Straight Answer - No politics - What is the State of our Beaches? (Jackson: appointed, school)

[mellanieblue]

Has anyone heard anything about the Bradenton/Sarasota/Venice area beaches?

[Suzi Gravenstuk]

I just drove Beach Boulevard. It was strange seeing teams of hazmat people in white coverups. At 39th and BB near the Beau Rivage there must have been 100 workers: 3 huge busses and a couple of trucks. Then there was no activity until Long Beach Harbor--no white hazmat coverups but several tented areas with workers in vests. A little further down near the Holdiay Inn, people seemed to be enjoying the beach as normal. I still do not smell oil. Scattered people around me sometimes smell it, sometimes not. I think we need a team to come in and treat for depression.

[jwkilgore]

The western and central MS coast is largely protected by barrier islands and the remains of marshland in St. Bernard Parish, LA. Not saying MS won't get oil, but just not at quickly and hopefully not as much as they're getting in LA and farther east along AL and FL.

[Suzi Gravenstuk]

This group is meeting Tuesday, 6-22 at 9:30. Your attendance and participation is appreciated, but there is no compensation. Help get the truth out. Vent. Find out what others are thinking. Please courtesy text: 228-229-9865, or call 228-447-4470 if you think you will participate (it is not mandatory to contact me--we just want to gauge the # of attendees.)

Meet at 310 N. Cleveland, Long Beach, MS. (this is St. Peters Episcopal church.This is not a religious meeting. St. Peters was simply kind enough to donate meeting space). We hope for a cross-section of attendees.

Now, I have spent the last few days off and on visiting the beach, piers and jettees. I have spoke with fisher-people, young and old. The people I have spoke with do not see oil or detect oil smells.

The beaches from Biloxi to Long Beach (my beat:-) ) were active with folks enjoying the area. From time to time you will see trained workers monitoring the beaches. The mood is hopeful for Long Beach Harbor we may escape a direct hit from oil because of tides, currents, winds, (location).

I have noticed that some waterfowl have returned. I think that is a good sign, plus--I enjoy seeing them.

Thank you for your concern and care.

[Suzi Gravenstuk]

Please make a note that the church name above is St. Patrick, not St. Peter. Thank you

[jwkilgore]

Here's a very well-done interactive graphic by the NY Times about the spill. It shows the area impacted by date. You can also see how most of MS is protected by various islands, but some oil is still getting through. Click the tabs at the top for more very informative graphics: Oil Landfall

This next interactive is kinda scary. You can "move" the spill to wherever you want to see the extent. It takes me about 6 hours to drive from Chattanooga to my parent's home in MS. If I center the spill on Tuscaloosa, AL, the entire drive would be through oil slick: If it was my home

[SoBelle]

I live in Gautier, MS on the Singing River which empties into the Gulf, three miles downstream as the crow flies. I have heard residents of here and Ocean Springs mention that they have issues with their noses and eyes burning when they are outdoors for extended periods of time. It's different from the usual allergy-type symptoms and is affecting people not prone to allergies. I've heard talk that they are burning some of the oil and the airborne residue is the culprit, but don't quote me on that. It's just what I've heard mentioned. The Singing River is usually teeming with fish where I live but we are not getting many hits, let alone catches. It may be because of other factors that have nothing to do with the oil spill, but who knows? I have heard several people say they smell oil from time to time, but I have not. I have been down to Ocean Springs Beach and Biloxi Beach in the last two weeks and haven't seen oil balls or residue, so far. I was at Pass Christian at the beach just two weeks ago and saw no evidence of oil there, either. That's as far as I've been. I have a friend in Gulf Breeze, FL. She said Pensacola Beach is tragic...oil balls all over the beach and she has been raging and crying at the damage to her beloved beaches. She said several oil-coated dead animals have washed ashore. I have heard oil is now showing up in Pascagoula, only three miles from where I live. The barrier islands will offer some mainland protection, but will not act as complete barriers to oil washing ashore. I think this issue has several possible outcomes and I would recommend checking the exact area to which you are traveling as close to your travel date as possible to avoid a turn-around in the situation and possible derailing of any beach plans.

[JacksonPanther]

Check out this guy on youtube, CopperTheRabbitDog. He's traveling from West Florida to Texas, stopping and checking the beaches on the way. So far, he's been to Panama City, Destin, Seaside - all are covered with tar balls. People are still on the beaches (hey, the vacation was alread paid for - what you gonna do?), kids running through the oil on the beach, playing in the water.

I think this video has ended any thoughts I had of a Gulf Coast vacation this year. How in good conscience these touristy places can tell people to visit, I don't understand.

[jwkilgore]

Originally Posted by JacksonPanther

How in good conscience these touristy places can tell people to visit, I don't understand.

If they don't tell people to visit, then they starve. We're slowly coming out of a long and painful recession where lots of people cut back on spending on things like extended vacations to the beach. Local governments who rely on tourism-based taxes are already hurting and will face even larger deficits. Mom-and-pop type touristy places don't have any reserves left and will go out of business.

Because of the drilling moratorium and fishing ban about the only way these people can get money is for tourists to come down there and spend. You can call it immoral or even unethical, but they are desperate. Tourism is a cutthroat business, and it's up to the consumer to determine how accurate the advertisements really are.

Besides, some people are going down there intentionally for the purpose of seeing the oil. Also, there are still locations where the oil hasn't hit yet (or if it has, it's in the form of very sporadic tar balls).

[JacksonPanther]

Originally Posted by jwkilgore

Also, there are still locations where the oil hasn't hit yet (or if it has, it's in the form of very sporadic tar balls).

Would you be more specific, please? Which beaches along the Gulf Cost have not been hit?