!!!
5. Remember the temperature and humidity when picking our your attire. It can be well above 90 even at sunset in the summer months with 100% humidity and no sign of rain till after dark. Large satin dresses and tuxedos will make for a very warm evening!!!
6. Shoes! Certainly check out the beach in person before you tell your guests that shoes are optional. Most beaches are better to walk on barefoot and not fill your best shoes, and reception with sand.
7. Allow for the elements! You are having an outside wedding, it could rain. See if the house would allow you to have the wedding indoors, or have an alternate location for your ceremony. Be sure to let your guests know where that will be and have a plan to get the word to them of the venue change. Also, Because of the wind and wave noises music is difficult to hear at a beach wedding. You have a couple of choices running a long extension cord and playing recorded music, or having live music which is beautiful but the salt air and sand can make a difference in the sound of their instruments.
8. Have a helper! Destination weddings are tricky, trying to plan everything from a distance. A trusted friend or wedding planner is always helpful, so you are not dealing with every little detail the day of your wedding. If you do ask a friend for help be sure to thank him or her with some down time to enjoy the trip too, maybe a massage or a nice dinner out away from the wedding.
9. Beaches are considered a National Treasure and should be treated as such. Remember you are going to someone elses home to get married. The locals of the area take a lot of pride in their beaches and will not welcome you and your guests destroying local plant life to get the perfect picture or littering by accident. Remind your guests where they are going and that you want to leave it as beautiful as you found it. Be sure to ask about local rules or fees for beach use and about overflow parking!!! If you are getting married in a small closed community maybe make a donation to beach restoration in that area. It is a great way to leave a positive mark on a beach that means so much to the two of you.
10. Finally, even if you are not on an island the locals are probably on Island time. Everyone works really hard and want you to have a beautiful meaningful ceremony in a timely manner, but they most likely will not get stressed out or run to get anything done for you no matter what you pay. They have been here and done this many times and know what it takes to get the job done. Take a lesson from them, take a deep breath, know your wedding will be amazing, and relax you’re at the beach!
