Some of the biggest questions that we get are “has the BP oil spill reached Panama City Beach, Florida” and “is there oil on the beaches in Panama City Beach“. The BP oil spill is arguably the worst environmental disaster that has ever hit the Gulf and the hundreds of miles of beaches & wildlife throughout numerous states. Florida officials have been preparing the public for the inevitable event of the oil spill reaching the pristine white beaches that Florida has become known for.
Panama City Beach Oil Spill Update – As of June 18, 2010 the closest sighting of the oil spill remains about 30 miles southwest of Panama City Beach, FL. Trajectory models are showing that patches of oil could make its way to the beached within days, but mostly in small amounts that can be gathered easily. From this point on throughout summer, be aware that there is a chance of spotting oil blots in the water and on the beaches. The good news is that the county has been putting out miles of booms in the water to block the majority of the oil slick and they have many more miles worth of boom on hand in case more of the oil slick heads toward Panama City Beach. Daily updates are provided by city and government officials and we will work to keep you updated if the oil spill sightings increase in Florida.
If you have a vacation rental in Panama City Beach, FL booked for the near future, it’s a great idea to contact the person or company you are renting from to inquire about their cancellation policy in case the Panama City Beaches are hit with the oil spill.
On the other hand, you may actually find some great deals this summer on Panama City Beach vacation rentals. Be sure to check out our list of the best Panama City Beach condos and vacation rentals and work your way down the list seeing if any of them have any hot deals!
For current information on the oil spill in Florida from the main agencies, be sure to visit:
Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection Oil Spill Update
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/
NOAA Oil Spill Update
The NOAA map has all sorts of data for you technical & detail types that want as much info as possible.
View NOAA Gulf Oil Spill Tracker
USA Today Gulf Oil Spill Map
The USA Today has an interactive map that gets updated regularly with oil spill locations and data. It also is animated so that you can see how the oil spill has grown and moved.
View oil spill map
CNN Florida Oil Spill Tracker
CNN has a simple, animated map that shows the oil spill flow and growth in the Gulf and helps you get an idea of how close the oil spill is to Panama City Beach.
View CNN Florida oil spill tracker
NOLA Oil Spill Tracker
The NOLA website shows a daily map of the oil spill in the Gulf and how it has changed since the incident.
View NOLA oil spill trackerPCB Daily – Great resource with local videos showing current conditions.
Daily updates
Also, if you have seen any oil on the beaches in Panama City Beach, FL then please share what you’ve seen or smelled in the comments section below!
