Perdido Key Oil Spill Images

These are some of the images from the east side of Perdido Key in Florida and Alabama. None of the images are easy to create. Its a long drive from anywhere to get there. . . and then its overwhelmingly hot. . . and then there are the fumes from the oil spill. . . and. . . well. . . look at all the miserable development. Who was responsible for this? Who allowed it to happen? Who will pay when the next hurricane wipes it off the map. . .again?

ABOVE: Vacationers mixed with oil workers. The beach is cleaned overnight. . . then kind of spot cleaned during the time that people are on the beach. . . and if a slick comes ashore that area is closed and lots of workers swarm the area to clean it up, quickly. The oil workers ride around in those gasoline powered carts.



ABOVE and BELOW: Perdido Pass possesses one of the strongest currents along the gulf coast. For that reason the local authorities are trying to completely shut it off with a giant oil boom made of steel pipe that has to be at least 72" in diameter. Its a huge construction project that one sees as they come across the bridge onto the Key (below). If I can find the details I'll share them later. Its difficult to photograph due to traffic. The construction staging area along HWY 98 is fenced for about 1/2 mile and full of equipment, men and machines.



BELOW: Sand sweepers being used on Perdido Key to clean up the oil in the sand. Oh. . . and yes. . . they are gas-diesel powered.



BELOW: A close up of one of the sweepers.



BELOW: Perdido is half in Alabama. . . half in Florida. . . this is an Alabama warning sign.



BELOW: Florida's warning signs are more detailed about what is prohibited. They weren't really enforcing the no-swim ban but they were discouraging photographers.



BELOW: Apparently some sort of skimmer at work just offshore.



BELOW: A skimmer with tugboat and many smaller boats around. There were many boats dragging boom. This is a higher quality image. If you click on the image you can make out at least 3 large craft working together.



BELOW: Jeff Corwin who used to be on ANIMAL PLANET doing some sort of show. I thought he was on the travel channel now? I don't know. He's not nearly as personable in person.