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Two years ago, more than 4-million gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico after the BP Deepwater Horizon well exploded. Two years on, how has the company’s clean-up effort gone?
Dauphin Island is unlike any other place along the U-S Gulf coast.
Tourist, said, "What’s it like it is peaceful."
No glitz no glamor. Just a lot of quiet. Eco-tourism drives the local economy. Jeff Collier - has lived here all his life. The last 14-years as mayor for the island’s 12-hundred residents.
Jeff Collier, Dauphin Island Mayor, said, "People have always said if you ever put up a traffic light I will never vote for you again. So, we won’t be getting a traffic light anytime soon."
| It’s out of step with Dauphin’s pace of life a tiny barrier island, off
Alabama’s coast-line. 2010 was huge economic and environmental setback. |
The way of life on Dauphin Island changed after more than 4-million gallons of oil, from the BP spill poured into the gulf. Island tourists migrated elsewhere. The oil giant has so far spent close to 180-million dollars on commercials like this one, just to promote tourism along gulf. Many locals find the ads insulting, while communities suffer from lasting effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil. BP says that wasn’t the intent.
Curtis Thomas, BP Gulf Coast Restoration Organization, said, "It wasn’t a victory lap, it wasn’t our final hurrah. It was just a message to the rest of country that this is a great place to visit. It is a great place to do business."
It’s out of step with Dauphin’s pace of life a tiny barrier island, off Alabama’s coast-line. 2010 was huge economic and environmental setback.
Robin Linn, ACP Real Estate, said, "We had to literally hire additional staf members to take cancellations on our reservations."
| It’s out of step with Dauphin’s pace of life a tiny barrier island, off
Alabama’s coast-line. 2010 was huge economic and environmental setback. |
And it got worse -- a lot worse. The oil was on a collision course for the small strip of land - So Dauphin’s leaders built this berm - that stretched for four miles as a barrier to shield sensitive areas from the oil onslaught. But it wasn’t just a way of life threatened - it is now the island itself.
Sean Callebs, Dauphin Island, Alabama, said, "In a well intentioned effort, to keep oil from the beaches and sensitive estuaries. Dauphin Island dreded sand from 20 or so areas, creating identical water filled craters like this one. Without knowing it at the time they could created a ticking time bomb."
Jeff Collier, Dauphin Island Mayor, said, "We now have these ponds and there is concern that it could have weakened the island, and maybe we are going to have a breach with future hurricanes."
Wind and surf from a strong storm could literally cut the island in two - and dramatically increase erosion. Locals blame BP for the entire mess and want the company to pay for beach re-nourishment to keep Dauphin from washing away - and to build on the success of an uptick in vacationers.
Robin Linn, ACP Real Estate, said, "We are seeing a 17 percent increase from last year to this which every property management on the island is elated about."
After weathering the worst for the past two years - it is a least a bright spot to build upon.
| It’s out of step with Dauphin’s pace of life a tiny barrier island, off
Alabama’s coast-line. 2010 was huge economic and environmental setback. |
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