It's been a fabulously LONG week for me. I've clocked over 45 hours this past week, I know the Kohler's have that combined, and add those hours up with all the rest of you that have been out there patrolling the beach this week, and we have logged well over 100 volunteer hours in the past seven days! We've spoken to over 300 people. That's HUGE! Chris and I feel truly giddy that we have such a fabulous group of people who have found times in their busy schedules to not only watch over our beaches but to support our community. It just solidifies my belief in the down home neighborly goodness of the people in this area. We are strong, positive, caring, generous, and resiliant.
Thank you.
:) OK Hallmark Card moment aside. We need to get down to business. I cleared up a couple of rumors yesterday. I hit a couple of meetings. I got a few concerns of you all taken care of. So, here's the scoop. Remember, bring us your questions that don't have answers and we'll either get them answered, or we'll find someone who can. Bring us your concerns, and things you notice that need taken care of, and again, we'll see what we can do to rectify the problem.
Rumor: TWICE last week word got to SURF, through both volunteers and administors, that BP was spraying something on the seaweed, killing it: and cleaning up seaweed because it had spray/dispersant on it.
FACT: NO. OUR BP clean up crews are not spraying anything. NOTHING. NOTHING is killing the seaweed, JuneGrass but it's own natural cycle. Due to winds last week from the East, the JuneGrass has graced us with its presence this past week. Normal and unpredictable. BP clean up crews are picking up seaweed, not because it might have some invisible mystery goo on it. They pick it up only when there is visible contaminant on it, tar, oil, or anything that looks like oil. BP HAD been spraying dispersant over the main spill zone Months ago, but ceased that. Disperssant is injected at the well head. In fact, they've used 1.8 Million gallons over the past 80 odd days.
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QUESTION: Is there dispersant in the water?
Answer: BP is using it in the water, so yes, there is.
Question: Is it here on our beach?
Answer: Well, the EPA states that they have found no negative environmental impacts from the use of dispersants. Long term effects are unkown. Local water testing have shown no dangerous levels of any chemicals, which is how officials are trying to keep an eye out for abnormalities.
That's about all you can share with the guests. If they feel uneasy about what MIGHT be in the water, then they aren't being forced to go in. Yes, it's frustrating not to give them a black and white answer, but this has been about as far from a black and white situation as I've ever seen.
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Question:Where are the lifeguards?!?!?
Answer: While the signage on the beach clearly states that lifegaurds are on duty 9-5, they are mysteriously missing from the towers until much later. And who doesn't want to stick close to a lifegaurd? It's much safer? RIGHT? (you're telling people that, right?) Where are they? Well, training !!! Our lifegaurds have mandatory workouts and training EVERY MORNING! It wakes them up, briefs them, gets their bodies pumping, and makes them more ready to haul us out of the surf. If you've never had a chance to watch them train, try to, it's exhausting just to watch.
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Concern: My chosen walkover has no parking.
Response: Turns out WO #4 has very little parking. It has room for about 5 cars, parked parallel to the road. If this doesn't give you the warm fuzzies, then skip WO 4 on the sign up sheet. I know it's a turtle nest WO, so it's in demand, but I wanted to let you know the parking situation.
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Concern: Some of the parking lots are loaded with large pieces of broken glass.
Response: I reported the broken glass and the work crews will be out looking and cleaning. Thank you !
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Concern: Full Port-a-John
Response: The Port-a-Johns do not belong to the county. They were put there by BP for the BP clean up crews. Obviously others are using them. They are cleaned and emptied by a contractor for BP. In fact, I saw them being emptied last night.
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Note: Cocodries is closed until at least August, as they have been contracted by BP to feed the clean up crews.
This is sad for those of us that love and reccommend Cocodries as a place for guests to eat, but gives the crews fresh, hot, local food, and also boosts the business of Cocodries and his suppliers.
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Note: Chris and I met with a locally stationed group of Americorp Volunteers. These are great young men and women that are from all over the country. They will be stationed near the Pier this next week Friday-Sunday sharing information about the Leak and the local area. If you get a chance, stop by their pavillion and say, "HI!"
Most of you have found the new home for SURF in the firehouse lobby. You can keep your IDs with you. We have vests !!! I need to get them from Daniel, but as soon as I do, you'll have one of your own to wear and wash. We also have patches in the works. They match the logo that's in the firehouse and off to the side >>> It's simple, clean, gets the point across, pretty if I do say so myself.
Remember, help yourself to an information book at the firehouse. Take it home, read through at your leisure, bring it back when you're done. If you want to haul it out to the beach with you, feel free. Don't forget to jot down an estimate of the number of people you chatted with and any questions or concerns that you have, or you can email them to me. We need to start scheduling ahead. Please take the time to look ahead and fill in those blanks :)
Today it will snow. Oh wait, that was just a dream, or maybe a nightmare, I had last night. LOL! Today will be another July day in Florida, which is odd, since it's JULY in Florida! Hot and Humid is the set up for today. Those that get storms later, will get a lot of rain. Temps will be a bit lower today as the cloud cover takes over, but the humidity is going to make it feel just so slimy. You can still get burned under the clouds, so don't forget the hats, the sunscreen, and LOTS of water. I know we're all feeling waterlogged, but keep drinking.
***** Beach conditions****
Clear and delicious! Water temps in the surf zone are nearing 90'. There is a fiberous natural material that is coming in with the morning high tide. It LOOKS like tar balls, but IS NOT.
Have a wonderful and safe day on the beach.
Have a wonderful and safe day on the beach.
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