[elpadre]

FYI - I was a teen during the final years of WWII living inland from the Outer Banks. I recall, that in either ‘44 or ‘45 going to the Kitty Hawk beach and it was covered with oil as far as you could see (not many cottages in those days) The U-Boats sank many merchant ships, including tankers off OBX. We went back several months later and the beach was clear. Thinking the oil was beneath, we dug holes looking for it and there was no sign.

I talked with an Alaskan not long ago who said much the same re their tanker spill.

I do believe nature has a way of handling these things. And, although everyone fears what a hurricane would do, I think they would be surprised. Hurricanes are natures cleansers and I believe one would clear the oil from the sea, swamps, etc.

[21twelve]

Interesting story! I bet as a kid you kept your eye out for more than just oil from those wrecked ships! It is so easy to get wrapped up in the disaster of the day (oil spills, earthquakes, hurricanes, economy, etc.) that the lessons from history go unnoticed. Of course whatever disaster WE are going through is “unprecidented”, the “largest”, the “worst”, etc.

[Fast Moving Angel]

in either ‘44 or ‘45 going to the Kitty Hawk beach and it was covered with oil as far as you could see

Yup ... growing up in the late '50s and early '60s, I used to get tar blobs on my feet at the beaches in San Diego, too. Never found any after digging in the sand, either.