Oil Spill Hits Panhandle

The BP oil spill has come ashore on the white sandy beaches of Florida’s Panhandle. Even though the news was expected for some weeks, the event didn’t cushion the blow for northwest Florida’s tourism industry and local businesses who fear the worst from the oil spill. While cleanup efforts are already underway in the Panhandle, the devastating effects to the local economy may force the shuttering of businesses and vacationers to cancel summer trips. The scenario is grim with no real end in site. Oil is still gushing into the Gulf. BP’s latest attempts at stopping the oil have not proven to be completely satisfactory.
An recent editorial in the LA Times opened with the line, “If you’re planning a summer trip to the Florida coastline, you may want to steer clear of Pensacola Beach.” This is bad for all of Florida.