I wanted to share some final thoughts and a few more photos.
While the oil was sad to see, and the environmental impact is horrible, it is nothing compared to the impact to the people on shore. The empty hotels, half empty restaurants, vacant streets where all heartbreaking to see in an area that relies on tourism to survive. And most infuriating is IT IS THE MEDIA'S FAULT
That is also the biggest impression I left with, the people of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are not angry with BP -- don't get me wrong, they all expect BP to settle claims and pay up in the end, but every person I talked to said that more than BP they want two things:
1. For the Government (IE Obama) to SHUT UP, quit grandstanding, and quit playing politics with their Lives and their homes. Either get your asses down here and help clean up or get the hell out of BP's way and let them do it.
2. They want the media to quit sensationalizing and tell the TRUTH!!! QUIT SCARING PEOPLE AWAY! Stop the stories about oil covering everything. The media is completely destroying the Gulf Coast economy when it is being hurt enough already.
The manager at the hotel we stayed at and I chatted this morning. He said that if anyone from CNN, MSNBC, FOX, etx stepped foot in his hotel they probably would not leave in one peice. He had just got off the phone explaining to a lady who was supposed to come down later this week that contrary to what CNN was saying, there was no Oil in the hotel, the boardwalks and floors and plants were not coated in oil, and the beach was fine for sunbathing etc.
THat is the true tragedy and true story here - Businesses on the brink of bankruptcy because the Government and the media are scaring everyone away.
OIl booms and containment ship, JUne 13, orange Beach, FL:
Oil washed ashore, Orange Beach, FL, June 13:
OIl and Tar Balls in surf, June 13, Orange Beach, Fl:
OIl washing ashore, JUne 13, Orange beach, Fl:
OIl on beach and in surf, Orange beach, Fl, June 13, 2010:
Oil in surf taken from 6th floor of hotel, Orange Beach, FL, June 13, 2010: