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Gulf Oil Spill Update, Thursday, May 6, 9:00 a.m.
I want to reassure everyone the beaches are still the beautiful white sandy beaches you have always known. Our amazing wildlife is flourishing all around and the little ones are starting to peek their heads out, everywhere we turn! It is a great time to be at the beach, small, to no crowds and perfect weather! Below are some answers to some of our most often asked questions, lately. I have also included the daily update for the Gulf Shores.com website about our local area.
Lance LeFleur, Director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management:
There is an Area Contingency Plan (ACP)(https://ocean.floridamarine.org/acp/mobacp/) created for these kinds of situations that has been vetted by all agencies involved (which is now being followed).
At the wellhead, they are injecting dispersants at depth, causing the oil slick to break up into small oil droplets that are rapidly diluted and subsequently biodegraded by micro-organisms occurring naturally in the marine environment. Exposure to air, sunlight, & wave action also degrades the oil. They are also restarting the in situ burning today.
There is a two-stage protective process planned for the shorelines – shallow water skimmers & booms to catch what they miss. The booms are being tended and repositioned as needed – the placement is determined by the ACP. The highest priority at this moment is to close off Mobile & Perdido Bay entrances. The port of Mobile will remain open, using a decontamination process for ships entering the area (there will also be a decontamination station at Weeks Bay).
Once the bays are protected, all resources will be focused on the beaches. So far, 7,000 volunteers have called the 1-866 number & BP will donate hourly wages for those volunteers to their chosen volunteer organizations.
Below is the update from the Convention and Visitor’s Breaue
- There are currently no effects of the oil spill on the beaches of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach and, according to NOAA forecasts, no shoreline impact is expected for at least 72 hours. Forecasts beyond 72 hours are not possible. At this point, the extent of any potential impact is unclear.
- 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 large area of the gulf still open. Charter boats are leaving Orange Beach, Gulf Shores & Fort Morgan every day to fish areas up to 20 miles out and in our very plentiful inshore waters.
- All appropriate preventive measures, including oil-absorbing booms, are being used along Alabama’s beaches, bays, inlets and sensitive areas in an effort to prevent oil from reaching the shores. Officials are optimistic that any impact directly on the beaches can potentially be cleaned effectively and fairly quickly.
- National, state and local response teams are deployed at sites along the coast to deal with local effects.
- Official information pertinent to our local area is being posted here. This is confirmedinformation provided by the Unified Command response team (Coast Guard, Homeland Security, NOAA, Department of the Interior, BP and Transocean) and local emergency management officials. For detailed information about the entire incident visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com and response.restoration.noaa.gov.
Oil Updates 05/05/2010
| No Oil Impact in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach |
Like everyone in our area we are closely monitoring the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana via official sources locally and at the incident site. To date, our beaches have not been impacted by the spill. They are as gorgeous and sparkling white as ever. We wish we could answer all your questions and predict what will happen in the coming weeks, but all we can do is continue to update you on the facts as they stand today:Take a look at https://www.weartv.com/ for the most current local forecast and news on how the oil is impacting our area.
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Oil spill information for 05/3 & 05/04
Oil Spill Information
05/03/10 1pm – Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Update
Monday, May 03, 2010
Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Update
Dated: 5/3/10 at 1:00 p.m.
Jeff Amy in an article on AL.com quoted Governor Bob Riley that no landfall was expected in Alabama through at least Wednesday evening.
In other good news the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projections showed that the part of the oil slick that extended east from Mobile Bay toward Pensacola would break up by this morning (Monday, May 3, 2010).
“The entire eastern portion of the sheen seems to have disappeared,” said Phil Woods of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. “It’s breaking down rapidly. The solids that remain are emulsified. And while they are going to be hard to deal with, we’re not going to have black beaches.”
The wind will swing to the due south, pushing the oil more toward Mississippi and Alabama. Seas are predicted to calm tonight and stay that way the rest of the week, allowing boats to try to skim the oil and more effectively lay boom.
1.) There currently is no impact from the oil spill on the beaches of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach and, according to NOAA forecasts, no shoreline impact is expected for at least 72 hours. At this point, the extent of any potential impact is unclear.
2.) NOAA is closing commercial and recreational fishing in federal waters between the mouth of the Mississippi River to Florida’s Pensacola Bay. The closure begins immediately and is in effect for at least 10 days. However, fishing is open in waters up to 20 miles out in the Gulf and our inshore waters and charter boats are still going out from Orange Beach.
3.) Governor Bob Riley has committed to placing preventive measures, including oil-absorbing booms, along Alabama’s beaches, at the mouths of bays and inlets, and in sensitive areas all along the coast in an effort to prevent oil from reaching the shores. Officials are optimistic that any impact directly on the beaches can potentially be cleaned effectively and fairly quickly.
4.) National, state and local response teams are deployed at sites along the coast to deal with local effects.
5.) Official information pertinent to our local area is being posted at gulfshores.com. Click the yellow “Oil Spill” link at the top of the page. This is the most recent confirmed information provided by the unified response team (Coast Guard, Homeland Security, NOAA, Department of the Interior, BP and Transocean) and local emergency management officials. For detailed information about the entire incident visit https://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/530631 or https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/.
6.) We will continue to monitor the incident and post information updates at gulfshores.com (click the yellow link at the top of the page) as they become available.
*Additional resources for Industry Partners and residents
1.) BP is now accepting claims for the Gulf Coast oil spill. Please call BP’s helpline at 1-800-440-0858. A BP fact sheet with additional information is available on the Deepwater Response website. Those who have already pursued the BP claims process and are not satisfied with BP’s resolution can call the Coast Guard at 1-800-280-7118. More information about what types of damages are eligible for compensation under the Oil Pollution Act as well as guidance on procedures to seek that compensation can be found at https://www.uscg.mil/npfc.
2.) We appreciate the tremendous outpouring of concern for Alabama’s coast. Volunteers are asked not to self-deploy at this time. Those with an interest in volunteering should the need arise, are asked to contact volunteer banks by dialing 2-1-1 or 888-421-1266. They can also contact the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program at 251-431-6409 or mbnep@mobilebaynep.com with the following information: name, address, phone, email and resources (boat, kayak, etc.). Please be patient while volunteer needs and training opportunities are determined.
3.) A toll-free number (866-557-1401) has been established to report oiled or injured wildlife. People are urged not to attempt to help injured or oil animals, but to report any sightings via the toll-free number.
4.) The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has prepared some precautions to be aware of and they can be found on their website. ADPH has NOT issued any advisories at this point.
Latest local Oil Spill Information 05/03
May 2, 2010, 3:00 p.m.
- There are currently no effects of the oil spill on the beaches in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. According to NOAA forecasts, shoreline impact along Alabama’s coast may occur early in the week. At this point, the extent of that impact is unclear.
- NOAA is closing commercial and recreational fishing in federal waters between the mouth of the Mississippi River to Florida’s Pensacola Bay. The closure begins immediately and is in effect for at least 10 days while researchers take water samples to determine the safety of seafood taken from the affected area.
- Teams of responders have placed oil-absorbing booms at the mouths of bays, inlets and in sensitive areas all along the coast. These areas receive priority protection because they are the most vulnerable.
- Governor Bob Riley has committed to placing preventive measures including booms along Alabama’s beaches in an effort to prevent oil from reaching the shores. Officials are optimistic that any impact directly on the beaches can potentially be cleaned effectively and fairly quickly.
- National, state and local response teams are deployed at sites along the coast to deal with local effects.
- Official information pertinent to our local area is being posted here. This is confirmed information provided by the Unified Command response team (Coast Guard, Homeland Security, NOAA, Department of the Interior, BP and Transocean) and local emergency management officials. For detailed information about the entire incident visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com and response.restoration.noaa.gov.
- We appreciate the tremendous outpouring of concern for Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Volunteers are asked not to self-deploy at this time. Those with an interest in volunteering should the need arise, are asked to contact volunteer banks by dialing 2-1-1 or 888-421-1266. They can also contact the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program at 251-431-6409 or mbnep@mobilebaynep.com with the following information: name, address, phone, email and resources (boat, kayak, etc.). Please be patient while volunteer needs and training opportunities are determined.
- We will continue to monitor the incident and post information updates as they become available.
Oil Spill Update 4-29-10
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Oil Spill Update 4-29-10, 9:30 a.m. |
Like everyone along the Gulf Coast, the CVB is monitoring the clean-up of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. We are relying on official updates from the on-site incident team as our source of information. .
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Oil Spill Update 04/28/10
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Oil Spill Update and Talking Points 4-28-10, 12:15 p.m. |
Like everyone along the Gulf Coast, the CVB is monitoring the clean-up of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and relying on official updates from the on-site incident team as our source of information. The following are the most recent talking points we’ve compiled for our staff. We encourage you to pass them on to your front-line team and anyone else fielding questions about the spill.
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Local Up Date on Gulf Oil Spill
April 27, 2010
Local update on gulf oil spillThe CVB is monitoring official channels of information about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Following, are the most recently updated talking points we have provided to our staff. We encourage you to pass them along to your staff or anyone fielding questions about the oil spill.We will continue to post updates as they become available.
1) There is no shoreline impact anywhere along the Gulf of Mexico, nor is any forecast for at least the next 72 hours. There is no official forecast beyond 72 hours.
2) State-of-the-art equipment is in place to respond if there is any movement toward any area of shoreline along the Gulf Coast. Local officials have their own coordinated response plan in place IF needed for the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area.
3) We will continue to monitor the incident and post information IF coastal impact becomes an issue…
The Stars are Out!!!
Starfish that is!!!! It is rare to find a starfish on our beaches, but this year, we have had the blessing of them venturing out of the water on our beaches several times. One of the couples who have lived here from the beginning mentioned they had only seen them 4 times in the last 10 years. this experience was rare indeed! In early February two of my very best friends came down to visit and during one of our very cold walks on the beach we must have found 50 sea stars, as they are technically known. We presumed they had been stunned by the sudden drop in temperatures because when we picked them up they moved still. We spent several hours that afternoon tossing our starfish back into their watery home. It was my friends birthday and she considered it one of the best birthday gifts she had ever had.
Just a few weeks ago, the locals I mentioned above, James and Ciel, found more starfish on our beach. These stars had been out to long to rescue. Instead of leaving them for the birds, they decided to bring them home and dry them. Now they have beautiful reminders of these unique visitors to our beach.
I hope on your next visit you get to have a great experience with the beautiful wildlife that surrounds us each day here at the beach! See ya soon..
Come play on the white sandy beaches, but beware!!!
One of the unique things about staying on the Gulf Coast, is the white sand on our beaches. This stunning white sand is composed of quartz and is highly reflective. Be sure to wear your sunscreen even on overcast days. The sun will burn you under an umbrella by reflecting off of the sand.
Of course the sand makes a beautiful back drop for photos and weddings. You can build excellent sandcastles and it is easy to pick out the wide variety of seashells from the white sand.
Did you know that the sand is also extremely easy to get stuck in???? We see literally hundreds of cars, each year, stuck in the sand. So this is a heads up guys, Don’t pull off of the road!!!! Don’t pull down sandy driveways, or turn around off of a paved road on to sand. The only way these maneuvers are possible is with a 4 wheel-drive and I have seen several of those buried up to their axle too.
I’ve been told the sand on this part of the island is shaped a little different than on other parts or the coast. Because so many rivers exit out into our bays and off of the coast much of the sand gets smoothed just like a river stone.
Come and enjoy your beautiful sunny vacation, but beware of that sinking sand!!!!
Rental By Owner or from a Rental Company????
We often get questions about the advantages of renting from a rental company verses from an owner directly. Well, both have their advantages. Speaking from the rental company side the advantages we see come from the problems people who rent from owner mention to us as they come through. We are here on site if there is a problem big or small we are here to help! If you have to change rooms for some reason, say a leak, we have a large selection of properties to offer you in place of the problem room. A rental company is just a phone call or a few steps away, where as most rental by owners are a phone call away but often in another state with just a cleaner to help you with problems. Having a rental company is handy for information, or if you happen to lock yourself out, or just the strange emergencies that come up. We have people stop for everything from resturant suggestions and clogged disposals to Jellyfish stings, and missing bottle openers. The nice part about a rental company is they have a staff of people close by to help with any and all problems. Because of the large stock of condos we can often match or beat the pricing of a Rental by owner and provide additional service that guests want and need to make their stay worry free!!!!
