Mary Blackburn in Mexico Beach, FL

Mary Blackburn in Mexico Beach, FL

Mary Blackburn  //  My name is Mary Blackburn and I live in paradise! I live and work in the 3 mile long coastal town of Mexico Beach, Florida. I am a full time, full service Realtor ready to sell you your piece of paradise. Mexico Beach is low key and uncommercialized. We specialize in nothing to do but relax!! If you are looking for white sand beaches, peace and quiet, uncrowded beaches and no sign of a rat race, then you need to come to Mexico Beach!!!

Jun 17 / 6:02am

Oily Debris on shore in Panama City Beach

Below is a press release from the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. Unfortunately, it looks as if reality is setting in and we are going to see some effects of the oil spill. My prayer is that is will be minimal and in an easy form to clean up. Right now, Mexico Beach still has no reported effects. We are clean and oil free right now. We are expecting another busy weekend! Oiled plastic foam found on Panama City Beach Bay County Emergency Services Hazmat responders tested a piece of oiled plastic foam found by a kayaker at Panama City Beach Wednesday in the Gulf Highlands area, off Beach Access 39. Preliminary tests of the substance on the Styrofoam matched an oil sample originating from the Deepwater Horizon release that Bay County obtained several weeks ago and is being used as a baseline for local sampling equipment. The item will be turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard for further testing. Trajectories released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show continued easterly movement of product released following the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion. An unknown amount of product is predicted to be located off Bay County shores by Friday. Residents and visitors may see weathered oil pollutant in different forms. Bay County continues to prepare for impacts related to the oil release. Visit www.baycountyfl.gov for important phone numbers and information and to sign up for E-mail updates about the oil release. Mary 850-896-5222 www.maryblackburn.com Sundance Realty Facebook page

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Jun 14 / 8:21am

Oil Spill Update for Mexico Beach Florida

NO OIL IN MEXICO BEACH FLORIDA!


We had another absolutely gorgeous weekend (HOT!) with LOTS of people enjoying our beautiful white sand beaches!    The water was calm for both beach goers and fishermen!
Gulf County deployed some boom to protect the Bay (although there has be no sighting of oil in Gulf County)---the bay is still navigable, however.   There are daily fly overs to spot any oil in our area as well as people on the ground walking the beaches.      The oil is still about 80 miles from our area, but I guess its better to be safe than sorry. 

Below is more information about the oil spill taken from the DeepWater Horizon websites.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in coordination with Florida's Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of Health, issued an executive order to temporarily close a portion of coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County to the harvest of saltwater fish, crabs and shrimp.  The FWC is taking precautionary actions regarding harvest and consumption of these marine species, which may be affected by oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The closure includes state waters from the beaches out 9 nautical miles into the Gulf from the Alabama line east to the Pensacola Beach water tower.  Interior bays and estuaries remain open to fishing.  This area covers approximately 23 miles of Florida's coastline in Escambia County, where oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill is now present (see map).

Recreational catch-and-release fishing is still allowed as long as saltwater fish are not harvested or possessed in the closed area.

Oysters, clams and mussels are not included in the closure, because they are not expected to be affected by oil in the area.

Some very good news:
Gov. Charlie Crist has announced that the recreational harvest season for bay scallops in Florida will open 12 days earlier than usual this year.  The governor is taking this action to help relieve possible economic hardships on Florida fishing communities that may occur due to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  SCALLOP SEASON OPENING JUNE 19 THRU SEPTEMBER 10.

Unfortunately, an oil plume of about two miles wide by 40 miles long has been spotted 9 miles of the Pensacola Pass.  Both Perdido Pass and Pensacola pass have been closed to prevent oil from entering the inland waters. 

Five in sized tar balls and tar patties were found in areas from the Alabama/Florida line to Walton County.   Clean up teams are responding as they wash up.

Below is the best map I've seen to show where the oil has made landfall.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/27/us/20100527-oil-landfall.html

If you aren't familiar with the location of Mexico Beach in the Panhandle take a look at the map below and compare the oil landfall to where we are--80 miles away.
Map of Mexico Beach

So, in a nutshell,  the oil is not here in Mexico Beach to Cape San Blas in any form, sheen, tar balls,  tar patties-------our sand and water is beautiful and we are open for business!!!!

Fishing is the best its been in years!!!      

Please don't hesitate to call with any questions or concerns!!!

We are all taking this one day at a time and I will continue to update you!

Mary
850-896-5222
www.maryblackburn.com
Mexico Beach Real Estate on Facebook


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Jun 7 / 10:46am

City of Mexico Beach and the oil spill

So far Mexico Beach has no tar balls or oil sheen near our beaches. However, I've had a lot of folks ask what they should do if they see anything on the beach. Below is the City Administrators response to that specific question. If anyone sees tar balls, they should not touch them but mark their location and call (850) 248-6030; that number is the local number to report oiled water or beaches. If they want to call a toll free number to report oil, that number is (800) 448-5816. If there is an oil sheen, we will already know about it because sheens are easily seen from the air. What the EOC has told us is that the oil has been in the water so long that by the time it hits the beaches to our west, all the toxins have evaporated and so the tar balls are non-toxic. They also don't have any smell so it isn't going to smell like oil or tar. The reason why the people only need to mark them, not touch them (even though they are non-toxic), and call one of the two above numbers is because DEP will come out, collect the tar balls, and run tests on them. This will also prevent them from needing to look for a place to dispose of the tar balls. If people want to volunteer, have them contact the Red Cross at (866) 448-5816 or via e-mail at oilspill@redcrosspc.org REALLY GOOD INFORMATION BELOW!!! This is from the City Administrator as well.  Just FYI, as of today, we have 25 contractors on our beaches, checking for tar balls. They also have two mules for added mobility. If anyone asks you about all these people, you will be able to inform them of this fact. Also, as of this morning, I requested boom, from both Bay County and BP, so that we can boom off the canal; we will use the boom for as long as the oil impact is relatively minor (like what is currently occurring in Pensacola and Walton County); however, if we are forecasted to receive a large patch of tar balls or an oil sheen, we will at that point completely sand the canal closed. Sanding the canal shut for anything less than a major oil impact would be "over-kill" and, with the booms, we can keep some access into and out of our canal for use by BP's contractors, vessels of opportunity, or fishing boats (if the fishing areas aren't shut down).

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Jun 7 / 9:01am

Oil Spill Update June 7

Below is the newest press release for Today.   I usually just pick out several of the statements that directly impact Mexico Beach, but I've pasted in the whole report.

To add my 2 cents:   Mexico Beach is not seeing any oil sheen or tar balls.  I have heard of reports from fisherman about 7 miles out that they are seeing oil sheen and possibly some oil product a few feet under the water.

The City of Mexico Beach is meeting tomorrow to decide when they should close in the canal to prevent oil from entering.

I believe they (BP) is constructing a boom line to close off the Bay---I haven't heard when they will do that , but will let you know when I find out!!

As of today, fishing off Mexico Beach and in the Bay is still open.

Driving along Mexico Beach this morning, there are still people enjoying our beautiful coastline!!!!   I'll post pictures when I have a chance!!


MEDIA ADVISORY:
MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2010   

CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION (ESF 14): (850) 921-0217 

 

FLORIDA DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE JUNE 7, 2010

 

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident. 

 The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre and post-landfall.  

 Landfall Reports and Predictions:

• June 6, dime to silver dollar-sized tar balls and tar patties continue to be found in widely scattered areas from the Alabama state line east to Laguna Beach in Bay County. Clean up teams have been dispatched. 

• According to NOAA projections, additional impacts are expected throughout northwest Florida within the next 72 hours due to onshore winds.

• Multiple skimmers have been dispatched to collect tar mats and sheen. 

• Potential impacts to Florida’s shoreline will likely be highly weathered, in the form of tar balls, oil sheen, tar mats or mousse – a pudding-like oil/water mixture that could be brown, rust or orange in color.

• Observations by NOAA continue to indicate that a small portion of the oil slick, in the form of light sheens, has reached the Loop Current Ring, a circular current which was formerly part of the Loop Current but has pinched off at the Florida Straits. 

• Florida continues to monitor the location of the Loop Current Ring for potential reattachment to the Florida straits. o There have been no reports of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill-related oil products reaching the shore beyond the Panhandle region. There is no indication that the rest of the state  will have impacts from weathered oil products within the next 72 hours.

• Learn more at the NOAA website. If oil is sighted on Florida’s coastline report it to the State Warning Point at 1-877-2-SAVE-FL (1-877-272-8335) or by dialing #DEP from most cell phones. 

On Site Actions: 

• Current projections estimate Deepwater Horizon’s discharge at 12,000 to 19,000 barrels per day. Learn more.

• BP has placed Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP) Cap Containment System in an attempt to contain the leak and capture a substantial amount of the leaking oil. BP has begun pumping gas and oil to the surface. There is hope that a significant portion of the flow will be captured, but this is only a temporary and partial fix. Learn more.

• Meanwhile, BP is continuing efforts to drill relief wells.

• To discuss spill related damage with BP representatives, please call the BP Claims Reporting Line at 1-800-440-0858

State Actions:

• The State Emergency Operations Center is activated at Level 1. 

• June 5, DEP began operating a mobile command post at Henderson Beach State Park in Destin for reconnaissance missions. A team of staff on 25 all-terrain vehicles will monitor the coastline from Escambia County east to Gulf County for potential impacts. Each all-terrain vehicle will monitor five miles of shoreline.

• June 4, Governor Charlie Crist announced that his request for a Fishery Failure Determination for Florida has been granted by the United States Department of Commerce. Impacted fisherman and affected businesses can now qualify for economic injury loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

• BP has opened claims offices in Florida. Visit the BP Claims Page to learn more.

• On June 3, Governor Crist sent a letter to Mr. Lamar McKay, President, BP America requesting BP to commit $100 million to enhance monitoring, evaluating and responding to the constantly changing conditions related to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

• Governor Charlie Crist has issued three Executive Orders since April 30, 2010 declaring a state of emergency in 26 coastal counties that may see impacts. 

• DEP issued an Emergency Final Order to accelerate preparedness and restoration in the counties under the Governor’s state-of-emergency Executive Orders.  

• On May 18, 2010 the Small Business Administration (SBA) opened eight offices and a mobile unit in the Panhandle. To date, these offices have issued a total of 190 applications. Find an office here.

• DEP conducted water and sediment sampling to use as a baseline and is monitoring air quality data. Statewide air quality monitoring is conducted in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Learn more at http://www.airnow.gov/ or http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/. 

o Air quality reports for June 6 revealed that air quality was considered good for ozone and particulate matter in the Panhandle. “Good” means the air quality is satisfactory and air pollution poses little or no risk. 


Boom Placement:

• Approximately 261,750 feet of boom has been placed in Florida along the most sensitive areas of the Panhandle and 9,200 feet is staged. Additionally, counties in the region are moving forward with supplemental booming plans. 

• Placement of boom is based on where the oil is threatening, as well as each region’s area contingency plan. 

• The Unified Command Operations Group is asking boaters to avoid damaging boom. Boom cut or broken due to boater traffic jeopardizes coastal protection.   

• Stolen or misplaced boom should be reported to local authorities.

Health Effects:

• At this time, there are no indications of any health risks due to the Deepwater Horizon incident. The Florida Department of Health and DEP are closely monitoring health and environmental impacts to Florida and county health departments will issue an advisory if conditions become unsafe. 

• If residents or visitors see tar or oiled debris on the beach, DO NOT PICK IT UP. Report it to the Florida State Warning Point Line at 1-877-272-8335.  For most people, an occasional brief contact with a small amount of oil will do no harm, yet still it is not recommended. Learn more.

• In addition, volunteers helping with response efforts are not to engage in direct contact with oil and oil contaminated products such as tar balls, tar patty, tar mats, and oil sheen. 

• Only qualified community responders should handle oil products and oil-contaminated materials. 

• For general health information questions regarding the oil-spill and exposure to oil spill products contact the Florida Poison Information Centers at 1-800-222-1222. 


Fisheries & Seafood:

• June 5, NOAA adjusted the boundaries of the closed fishing area, adding 565 square miles at the northeast edge. On June 4, NOAA revised the fishery closure zone to open the Florida Keys and the Dry Tortugas to commercial and recreational fishing. All commercial and recreational fishing including catch and release is prohibited in the closed area in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Closing fishing in these areas is a precautionary measure to ensure that seafood from the Gulf will remain safe for consumers. Learn more. 

• At this time, Florida’s state waters remain open to recreational fishing.

• Fishermen who wish to contact BP about a claim should call 1-800-440-0858.

• To report oiled wildlife, please call 1-866-557-1401 and leave a message. Messages will be checked hourly. 

• For the safety of the public as well as the safety of animals, rescues should be conducted by trained responders. Learn more.


Tourism:

• Through www.VISITFLORIDA.com, vacationers are able to view live Twitter feeds and read up-to-the-minute information on the status of any city or region in Florida. Learn more at http://www.visitflorida.com/florida_travel_advisory/.

• The Florida State Parks website, http://www.floridastateparks.org, is updated daily and will list any impacts. Learn more by calling 1-850-245-2157.

Tips for Homeowners:

• While the state appreciates the concern expressed by Floridians and the ingenuity of those seeking alternative measures to help protect the state’s shoreline, the following tips are offered to ensure that these measures are helpful and not harmful to Florida’s coasts, wildlife and water resources: following tips are offered to ensure that these measures are helpful and not harmful to Florida’s coasts, wildlife and water resources: following tips are offered to ensure that these measures are helpful and not harmful to Florida’s coasts, wildlife and water resources:


Tips for Businesses and Consumers: 

• The Attorney General’s fraud hotline is open to receive any reports of fraud or price gouging. The hotline is 1-866-966-7226.

• The Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner gas price-gouging hotline is also operational. The toll-free hotline number is 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352).

• Coastal businesses should make loss of earnings claims for damages incurred as a result of the oil spill. Businesses should file a claim with BP by calling 1-800-440-0858. Learn more at http://www.myfloridacfo.com/ or by calling 1-850-413-3089 or toll-free at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).


Volunteer Opportunities:

• The Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service is encouraging Floridians and visitors to become a Coast Watch volunteer. Learn more at www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org. 

• Report a change in Air Quality to http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/.

• For information on scheduled beach cleanups and other volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/.

• To request volunteer information, please call the BP hotline at 1-866-448-5816.

Learn More About Florida’s Response:

• DEP launched a Twitter account, www.Twitter.com/FLDEPalert, dedicated to providing updates on Florida’s response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

• DEP in coordination with the state Emergency Operations Center established an email sign-up and a comprehensive website at http://www.deepwaterhorizonflorida.com.

• For a list of Unified Command, BP and Florida phone numbers, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/default.htm#numbers

• The Oil Spill Information Line is available at 1-888-337-3569 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven days a week. Additional phone numbers have also been established for persons with disabilities: (800) 955-8771 (TDD) or (800) 955-8770 (voice).

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Jun 6 / 12:37pm

Oil Spill Update for Mexico Beach

June 6----Mexico Beach is not seeing any oil sheen.  There have been no reports of tar balls in the water or on the beach.  


However, our local paper has stated the following:

Marshall Nelson, director of county emergency management for Gulf County, said boom was being staged as of Thursday afternoon with more to be placed in the coming days in preparation of the potential arrival of oil by early to mid week next week.
At an afternoon special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners on Thursday, Nelson said projections have oil, in some form, arriving in Gulf County waters and beaches by Wednesday.

Below is the information taken directly from the BP press release for June 6.

Landfall Reports and Predictions:

• June 6, dime to quarter-sized tar balls continue to be found in widely scattered areas from the Alabama state line east to Bay County. Clean up teams are on site.

• According to NOAA projections, additional impacts are expected throughout northwest Florida within the next 72 hours due to moderate /strong southwesterly winds.

• Multiple skimmers have been dispatched to collect tar mats and sheen. 

• Potential impacts to Florida’s shoreline will likely be highly weathered, in the form of tar balls, oil sheen, tar mats or mousse – a pudding-like oil/water mixture that could be brown, rust or orange in color.


According to the NOAA oil plume model, the oil plume is 4 miles from Pensacola Beach and 99 miles from Gulf County, with non-contiguous oil sheen and tar balls scattered closer.

Below are some pictures of Pensacola beach taken today, June 6.   More than likely this is what we will see within the next days/weeks in Mexico Beach. 




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May 26 / 12:33pm

Memorial Day Happenings at the Beach

Memorial Day Weekend Happenings in Mexico Beach:

So much is going on…we don’t know where to start!

·         “Sidewalk Sale” at The Grove from Thursday to Sunday.  Hours 9am-6pm CST (Thurs, Fri, Sat) & 9am-3pm CST (Sun).

·         DJ Flooressence, from Atlanta, will be hosting a free show Saturday from 7-10pm CST at Sunset Park.  Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and coolers and be ready to dance the night away!

·         Karaoke is back at the El Governor Friday, Saturday and Sunday night starting at 7pm CST.  Come belt out your favorite songs! 

·         Breakfast on the Beach all Weekend!  Enjoy breakfast at Toucan’s Friday thru Monday beginning at 8am CST.  Starting today, Weds, thru Sunday there will be Karaoke and DJ spinning out your favorite tunes.  Saturday and Sunday afternoon, enjoy listening to the DJ as you soak up the sun!  

·         10% off Fish Tacos at Killer Seafood this Memorial Weekend only-with the discount going towards the Firework Show in Mexico Beach.  Killer Seafood was just awarded “Best Seafood Dives” in Coastal Living for their Fish Tacos!  Go eat for yourself and you’ll agree!

·         Lookout Lounge - Live Music on the Poop Deck at 8pm EST: Thurs-Randy Stark; Fri& Sat- Randy Stark w/ Art Long on Sax; Sun- Bo Spring.  Karaoke & Dancing will be going on in the Crow’s Nest starting at 9pm EST on Fri & Sat.

·         The First United Methodist Church of Mexico Beach is sponsoring a Beach BBQ Blast at Sunset Park beginning at 11am CST on Saturday the 29th.  Purchase a BBQ plate and enjoy homemade desserts. Live Music begins at 12:30pm CST!

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May 24 / 10:16am

Oil Spill update May 24

 Mexico Beach, St. Joe Beach, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas

We continue to be on the lookout for but HAVE NOT SEEN ANY EFFECTS OF THE OIL SPILL.   Our beaches are beautiful and clean and being enjoyed everyday by lots of locals as well as vacationers!   The Fishing is great, the water warm.........

We pray for Louisiana as it is reaching land there.  However, I took the following bullet points directly from the Deepwater Horizon releases. 

I will continue to keep you updated!

I've also included the most recent trajectory map which shows, sadly, the oil is now on shore in Louisiana.

Winds/currents continue to keep the plume away from the Florida coast for at least the next 72 hours. 


• At this time, there are no plans to use dispersants in Florida. If dispersants are ever considered in state waters, the determination to use the chemical would be evaluated by DEP with input from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Florida Wildlife Research Institute and EPA.

• The fisheries, wildlife and seafood off of Florida’s coast in state waters are safe and there are no alerts at this time. Press Release  Florida saltwater fishing regulations remain in effect as usual. Learn more at www.MyFWC.com/Fishing.

• Currently, there are no impacts to Florida’s more than 1,260 miles of coastline and 825 miles of sandy beaches.  

• Through www.VISITFLORIDA.com, vacationers are able to view live Twitter feeds and read up-to-the-minute information on the status of any city or region in Florida. Learn more at http://www.visitflorida.com/florida_travel_advisory/.

• The Florida State Parks website, http://www.floridastateparks.org, will be updated daily and will list any parks that may be impacted. Visitors with camping or cabin reservations will be notified if their stay will be impacted. Learn more by calling 1-850-245-2157.

Please don't hesitate to call me if you should have any other concerns.   Please do not cancel vacation plans----we will be the first to tell you to cancel if the oil comes this way!!!

Thanks,
Mary
850-896-5222
www.maryblackburn.com
Sundance Realty

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May 20 / 11:40am

Oil Spill update---containment boom on St. Joe Beach

Just to let everybody know...........BP is assembling 3,000 ft of containment boom along St Joe Beach. They are laying it alongside the beach in preparation to stretch it out from St. Joe Beach to the Cape to protect the bay. This is just in case the oil heads our way--------RIGHT NOW IT IS NOT PREDICTED TO COME THIS FAR AT ALL.

I attended the Bay County Commission meeting Monday and the Director of the EOC (Emergency Management center) said that it coming to Panama City Beaches is a REMOTE possibility. BP is really spending a lot of money to stay ahead of the game and be prepared for any worst case scenario. What they don't understand is that this preparation is also causing undue fear that our beaches are in imminent danger. And, of course, this is far from true.

The oil is still nowhere near Panama City Beach, Mexico Beach, Cape San Blas, Port St. Joe. Our beaches are beautiful. You just about have to put on sunglasses its so sparkly white!!!!!!!

Don't hesitate to call me if you have any questions!!
Mary
850-896-5222
www.maryblackburn.com


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May 11 / 5:33am

May 11 Oil Spill Update for Mexico Beach

As of right now, there IS NO OIL on or near the beaches of Panama City Beach.  In addition, as of right now, we are not within the “area of uncertainty” with no expectation of oil hitting our shores – today.


Tthe Area of Uncertainty is the area in the Gulf of Mexico in which the oil spill could enter within 72 hours – otherwise known as the projected trajectory.

At a press briefing this morning at the Bay County EOC (emergency operations center) it was confirmed that no oil, sheen or tar balls have reached our shores.   As of right now, we have no documented cases of oil odors in our area that are stemmed from the Deep Horizon oil spill.

There have been some shoreline impacts to areas to the west in Louisiana.  Over the weekend there were reports of oil impact as far east as Dauphin Island, however, talking to several folks that have friends who live at the Island--they have said they haven't seen any tar balls or even oil sheen.

As far as Panama City Beach is concerned, we still have no oil here, and our waters are looking absolutely gorgeous!

Florida beaches are open.
• The 72-hour NOAA trajectory shows no oil landfall in Florida.
• According to the NOAA oil plume model, the oil spill is 100 miles southwest of Pensacola, 179 miles from Port St. Joe, and 340 miles from St. Petersburg.

Even though we are not in the trajectory path, we are making preparations just in case.  Panama City has stage 5,600 feet of oil containment boom with another 10,000 ordered.

________________________________________________________________________________

Please do not cancel vacations for no reason.  Believe me, we don't want you coming here if we have oil threatening our shoreline---We'll be busy trying to save our beaches.  So please check with your particular city in Florida if you have made reservations. 

Mexico Beach had a gorgeous Mother's Day weekend---the weather was beautiful, the beaches were beautiful and there were loads of families having a great time!

Please don't hesitate to call me anytime if you have questions or concerns about the oil spill.  I'll do my best to answer them!

Mary
850-896-5222
www.maryblackburn.com
sundance realty

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May 7 / 8:28am

Update On BP oil spill

Below is the information disseminated TODAY!   I just cut and pasted a few of what I consider the most important statements in relationship to Mexico Beach.   I highlighted some statements in red just to give emphasis.

Please check out the website as it gives great information daily: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/default.htm


FLORIDA DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE MAY 7, 2010
TALLAHASSEE – The State Emergency Response Team, in support of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as the lead response agency for the state of Florida, is actively participating in the Deepwater Horizon response.
The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre and post-landfall.
Landfall Predictions:
• Deepwater Horizon continues to discharge an estimated 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) per day.
• BP has completed construction of a dome, expected to be in place as early as this weekend, which will be used in an attempt to contain the oil discharge. BP has also begun drilling a relief well to eliminate the discharge. The dome is roughly 125 offshore, southwest of Pensacola.
Currently, there are no impacts to the state projected in the next 72 hours. The loop current is far south of the oil and there is no imminent threat that the oil will be picked up by the loop current. However, Florida continues to make preparations to safeguard the state’s shoreline.
The state of Florida reminds its residents and visitors that the state’s coastline has not been impacted at this time and remains open for public enjoyment.
• Should any impacts to Florida’s coastline occur, these could potentially include tarballs – fragments or lumps of oil weathered into a solid consistency – oil sheen or tar mats –sheets of oil that are thicker than a sheen.
Should individuals observe any evidence of oil on Florida’s coastline, they should leave the area and report the incident to 1-866-448-5816.


Boom Placement:
Approximately 160,400 feet of boom has been placed out of the Pensacola and Panama City staging areas.
• An additional 16,700 feet is expected to be placed today.
• Currently 11,300 feet of boom is staged in Pensacola with an additional 20,000 booms on order. In Panama City, there is 6,000 feet staged and an additional 53,000 feet of boom on order.

o If the oil washes on the beach, the sand can be cleaned.


Health Effects:
• At this time, there are no indications of any health risks to Floridians due to the Deepwater Horizon incident. The Department of Health (DOH) and DEP are closely monitoring health and environmental impacts to Florida’s beaches and will notice an advisory if conditions become unsafe.


Closures:
Currently there are no Florida State Park or beach closures. For more information about Florida State Parks, visit: www.floridastateparks.org.
Tourism:
• Florida’s pristine beaches and famed fishing grounds remain open to residents and visitors. Currently, there are no impacts to Florida’s 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline and 663 miles of beaches. Florida’s shores are clear and open for business.


Florida State Parks are seeing no impacts at this time from the Deepwater Horizon incident and remain great destinations for families to enjoy.
• The Florida State Park website will be updated daily and will list any parks that may be impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Incident: http://www.floridastateparks.org/.


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