For the Destin/Panama City area re. horrible oil slick in Gulf
Jun 8th, 2010, 04:00 AM
#241
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i'm in destin(surfside resort) Just arrived yesterday beaches are beautiful.We ate at fudpuckers last night pretty good vey long wait it was like hour and 40 minute wait my little one says mom im going going to starve to death
Jun 8th, 2010, 06:29 AM
#242
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jenlynn74,
Great news for you! The wind direction has shifted. It's coming from the NW right now, which will help everyone, then it shifts from the SE. That will effectively mean that Panama City Beach has dodged the bullet this time around.
Right now it looks like the AL beaches (Orange Beach, Gulf Shores) are and will continue to take the brunt of the oil. Destin/Ft. Walton never received more than specks of oil and will be improving. Pensacola will continue to see minor amount of tarballs but that will diminish with the wind shift.
I'd say keep your plans to anywhere in Florida at this point, and even to AL beaches. You could just drive from AL to FL to get to good beaches at this point.
This is good news for everyone!
Great news for you! The wind direction has shifted. It's coming from the NW right now, which will help everyone, then it shifts from the SE. That will effectively mean that Panama City Beach has dodged the bullet this time around.
Right now it looks like the AL beaches (Orange Beach, Gulf Shores) are and will continue to take the brunt of the oil. Destin/Ft. Walton never received more than specks of oil and will be improving. Pensacola will continue to see minor amount of tarballs but that will diminish with the wind shift.
I'd say keep your plans to anywhere in Florida at this point, and even to AL beaches. You could just drive from AL to FL to get to good beaches at this point.
This is good news for everyone!
Jun 8th, 2010, 02:17 PM
#243
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Thank you bkluvsNola! I know things can change at anytime but really appreciate the good news right now for Panama City! Very sorry to hear the other areas will continue to get bombarded. Please keep those updates coming as you are all able. Thanks again!
Jun 8th, 2010, 02:23 PM
#244
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Looks like PCB has dodged a bullet. For the next 4 days, winds are from the East/South East which is pushing the oil back west. We should be good for another week.
FloridaFran,
any updates? Can you describe what it's like in Pensacola right now? I heard that the tar balls are not that bad.
FloridaFran,
any updates? Can you describe what it's like in Pensacola right now? I heard that the tar balls are not that bad.
Jun 8th, 2010, 03:47 PM
#245
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Today was another beautiful day in PCB. We took a wave runner tour to Shell Island. Absolutely beautiful!! Founds tons of sanddollars.........Our tour guide, Joe....pointed out BP's "ships in waiting'....ready to clean/clear all the oil they could, IF any ever shows....HOWEVER..........NOT a single sight nor smell of any oil at all. We heard the winds have shifted.....and spared PCB for a while anyway. Thank goodness!!!
Jun 8th, 2010, 06:59 PM
#246
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As of today, Panama City Beach has seen NO OIL on our beaches. I spoke with a DEP representative this morning and he said that there were 6 dime sized tar balls found at Camp Helen State Park yesterday and that there are 100 people patrolling the beach looking out for any tar balls or otherwise that may come to shore.
Yesterday, Panama City Beach was in the 72 hour "area of uncertainty", today, we've moved out of that area as southeasterly winds are moving the oil to the west.
Right now the Bay County Emergency Operations Center has 110,000+ feet of boom ready to be deployed with boom pre-staged at the Hathaway Bridge, Grand Lagoon, Shell Island, Crooked Island and in a warehouse right off the Panama City Marina.
Not to plug my site, but if you want to keep up to date with what's happening, you can see http://pcbdaily.com and http://facebook.com/pcbdaily
Yesterday, Panama City Beach was in the 72 hour "area of uncertainty", today, we've moved out of that area as southeasterly winds are moving the oil to the west.
Right now the Bay County Emergency Operations Center has 110,000+ feet of boom ready to be deployed with boom pre-staged at the Hathaway Bridge, Grand Lagoon, Shell Island, Crooked Island and in a warehouse right off the Panama City Marina.
Not to plug my site, but if you want to keep up to date with what's happening, you can see http://pcbdaily.com and http://facebook.com/pcbdaily
Jun 8th, 2010, 07:28 PM
#247
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moomoo1920 and anyone else interested in Pensacola Beach,
I didn't get across the street today. I had another darn continuing ed class all morning and spent the afternoon making the last of the reservations for our rapidly approaching trip. Did go yesterday and the surf had calmed a lot which means the high tide line was lower on the beach. Happy to report there were no tarballs in sight along that new line. Nor were there any in the water. My neighbor and I walked maybe 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile and didn't see anything new and couldn't small anything.
They say there is still a "sizable (whatever that means) mass of mousse" about 3 miles off shore, but it keeps shifting around. They have been skimming these things as they find them and can get a skimmer to them.
On the early news they said they're considering setting the booms across the passes here and at Perdido because of the amount of sheen. Missed the late news working on stuff for our trip but doubt they had anything new to say.
If anything new comes up between now and when I leave early Thursday morning, I'll post. I'll have my laptop and will be in touch with my neighbor and my catsitter/housesitter. If anything major happens, I'll post. Otherwise, I intend to enjoy the Smokeys and try to forget about this for awhile.
I didn't get across the street today. I had another darn continuing ed class all morning and spent the afternoon making the last of the reservations for our rapidly approaching trip. Did go yesterday and the surf had calmed a lot which means the high tide line was lower on the beach. Happy to report there were no tarballs in sight along that new line. Nor were there any in the water. My neighbor and I walked maybe 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile and didn't see anything new and couldn't small anything.
They say there is still a "sizable (whatever that means) mass of mousse" about 3 miles off shore, but it keeps shifting around. They have been skimming these things as they find them and can get a skimmer to them.
On the early news they said they're considering setting the booms across the passes here and at Perdido because of the amount of sheen. Missed the late news working on stuff for our trip but doubt they had anything new to say.
If anything new comes up between now and when I leave early Thursday morning, I'll post. I'll have my laptop and will be in touch with my neighbor and my catsitter/housesitter. If anything major happens, I'll post. Otherwise, I intend to enjoy the Smokeys and try to forget about this for awhile.
Jun 9th, 2010, 12:01 PM
#249
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1st time posting. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for keeping us tourists/visitors in the light as to what is happening. Like bigmacrob, i wish I had a crystal ball also. We have a trip planned to PCB in middle September. Gorgeous time of year. Was finally able to get my 3 adult children, their spouses and 2 grandchildren to come at the same time. Going to keep my fingers crossed and say my prayers. Certainly do not want to go to the Atlantic side.
Again, THANKS for all everyone is doing and keep the posts coming.
Again, THANKS for all everyone is doing and keep the posts coming.
Jun 9th, 2010, 02:26 PM
#250
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Sound like a broken record, but it's been another gorgeous day in PCB. Went to Shell Island on the shuttle today. Beaches and water absolutely gorgeous. No sign of any tarballs or oil, thankfully. We are staying the the SunBird Condos and there have been lots of stingrays swimming in the water. Have never seen the "brown ones"? so closely before. They are very beautiful and graceful as they swim in their "schools" ? Seems like they just glyde through the water. Going to Sharky's tonight and hope to have some delicious gumbo.
Jun 9th, 2010, 06:57 PM
#252
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First off, I appreciate all the updates on this thread, very helpful. We are pulling into navarre beach this sat. Sounds like it is still clean, but wanted to know if anyone has actually seen it first hand? Thanks
Jun 9th, 2010, 08:53 PM
#253
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Stevo, just heard from a friend today out at Okaloosa Island because I wanted clarification on rumors. There is no oil or tar balls on Okaloosa Island, which is about 25 or 30 miles east of Navarre.
Jun 9th, 2010, 10:05 PM
#254
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FightinIllini,
Be sure to have some oysters on the half shell at Sharky's. That's a neat restaurant.
Hope4422, Panama City Beach is far from the state line. You should be fine as there is no forecast for oil there.
Be sure to have some oysters on the half shell at Sharky's. That's a neat restaurant.
Hope4422, Panama City Beach is far from the state line. You should be fine as there is no forecast for oil there.
Jun 10th, 2010, 02:47 AM
#255
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I am thrilled that I found this site! All your comments regarding PCB are really appreciated. Our family vacation is planned for July 24th through the 31st, and we are so looking forward to being on the white sands. Thank you for all your comments.
Jun 10th, 2010, 10:53 AM
#258
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I'm also looking for news on the beaches around Destin/Ft. Walton. My family and I plan on going down on the 24th of this month (June). Should we plan on this area or you think we should head further East?
Jun 10th, 2010, 11:05 AM
#259
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We are also traveling to beautiful Destin on July 10th. It looks like so far everything is still ok there. Thank you everyone for the updates. I've been checking and rechecking this site several times a day. 
Jun 10th, 2010, 11:08 AM
#260
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Hello Everyone,
A group of middle school teachers from Oklahoma City are coming down to Destin on Tuesday of next week, for an educational conference. We are staying at the Majestic Sun condos in Destin. Is the beach still in good shape and what does the forecast look like for next week, concerning the oil spill? Thanks in advance for the info!
A group of middle school teachers from Oklahoma City are coming down to Destin on Tuesday of next week, for an educational conference. We are staying at the Majestic Sun condos in Destin. Is the beach still in good shape and what does the forecast look like for next week, concerning the oil spill? Thanks in advance for the info!
