UPDATE: Panama City Beach Currently NOT On Oil Spill Trajectory Map

Oil Spill, Oil Spill Reports, Tourism 3 Minutes

(Latest update: July 15, 2010)

Over the last few weeks, very small quantities of oil product have been reported and cleaned up on Panama City Beach.  And, when I say very small quantities, I mean so small that almost no one saw any oil wash up on the shores of Panama City Beach before it was cleaned up by the 700+ beach clean up workers that continue to patrol the beaches.  In addition to the 700+ workers that are walking the beaches by day, there are around 250 walking the beaches at night.

As of July 14th, the oil plume was located 130 miles from Panama City Beach.  At one point, it was as close as 20 miles off our coast.  What this means is that for the next two to three weeks, our beaches are all but totally guaranteed to be oil free.  This is great for the summer tourism season.  Right now, we are well outside the NOAA 72 hour area of uncertainty.

We are continuing to closely monitor the oil spill situation as it pertains to Panama City Beach.  Here are three ways you can keep up with exactly what’s going on here.  As new information develops, you’ll find out here first:

  • Facebook Page – Facebook.com/pcbdaily
    • can update from anywhere, and will post new developments here first.  We are constantly monitoring for questions and will do our best to answer.
  • Twitter page – Twitter.com/pcbdaily
    • If you are on Twitter, you can follow us for recent updates from on the scene.  We are constantly monitoring our feed for questions and will do our best to answer.
  • YouTube Channel – Youtube.com/pcbdaily
    • Twice a week we are producing HD videos of the beach with a brief update on conditions and showing you in high quality video exactly what the conditions are like.

As of July 15th 2010, there is no oil on Panama City Beach’s waters or shoreline, nor has there been any oil reported in Bay County from the Deep Horizon Oil Spill in several weeks.

Here are some quick facts on the Gulf Oil Spill from Deep Horizon:

  • There is an estimated 35,000 to 60,000 barrels of oil being discharged daily from the Deep Horizon Oil Well.  The “capping stack”, designed to capture greater quantities of oil, was installed on July 12. Additional analysis of the well testing procedure is currently being performed. The next step is a well integrity test, which involves closing one or more of the valves on the new cap for a period of time to allow BP to measure pressures in the well. On July 13 the total oil recovered was approximately 17,060 barrels.
  • There are around 1000 contracted workers locally walking the beach daily looking for oil and cleaning up when product is found.
  • One of the two relief wells being drilled is currently at a depth of 17,810 feet, while the other’s depth is at 16,000.

If you want live information, we’re at the beach every day.

Each week we are shooting videos of the beach showing the current conditions of the water.  Actually, as of the week of June 7th, we are trying to make it to the beach every three days to shoot HD video and every day to do a live streamcast.  Here are the places you can find video of the beach.  (NOTE: Go to our Facebook page and click the “Like” button to be notified when we are doing live stream casts.)

Here is our PCBDaily YouTube channel.

Hit the arrows on the side to scroll through our videos.  Most of the recent ones are of the beach and have been taken in the last couple weeks.  The latest video will be first.

http://www.youtube.com/cp/vjVQa1PpcFOBfTJHxGo0sTLm0ZMDsPsIdx0WN2Fj1oc=

Below you find a good list of resources.  Some of them have been compiled from other posts.

  • NOAA’s Deep Horizon Response page – updated daily: click here.
    • When you get that page, scroll down and look for: “Current Trajectory Maps“.  Below that are the 24, 48, and 72 hour trajectory maps.

Here are some additional webcam feeds that our friends at Tripsmarter have been kind enough to allow us to link to.

Here are some other recent posts about the oil spill:

Last updated 7/6/2010 2:50 am cst.

Published by Jason Koertge

Published

341 thoughts on “UPDATE: Panama City Beach Currently NOT On Oil Spill Trajectory Map”

  1. Baxter – you are wrong – we go almost every week and have good friends there. It is not Doom and Gloom. It is reality. It is time to figure out plans not talk about the fact that a section of the beach is untouched while a major portion is harmed. Do you live at the Beach? or are you just looking the other way? The facts are – most Ft. Walton Captains were fired to give the contracts to a VA company. FACT, Tarballs are not good, FACT. Marine life is dying – FACT. People are out of work – FACT.

    Again, not trying to be doom and gloom but is is not fair to misrepresent to people what is going on, if they are okay with tarballs (fact) and the smell (fact), then it is fine. Come on down.

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  2. pretty strong w nw wind been helping PCB the last couple of days and this should continue for a few more! Bad for destin . . . . just bad for the whole gulf region.

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  3. As the Horizon Oil Spill, ‘Cloud of Death’, looms on the horizon, many sea animals, fish and other wild life will suffer the consequenses. Also, many retirees, long time residents and others’ hopes and dreams will die with this castastrophie. As most of you know, all of our U.S. Senators and members of the House of Representatives have received generous incentives from lobbyists from the oil industry. Remember this when election time nears this year. No Incumbents.

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      1. Oh give me a friggin break. Yes this oil spill is bad, however, lets face the facts that we need the oil. Bottom line! America is addicted to it. Its not going to change so lets just admit it and face the facts that big oil companies will continue their drilling either in the Gulf where they will employ americans or they will leave and drill elsewhere and hire those from other countries. Instead of banning drilling, lets set up safety guidlines so this never happens again.
        Wake up people. US dependency on oil is going to continue, no matter what Obama or you liberals want to belive. I for one am not giving up my american made suburban. I love it.

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      2. Seriously Kevin? Just accept the abuse from the Oil companies and don’t believe it could ever change.. Oil is going to run out eventually, and we will be forced to discover some new and effecient fuel. Why not invest now, and seriously look into and fund fuel research in natural resources such as wind and solar energy?Who had that issue as one of his primary concerns in his campaign ? Yes, it’s that “liberal” Obama you speak of. Funny, that he didn’t want to open so much offshore drilling in the 1st place, but instead invest the money in alternative sources, and was blocked by the republicans. Then he was criticized by Neocons, including your beloved, Rush, Beck, Palin, Hannity, and Fox News for not opening up more of the drilling sites.
        So now you are saying “lets set up safety guidlines so this never happens again.” WHAT? So NOW you agree with government regulation? Admit it or not, but you are obviously a neocon. You have a sensationalized belief that the Government is totally evil and that it shouldn’t regulate businesses, and businesses should be completely free in the economic realm. Well it was deregulation by neocons and republicans during the Bush admin that lessened standards, restrictions, and violations for big oil companies, so that they could save money.. But look at the reported bonuses given to oil execs from Exxon, Shell, BP, ect. over the last ten years.. and thats just reported.
        Specifically, BP wasn’t required to build a shutoff valve because that safety measure would have cost them 1 million. Deregulation, less government, leave businesses alone, we’re being taxed too much is ridiculous. It’s a fact, if you make under $250,000 per year, you are paying less taxes than you have at any point in the last 9 years.(Thats approximately 97% of all Americans that are paying less taxes) So why are you teabaggers being !@#$%& by that top 3%, like BP and it’s oil execs? Fighing against your own self interests and for companies like BP and the execs that run it? I say WAKE UP PEOPLE and see that we CAN change what we support and purchase and vote on, DON’T have to just accept that big Oil abuse is just a way of life. Kevin, wake the #$%& up. And it’s far beyond just oil companies that need more regulation. Now please reply, and prove me right that you are about to make several of the most hypocritical series of statements that I have ever heard.

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      3. Wow Josh M.
        You really do have your head up your a$$ or in the oil soaked sand. lol
        Thank god very few believe as you do.

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  4. Right then what is the latest on the actual beach situation in terms of tarballs etc Is it better? Worse??? The same???? Is it being cleaned???? Are there dead creatures on the beach or not??? Is the sea nice and clean or not???? Is it better or worse in certain areas???? Come on guys report the actual facts!!!! Take your anger to the Whitehouse on a protest if you feel that bad….stage a peacful sit in or something?

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  5. Beaches are fine as far as of yesterday. I go everyday to the beach, and have only seen a couple of tar balls. It seems as fast as they were washing in they were being cleaned up.

    Now, with the tropical storm expected in the Gulf next week, all bets are off Its to early to tell yet where its headed, by Monday it will be more obvious. Just my opinion.

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  7. my concerns lie in the fact that i have a family vacation planned to panama city the first week of august with my 2 small children….if anyone can shed some insight on what the prediction of the condition of the beaches is going to be…ur reply would be greatly appreciated. ty

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  8. WOW. I have read it all. The President is now at fault for an oil-spill accident? Give me a break.
    Khristi – yes, you can drive your SUV since this is still America… why wouldn’t you be able to? Do you really think the Prez intends to outlaw them???? Be real. The reality is that you can drive whatever makes you happy as long as you are willing to deal with the consequences.
    Also, when you start ranting about political figures giving up their limos, you sound like a back-woods redneck. Everyone knows that this is the case; the wealthy can afford to purchase carbon credits to ‘cover their tracks,’ and political leaders (especially the President of the United States!) will always have luxuries you and I cannot have. It might not be ideal, but it’s life. Many people have a lot more than I will ever have and get to live in much more posh lifestyles than I; do I begrudge them?? No, because I am an adult. From the lamenting, whiny tone of your posts, you might as well lay in the floor, kick your feet and start crying like a child!

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  9. We were scheduled to go to Gulf Shores the 12-19th, which was about a week after the oil washed up there. I hated to cancel my trip to Gulf Shores, but I had to for my family. We instead booked our stay at Aqua in PCB. We had the most awesome vacation. This was this first time I had been to PCB in 14 yrs. Since I have had a family of my own we’ve been going to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. We snorkled in the clear blue water and saw hermit crabs and sand dollars. I don’t remember Gulf Shores being as clear as these waters were. We left on a Sat morning (which was the first day tar balls washed up in PCB). I looked back at the gulf as I was loading our car up to head home and got tears in my eyes thinking about if and when I would see such pretty waters in the gulf again…. Being from Alabama I take pride in our beautiful beaches. I’ve been going there since before I was born…. My parents way back when went there on their honeymoon 😉 I’m praying for the gulf! Praying for the loss of life, loss of jobs, loss of marine life, the loss of our beautiful beaches, loss of God’s beautiful creation. God be with the men and women fighting to get our gulf back! God Speed!

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  10. I just got back from an amazing weekend at Panama City Beach over the 4th of July weekend! The beaches were beautiful. The water was clear. The weather was great. We stayed at one of the high-rise condos near Pineapple Willie’s, and as far as I could see, people were in the water and on the beach. No oil there. Can’t wait to go back!

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  11. Beach Guy, you seem honest enough, thank you! Just got back from PCB myself. Was so worried I spoke to my MD before we went. Had a great time! Sat, Sun, Mon, & Tues the Gulf looked great, Wed & Thurs no so good. Friday & Sat clear again. Got some video and pics of the rough seas and a substance floating on top on Wed & Thurs. We were told that is was anything from stuff being washed up from a sand bar to June Grass, June Bloom, to oil. Please look at my pics on Facebook and tell me what you think.
    PS we already know what it was. Everybody needs to come on down, but be aware!

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  13. I have been watching gulf currents and for the last two weeks or so they have been S to SE now I’m looking at the projections and they show a shift to a more W to SW. Thats not good and but I am still leaving 7/16 for PCB oil or not

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  14. The video and photos look great, but why are there no people in the water??? Planning a trip later this month!

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    1. plenty of web cams out there . . .we were in last week, as virtually nothing was seen! Planning to go back Labor Day weekend . . . geez, if they can slow most of it by the end of this week, stop it by August, concentrate on cleaning it up, and the winds stay mostly due west . . might be okay? I NEVER would have thought that back in May, but maybe, just maybe okay?

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      1. oh yea . . . . Labor Day, peak tropical storm season. Need to keep those away, but the water is so dang warm!

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  15. Qoute from a retired BP employee!
    “Robert, I called the (Houston) response center some time back to volunteer to help. As a frustrated BP retiree, I wasn’t above picking up ‘tar balls’ or cleaning birds… Actually, I felt that BP needed more resources in logistics/contracts. I was very disappointed in the response. I did recieve a Level 3 Spill Response CBT program. Only to discover that it was only for members of Government Agencies and Wildlife Paraprofessionals. When I called back, those maning the phones were either inexperienced or confused beyonded a apparent script of FAQ’s – very disappointing. “

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  16. I was in PCB 7/2 thru 7/6. We stayed at Majestic Beach Resort (which is approx. 1/2 mi north of Pineapple Willie’s) and never saw the first drop of oil…anywhere! My husband & I commented that the water was the clearest we had ever seen. There wasn’t even any algae or seaweed. If you are thinking of cancelling a vacation to PCB because of oil, you are making a mistake.

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  17. Joy-if you were there July 2nd-(I was there in the same exact place) the water was terrible-wouldn’t even let you in because of the riptide-we watched the beach patrol save one person-but I agree-there was no oil.

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  18. I live a block from the beach and i havent seen any oil period. I heard there was a few tarballs 1 (one) day but went down there after work and couldnt find anything. The beach is absolutely gorgeous right now, the storms have gone thru and its unreal. With the east winds i doubt we ever see anything here, ever. Dont believe these people on here spreading lies, they have a agenda, probably town dregs that still cant get over the fact that the airport pulled out of PC (town) because nobody wants to go there

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  19. I am glad to hear the oil has not reached this beach. We have a place at calypso towers, we try to get down at least once a month. will be here on the 15th for a week, so excited!

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  20. So glad to hear that PCB has so far been fortunate. I hope that it stays that way. Headed that way o Monday. Can not wait. Need a beach fix and PCB is the best place for it.

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  21. WOW! I haven’t posted in a while! But I’m still amazed at what I’m hearing. Do you actually believe that an oil well can be pumping 200,000 plus gallons a day into the Gulf and there is no sign of oil in PCB? People you had better wake up! I’m pretty sure that Robert Stevens and Bigmacrob know what I’m saying by now. This well is still leaking for a reason people! My suggestion right now is to ignore the oil spill! You can’t change it! Watch what is happening to everything else. Health care, Cap and trade, Gun control! These assholes are passing everything through right under your noses and you don’t even see it!
    Wake up people!
    I’ve said this before and I’m saying it again!
    Hitler once said!

    Never fail to take advatage of a great disaster!

    Obama and his crew are doing just that!

    If the American public can’t see that by now, then only God can help us.

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    1. Godwin’s Law: “As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.”

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  22. I am a hazardous waste operations and emergency response certified oil spill cleanup worker.

    Myself and my crew have been working the beaches from Destin to Rosemary Beach and since the 10th have started to see weathered crude oil washing onshore. I’m not talking about isolated tar balls, but soft pellets of oil (they are small cylinders, about the size of grass seed) so shaped by wave action. In a 10-foot stretch of beach, each wave seems to deposit 10 or 20 of these pellets of soft crude oil.

    This stuff is toxic, and can be dangerous to breathe around (hydrogen sulfide), can cause rash and itching, and through long-term exposure, even cancer is not unlikely.

    Please be careful on the beaches, and if you see tar balls (flat, pea-sized, sand covered, brown to black and somewhat shiny) or weathered crude oil (tiny numerous pellets deposited by waves) please report it to BP at 1 866 448 5816.

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    1. Most people assume that the oil will be a liquid – however that is not the case; weathered crude oil (oil that has been exposed to sun and salt water for an extended period of time) tends to harden up and is actually somewhat less toxic than raw crude oil.

      If and when oil does wash up on the shores of Bay County, it will be mostly composed of semisolid chunks or pellets ranging from highly viscous to somewhat hard. Any slicks coming onshore will be broken up into small pieces by wave action.

      Know what to look for – it will appear as a dark-colored substance on the beaches that has a tendency to stick to sand and other objects. Oil that has freshly washed onshore will usually have a soft, claylike consistency.

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      3. http://www.thedestinlog.com/news/tar-14527-balls-area.html

        Sorry about that, James, here’s some more recent coverage. Quite frankly I looked at the pictures and the mention of “Sunday.” The photographs in the June 20th article are pretty indicative of what we were seeing last weekend. I didn’t bother to look too closely at the page, just glanced at the photos and looked at the headline.

        I don’t know why there isn’t any mention of the contaminants we were seeing last weekend – perhaps BP and its contractors are trying to keep it quiet. I, for one, disagree with this policy.

        Saturday night, we sealed more than 40 20-pound bags of contaminated sand and oil in a stretch of coastline less than three miles long.
        I’ll send in some photos next time I’m on the beach cleaning up.

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  23. Pingback: Oil Spill Panama City Beach 2010 | today hot buzz

  24. With the BP commercials saying they have 24/7 cleanup
    why have they stopped all worker from going out from destin fl to panama city beach????? day and night. No one is going out is the rumor that I have heard. they total of 700 workers for day and night shifts were told on wed 7/14/2010 no one is going out now.????????

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  25. Because there is nothing for them to do. We have been very fortunate. I can’t speak for Destin, but I spent July 3 to July 9 on Inlet Beach, the west end of Walton Co. The water was beautiful and the clean-up workers had nothing to do. They were out there but there was nothing to clean up. Panama City Beach has thus far had virtually ZERO impact and it appears as though that is going to continue through the rest of the busiest summer season. Thanks to pcbdaily for continuing to update.

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  27. I was surfing this afternoon and when I came out of the water, and sat down there were 3 BP guys picking up some pea sized tar balls, not a lot just a small amount.This was just east of the Wyndham Resort. I didnt see any while out in the water.

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  28. To: Any Visitors or Locals on or near N.W. Florida: Even though there is no visible “oil sheen” on the lovely beaches of Panama City, that does not mean when they will come! It could be in two days, depending on the wind and water currents. These rich business owners whom expect a 5 to 10% percent increase per year in rentals and retail businesses are UP IN ARMS! My advice would be to go to Padre Island in Texas before a storm moves in and blows that oil all over the U.S. gulf coast. Florida’s oily day is coming soon. Have a good time!

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    1. There really ought to be some sort of IQ test or filter before people can post here.

      Michael, you seem almost gleeful about your baseless and dire prediction. Please leave the good people of the Florida panhandle alone. By the way, those “rich business owners” provide jobs for idiots like yourself so that you can afford internet access to make ridiculous posts like the one above.

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      2. All these guys for other places have infected this blog. Its so easy to see. They are not stupid its just that they dont hide it very well.

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      1. The BP guys are picking up tar balls every morning, there have been many spots the last week where they have washed in. The clean them up as fast as they make it to the shore. I see it happening every morning in certain areas, why do you think the skimmer ships have been working closer and closer to shore every day, they are trying to keep them from hitting the sand, and they are doing a pretty good job of it. Just because the news isnt out showing the truth doesnt mean it isnt happening.

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  30. Pingback: Oil Plume is 145 Miles Away from Panama City Beach

  31. BP seems to ignore one very important area that deserves compensation and that is “Quality of Life” that has been destroyed by this disastrous oil spill. I have lived here for 22 years, planned to retire here in a Condo on the Gulf Waterfront and now my dreams and plans, everything I’ve worked for, has gone down the tubes as a direct result to BP’s negligence in the Gulf of Mexico! Accident my Ass, they ignored safety precautions, took short cuts, were very greedy to get a the black gold. Now, not only is my quality of life severely damaged, but I have to contend with the environmental damage that hampers me from walking the beach (I don’t want to breathe toxic air), swimming in the water (nor swim in polluted water), fishing is out, and eating seafood caught in the Gulf (don’t want to eat tainted seafood)! And last, but not least, they have murdered 11 humans and countless marine life!! They are getting away with murder!!!! Yes, I’m fuming mad!! We will collect the “black gold” now on our beaches and they will come in after the so-called cleanup and drill again for the black gold that will make all of them filthy rich!! DO THEY THINK WE’RE STUPID!! Every single citizen of Bay County and all of the other counties affected by this disaster deserve compensation.

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