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It’s Hard To Say Goodbye: Reader’s Pensacola Beach Oil Photos
June 24, 2010
It was the day that the World’s Whitest Beaches were no more. It was the day that the oil began to wash onto the shores of Pensacola Beach. It was the day the sands were stained black with oil; it was the day the tears of the locals stained the remaining sugar white sand.
It was Wednesday, June 23, 2010. Masses of oil began to wash onto Pensacola Beach from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Walnut Hill resident Regina Hare was there and submitted a gallery of photos for NorthEscambia.com readers. She titled the photos “It’s hard to say goodbye”.
Click here for the photos “It’s hard to say goodbye”.
Submitted photos by Regina Hare for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
66 Responses to “It’s Hard To Say Goodbye: Reader’s Pensacola Beach Oil Photos”
i have been following this disaster since day one,and all i see is finger pointing and the good ole blame game. my conclusion is we are all to blame because of our gluteny for oil. oh you can blame our government and the tree huggers for making companies drill in almost impossible locations rather than areas that are easier. you can blame tony blair in which by the way is just a ceo, he has a board of directors and executives that also make decisions. you can blame human error that fateful day horizon blew up. but the thing that i try to focus on is that although this is a major disaster,in all the years of drilling in the gulf its a first and it was bound to happen sooner or later. so instead of blaming everyone else look in the mirror. as always we will overcome this and put this behind us and try to learn from it.
We are locals in Panama City Beach. We also work on the beach. Let me say as a neighboring beach it rips our hearts out everyday. No one feels it as much as the locals do since this our home. Im not saying the tourists arent feeling it either but its completely different for us who live and work here. To see Pensacola beach destroyed by the oil and our beach about to be next, its just painful. We are all trying to get what we can out of this summer before all the white vanishes. Remember everyone, take all the pictures you can if you have beaches still untainted in the area. It will be a hard and long road out of hell for all of us living in these areas but im trying to be confident that one day our beaches will be white again and that all of us locals and tourists alike can see it. As well as the sealife and wildlife.From LA all along the gulf coast. Even if its not in out lifetime we have to try to keep some shard of hope that we might get through this. Isnt it funny how a company called British Petroleum are the one to destroy the Gulf. A foreign countries company with the help of our own. Wow
The oil disaster is sad for all the people who live and work on the coastal area’s. I would never bash the good people of Louisiana. I was born in Alabama, raised in northwest Florida, but the most fun vacations I’ve taken over the years was to Cajun Country in Louisiana. Great people, fun entertainment, and great food, beautiful plantation homes open for tours. My kid’s were teenager’s when I took them there on vacation in the early 90’s, and they thought it would be boring. They both told me later it was the most fun they had ever had on any trip we had been on. I’m planning another trip over there this fall, probably a motorcycle ride.
hey people stop beating up on louisiana the people are just like us hard working god fearing and want the best for their children wendy if you are so put out with oil invent someway for us to maintain our standard of living with ouy oil and you will make a fortune
hey people dont beat up on the people of louisiana they are just like us hard working god fearing and want the best for their children and if a cajun is your friend he is your friend for life wendy if you can invent something so we can maintain our standard of living without oil you will make a fortune
I have a friend who was hired by BP to take his boat into the gulf and supposedly help with the clean up. He said that all he has to do is ride around all day and mark with GPS anywhere he sees oil. He says that the hired boats are serving no purpose. They are just there so BP can appear to be working on the problem.
To my understanding the judgements that occur in Revelation 8-9, doesn’t occur until after the rapture of the church and during the 7 years of tribulation( Hell on earth). And I’m currently sitting at my computer, not in heaven so I doubt that this is the judgment.But I’m not a bible scholar. I can’t compete with all of these oil disaster scholars posting on this website.’ For God sake’, have a great day.The church isn’t mentioned after Rev 3 Until late Revelation when we come back with Jesus after the 7 years of tribulation. That is where I get my opinion.God bless all of you including those who don’t believe.
I remember when I was 9 years old and took a road trip with my Aunt and we went to California. It was not very long after all the oil spils there, that we went to the beach and it was horrific. Beach Sand is supposed to be ivory white, not charcoal black. What they have done to our beaches is completely unacceptable. I hope everyone who if filing claims gets what is owed to them and that B.P. goes completely out of business.
No Darryl, the only principle I applied was one of definition. Wars are fought over definition. Its easy to think in extremes without it or even worse make up our own definitions…
whitepunknotondope; I think that article overstates the situation. Isn’t methane gas another way of saying Natural Gas? I’m asking a friend you who is has far more knowledge in the sciences.
Bully, you’re putting population control into a category it doesn’t belong. Family planning, birth control measures, etc. are things we need to be doing. You’re tying an abuse by a government of a principal to the overall principal.
I followed Darryl’s link and I urge you NOT to read that article.
If you do read it, do NOT read the third page.
This situation is depressing enough without reading “this COULD happen” scare stories like this. Let’s all focus on getting through this oil spill before we start assigning ever more deadful events to our future.
That goes double for you people quoting Revelations. Revelations?!!! Oh for God’s SAKE!!!
To Darryl:
I have no notions other than the fact population control is barbaric. Did Hitler’s, Mao’s and Saddam’s population control help the planet? Most sane people would agree that exterminating masses does not do anyone or anything any good.
Should people be more conservation minded? Absolutely! But we live in a world of spoiled consumption and instant gratification. That’s the culture and the people of Florida and Louisiana are making the best of what they have in this culture to provide for their families and their posterity and you and I do the same.
“Wendy..what do you think your car runs on? Do you think that stuff magically appears at the gas station? The energy has to come from SOMEWHERE….you really ought to take a moment to consider what you are saying before making such an asinine remark.”
That goes TRIPLE for Vickie!
My confession. I have been visiting Pensacola Beach for most of my 37 years. And during those visits, I littered on the beach EACH and EVERY time I was there. I have littered it with countless footprints, sandcastles and names written in the sand. As the waves rolled in, I have littered the waters with everyday stresses of life. I have thrown hard feelings, bad choices and turmoil into that water and watched the waves carry them far, far away from me. I have littered the stores with my business buying food and drink to sustain me and t-shirts, keychains, and coffee cups all emblazoned with the words PENSACOLA BEACH on them. Now, as I look at these pictures of you and my eyes well up with tears, I only wish that my mess was the worst you had to deal with. I am truly sorry my friend.
Bully, you don’t realize how wrong you are and how we are at a point of exhausting the planet’s ability to accommodate us. The issues of clean drinking water, food production, natural resources, etc. are directly impacted by us, and not only do we crap in our own nest to our own detriment but we over populate an area with no regards to the consequences.
Just look at south Florida where water consumption is so great that saline is being pulled into the fresh water in the ground.
Not sure what you base your notions but they are wrong.
Population control?
Sounds like Mao or Saddam or Hitler…those who advocate population control should start with themselves!
First on the issue of could this get a lot worse, I’m checking with some friends who have science backgrounds to see if this is legitimate.
http://www.helium.com/items/1864136-how-the-ultimate-bp-gulf-disaster-could-kill-millions
As to Revelation 8:9, what does a apocalyptic failed prophecy against Rome by some Jewish writer have to do with BP being sloppy and causing a massive oil spill in the Gulf? This is a human error, both in thinking we could drill in the Gulf with no problems and in being lax in the endeavor.
very well said Stephen – Thank you
i feel that we are forgetting that this happened because BP had the chance to work this well the correct way. BP chose to take the short and fastest route it was also the cheapest.. someone signed off on these shortcuts. the men working these rigs are trying to feed thier families.. they do what the men at the top tell them.. as long as they are drilling the relief wells the flow will not be stopped . they need that excuse to drill. in the past years there has been an increase in big trucks.. soccer moms driving big suvs.. a lot of people drive diesel trucks because of the reliablility. as long as we are driving and buying so much gas there will be oil rigs.. i do agree we need to punish BP but there needs to be consequences for the actions that led to this. lets not fight each other while the fat cats at bp are getting richer
Population Control….. I have always dreamed I would be 86 just like my Grandma…. rocking on the front porch! Everyday I am reminded in some way that will probably not happen!! It makes me sad.
Very true, L.A. Redneck – well said
peggy sue davis – Exxon Valdez dumped 11million gallons of oil…. but your point is still made – a drop in the bucket compared to this.
I can’t even look at photos anymore…. it just breaks my heart
Revelation 8:9
well said ■L.A. Redneck
i have heard from several people in different parts of the us and from my understanding BP has had the leak checked by submarines and is much worse than we could ever imagine……some reports have stated that the sea floor has risen 100 ft and oil is seeping out of the ocean floor in many places. also a report that a possible earthquake could be caused from this. are they are keeping this info quite because of fear of panic. has anyone heard any of this or anything additional …just wondering
I remember in 1977 going to Pensacola beach on senior skip day. We took a left on the beach road and drove just a little ways down, parked , crossed the sand dunes and went to the water and beach. Not a soul in site. No condos, no motels. Just beach. Now , most of the beach is covered with condos and rental houses ( owned by investors) I can’t afford to stay in. Now if I go to the beach I am huddled on the small public beaches that are left with the hundreds, sometimes thousands, that are attempting to have fun in the sun. The BEACHES have been gone. This oil spill is just the latest assault by greedy investors with their eyes on the almightty dollar. Maybe this will make the investors flee and the beaches will once again be open and free.
I’m sure some of you have heard about the exxon oil spill in Alaska in 1989…they had a tanker that spilled only 5000 gallons of oil….and to this day there is still oil on their banks…..and the Gulf has over millions of gallons of oil in it …I don’t think I’ll ever see the beauty of the beach again in my life time…this is sad….I was raised a country girl and I learned how to swim and fish in the back woods creeks and when I had children that’s where I took them to camp and teach them how to swim and fish….then the hunting clubs took over …no more going to the creeks…now theres no more going to the beach either.
hay lunchroomlady it is sad but it is true we may never be able to claim the worlds whightest beaches. i enjoyed them in my younger years and never imanaged it would come to an end like this. and to beat it all i get to see it through the view finder of my babby sister . i am depressed, i just wish i could do what big brothers do and fix it but i cant love r.d.
Tampa Bay resident chiming in. My heart is breaking. I emailed my senator with a request for military action to prevent further landfall. Be proactive talk to our senators. Hit em where it hurts. There are a lot of reelections all over the country. Silence is consent. If you are able email your senators folks. My heart is breaking but finger pointing and in fighting is not proactive enough.
Once again, BP brings us the “bright side” of the disaster. From BP’s own blog page. Edits / “clips” indicated by ellipses ……
“Flying out on the US Coast Guard HC-144 aircraft to see the oil spill and mitigating activities underway was a privilege that never hit my radar of possible experiences. ”
“My appreciation for the enormity of the oil industry as an economic contributor in the Gulf of Mexico climbed sharply within minutes after I hitched a ride aboard a helicopter that BP had chartered for a couple of oil hunters.”
“On top of that passion is a pride and excitement about learning this new, complex operation of booming and skimming. One might think they would have balked at the idea of going through three certification courses to prepare for this role, but this is far from the truth. Eager and hungry to learn the ropes,…. Captain Lang and first mate Wayne, I realize, don’t care what happened or how. As shrimpers, they are at the mercy of Mother Nature every season: some years she gives up the gifts of the seas; other years she sends hurricanes that wreak havoc on their livelihood and home.
These men don’t want to be heroes, complainers or blamers. They want one simple thing: to put their backs to Alabama and their eyes to the water and do what needs to be done”
“Though the work never stopped, there were a lot of smiling faces and a few tears, reminding everyone that this spill response is only a very small part of what’s important.”
http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9033611&contentId=7061850
WENDY: ……….(((((((((((((((((((HUSH))))))))))))))))
wow some harshness, but those who say it is the fault of government regulation making them drill farther out instead of closer to shore are wrong. With the lax oversight and BP’s obvious sloppy work this could have happened anywhere. I think the whole notion that we should just do the best we can in clean up and move with business as usual is totally asinine. How much do we have to crap in our own nest before we get serious about alternatives and serious reductions in our use. Then there is the negative impact to the main businesses such as Florida’s sports fishing, commercial fishing and tourism industry. I’ve seen stats that show the sports fishing industry and tourism were bringing Florida 50 plus billion a year while oil revenues from offshore drilling would bring at best…at best…2 billion dollars. Doesn’t makes sense environmentally, nor does it make sense from a business aspect.
Unfortunately the biggest obstacle to serious conservation is population control. If we don’t get that under control then all the other efforts will be for nothing.
It is ashamed that this had to happen and we will all be affected by it in some way. My thing is that when something happends on a big scale, everybody wants to be paid a big sum or even wants to be paid for the rest of their lives. What about people that has worked in a place for 20 years and the company shuts down. Those people have to go on with their lives and find another job. The company that shut down does not pay them a big sum and sure don’t pay them for the rest of their lives.What about people that has lost alot of money in the stock market? Money from the stock market was for retirement but now it is gone, Who will pay those people for losing their money.
We all have sickness and will always have it. What about people in other parts of the U S that get the same sickness but were not in contact with the oil? Should they get Medical care and big sums of money?
All of this is just a thought
Looks like Bill eats what Fox news feeds him
all of the in-fighting and insulting remarks are not doing any of us any good. Many people are suffering serious mental health issues as a result of this disaster. Please think about and pray for that poor man in Mobile who took his life because his way of life was over. It is my belief that this kind of behavior will be repeated many times before this is over. I pray that it does not but many of us older people are sick with worry about out children and community. Personally, I have had to give this to God – because not to is just too much to bear. Now is the time for us to come together and not start playing the blame game. The damage is done and will continue to be done for a long time. If your friend, neighbor, family member or anyone you know is grieving over this please lend them a hand – listen to them and try to help them deal with this awful situation. All of us and probably everyone in the country will be effected by this in some way – now is the time to help one another. Please folks lets take it easy on each other – everyone says things they really don’t mean when they are upset. Wish there was a magic wand to wave but there isn’t – please pray for one another and help each other.
We all consume oil. However, in Florida the citizens and the government have tried to put a stop to drilling in the gulf because we do not want our beaches destroyed. In spite of our objections Louisiana chose to allow drilling anyway and they have made a lot of money from that. They sure haven’t shared any of the money with us.
Now their gamble has gone wron. If they were the only ones to suffer from their risk taking there would be no problem. The problem comes from the fact that they have imposed their choice to take a risk upon us and now we have been damaged.
What if you insisted that the school bus driver obey the speed limit, but independent from you she chooses to speed, has an accident and your child is injured? Do you conclude that because you needed the bus that it was okay for your child to be injured? I doubt that you would agree to such absurd logic. The assumption that because we all need cars that Louisiana can choose to be reckless and damage our beaches is absurd logic in exactly the same way. The people who have blogged here and have come to such an absurd conclusion are the idiots.
Wendy is an idiot. She is typical of all the idiots that drive around in cars, use/consume plastic items, purchase anything shipped, goes to the doctor, eats anything, cooks, is alive . . . and wants everyone to stop drilling for oil. We all consume oil and need oil to survive until there is a viable replacement/substitute.
What a clueless self righteous idiot!
I can’t believe people sit here and try to place the blame on each other’s state. There are more important things to worry about then blaming Louisiana for BP’s mistake. People were killed when the rig exploded. People’s way of life and livelihoods are gone. Thousands of animals are going to die and some species could completely disappear. It could be years, if ever, before the beaches, coastland, and Gulf are ever right again. So people grow up and stop blaming one another. That doesn’t solve anything. It just makes everyone more upset over what is going on.
Wendy,
Fighting the oil companies and keeping those rigs from your shores are as much to blame for what has happened in the Gulf as anything. You do realize that had this well not been 5 miles out and a mile deep, BP would have just capped it in a matter of days right? You want to point a finger at the people of Louisiana? You might want to take a look in the mirror, and accept your part of this disaster also.
Well said, Linda.
United, we stand. Divided, we fall. Doesn’t take a prophet to see what lies ahead on our present course.
This is so heart breaking!
Wendy.
You still haven’t addressed anything anybody has said.
You keep attacking,without any info or ammo to back up your claims.
And you mentioned “landfill” in your opening statement.
What if the neighbors landfill was being filled with your trash?
Defend yourself,I dare you.
All of those folks from Louisiana just threw a fit because what I said is true and it scares them.
Good for them to be scared. It won’t be long before a bunch of lawyers come to the same conclusion I have. Once that happens, the state of Louisiana will be up to its eyeballs in law suits.
I have lived on the Gulf Coast my entire life and in Pensacola for the past 7 years and my family and I go to the beach every weekend during from March till it just gets too cold to go! I went to the beach on June 19th and it was almost empty at 3pm there was still parking spots at Casino Beach, that is something that is completely unheard of this time of year!! I have cried countless tears over this tragedy! Not only for the loss of life, not only for the wetlands, not only for the poor animals, not only for the fishermen and their families, not only for the pristine beachs here. But for the loss of a way of life for everyone along the gulf coast!
Now is the time to stand together and help our neighbors any way we can. That means going to the beach and eating at the restaurants, keeping any reservations you have, and thanking every person you see out there that is doing whatever they can to cleanup and try to contain this. We will come back from this…all of us…I don’t know how long it will take but we will overcome this! We all live here for a reason…because we love it here and this is home!
What a sad day for our beautiful beaches and water. Will we ever see the beauty return? Probably not! Goodbye – great fishing and vacationing! The source of income for so many people is now gone. The people who live here will be the ultimate losers.
This is directed at Gordy.
I’m not saying you are wrong but I don’t think you know exactly how crazy you sound.
You say these things as if you have proof but provide none.
All I can think of when I read your post is a tin foil hat.
Provide proof and people will listen.
I live in Panama City Beach and we are waiting for the same devstation to hit us in the few days. Already our west end is getting the oil. BP is not trying to cap the thing because of law that once you cap a well you cannot reopen it. This whole time they are sitting on trillions of dollars in oil and so what if a measly fine of millions is applied. Trillions of dollars are waiting for them so they let it flow….BP is NOT attempting to cap it. This is a show for the people. I know investors who are buying up BP stock to make a killing in their stock since they are sitting on trillions of dollars of oil. It is ashame and they will get away with it too. But destroying an entire coastline of a country to make some money. GREED
If the President of the United States had any COMMON SENSE, he would have accepted all the help offered after this DISASTER for HELP with clean-up and any and all experts available about any possible way to PLUG THE HOLE.
He can “TALK THE TALK BUT HE SURE DON’T KNOW HOW TO WALK THE WALK”!!! So sad to see such beauty destroyed!!
Wendy,
You are an idiot. Do you own a car? If the answer to that question is yes, then you must deal with the repercussions. Unless you will never ride in a car, take a boat, etc. again, you can’t really complain that oil is being drilled.
Also, how did the population of a state have anything to do with this? So now fishermen wanted oil drilled in FL? People across the state wanted it? Seriously, you made yourself look stupid on the internet and this page is already being passed around. Congrats on slandering an entire state and the people living in it.
Wendy- My family has spent countless sums of money in your state every summer since I was born 32 years ago. If I judged the people of Florida by your comment I wouldn’t spend another dime the rest of my life there.
This comment is directed at Wendy and whoever else agrees with her view.
Wendy.
Who do you think provides the majority of your tourist dollars every year for your precious state?
Louisianians
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS RAPING LOUISIANAS COAST AND RESOURCES!
Tell me this Wendy.
Have you ever traveled to Louisiana’s beautiful coast?
No?
Why not?
I’ll tell you why.
Because Louisiana does not have a beautiful coast because we sacrificed our coastline for your oil and oil products.
Think next time before you press enter on your oil byproduct produced keyboard hack.
Wendy, your comments are offensive to Louisiana. You should not speak of things that you know nothing about. The last thing Louisiana wants is to damage the rich land that provides our livelihoods. We are just as affected by the oil spill as you all.
This is ridiculous!!!
Wendy..you are a idiot. Do you think that we wanted a oil rig to explode? Do you think that all of our commercial fisherman wanted to be out of a job for years?
Or every other person that has lost his lively hood due to this disaster? What about our wetlands and the animals? It is a horrible thing that has happened to alot of people but placing blame on the people of Louisiana is not the answer. The blame lies at the feet of B.P and the people responsible for overseeing them. They let this happen. Not the people here in Louisiana.
Wendy:
When we start making cars that run on white sand, then we Louisianians will stop drilling for oil. I know “our greed” is killing your vacation spot and I am very sorry. I think the first thing you should do to show your love of your beaches above everything else is to sell all the wave runners and boats in the state of Florida. After all, they run on the byproducts of what is being pulled out of the ocean floor by all of us greedy Cajuns.
Please think before you slander an entire state next time, Wendy. Thanks for your consideration.
Wendy..what do you think your car runs on? Do you think that stuff magically appears at the gas station? The energy has to come from SOMEWHERE….you really ought to take a moment to consider what you are saying before making such an asinine remark.
Wendy, you’re an idiot and have no clue of what’s going on.
This is all signs of the end of time! The People better get ready! The Lord is coming back!
wendy, I agree!!!!
In Florida, we have fought hard against the oil companies and kept those oil rigs away from our shores because we would rather have a nice place to live and not just screw it all up in exchange for money.
What if your next-door neighbor puts in a big stinking land fill and makes a bunch of money and your property value goes to nothing. What happened here is exactly the same thing!
Those folks in Louisiana still want to keep drilling because they just want to make money and the heck with everything else. I think Louisiana and the folks over there that got all of the jobs and money are just as responsible for what happened to us as BP is.
Gosh, this is so sad. I have always been so proud of our beaches. Brad I know how you and your children feel.Please let your son know we appreciate all he is doing for all of us.
We all knew it could happen. We all knew it was coming. I went to fort Morgan yesterday and they are working to clean the oil up there but the sand is stained a dark brown all the way down to the water. Looking at these pictures and seeing what I seen yesterday Pensacola Beach will never be the worlds whitest beaches again. (Boycott BP)
What is there to say? We have some of the best politicians in Washington that money can buy; unfortunately (or fortunately) we only have votes, not cubic money.
wow…heartbreaking
i hate this!! i grew up on these beaches and just want to cry!! it is so sad to see this!! i wanted my kids to grow up on these beautiful beaches but now they cant!! thanks bp for takin that away!!!
This is absolutely heartbreaking ! As a true Pensacola native, I have no words for how I feel. I was born and raised playing, swimming, fishing, camping on the beach. My children learned to swim in the sound. One of my sons is on the cleanup crews and has been since day one, working 14 hours a day 7 days a week with no days off. He called yesterday morning, in tears once he got out there to start his day! He said several of them fell to their knees and cried, him included. So folks, remember as you watch them. Alot of them are our neighbors, friends and children out there trying anything they can to make a difference.