Southwest Florida’s Beaches to Remain Oil-Free and Open for Business

As published in The News Press Homeseeker July 17, 2010

By D. Michael Burke

The latest projections all agree on one thing: Southwest Florida is unlikely to see any oil on their beaches from the BP oil spill. All of the beaches are reporting in that they are oil-free, and it looks like they will stay that way – according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, there is less than a one percent chance that any oil will end up within 20 miles of Southwest Florida’s beaches.

My point is, things are looking very, very good for Southwest Florida. Many residents and homebuyers coming to the area have been paying close attention to news on the spill, hoping that our beaches would be spared. Although we were fairly certain they would be, the NOAA report was still a welcome relief.

The NOAA’s technical report on the impact of the oil spill on the nearby coastline, released at the beginning of the month, projects the movement of the oil using what we already know about local ocean currents and wind patterns. The historical data for the area enabled the NOAA to calculate the likelihood that oil would end up in the vicinity of the surrounding beaches. For the purposes of the study, it was assumed that coming within 20 miles of the shoreline would affect the beaches in that area, so that was basically the same as the oil being "on" the beach.

Southwest Florida had the lowest risk: With less than a one percent chance that oil would come within a 20 mile radius of our beaches, it is a pretty sure bet that our beaches will remain oil free. Additionally, the NOAA says that on the slim chance that any oil would make it here, it would have degraded so much by this point that it would be in semi-solid form, making it pretty easy to clean up.

Other parts of Florida aren’t so lucky. Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and the Florida Keys are much worse off, as they fall into the category with a 61 to 80 percent risk of contaminated beaches. A large section of Louisiana shoreline falls into the same risk category.

The worst category, which carries an 81 to 100 percent risk, is the northern shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico, covering Alabama, Georgia, parts of Louisiana, and the very tip of the Florida Panhandle. Reports of oil along this stretch of shoreline have already been coming in, and the NOAA doesn’t expect that to change any time soon.

That’s why, here in Southwest Florida, we are thanking our lucky stars that we have been spared so far, and that it looks like we will continue to be. We have more than a dozen major beaches in Lee and Collier Counties – popular spots such as Bonita Beach, Naples Pier, and Barefoot Beach – and all of them are reporting in as oil-free and open for business.

If you are planning to buy or sell a home in Lee and Collier Counties, and you are concerned about how the BP oil spill is likely to impact the area, please don’t hesitate to give me a call. I am happy to provide you with all of the recent findings regarding the oil’s movement in the Gulf. My friend Sharon Merchant (www.SharonMerchant.com), whom I have mentioned before as a resource on the subject, can also provide information on Southwest Florida’s low risk of oil contamination. Please feel free to contact either one of us with your concerns!

D. Michael Burke, P.A. Keller Williams Elite Realty
Michael@CoconutPointRealEstate.com / www.CoconutPointRealEstate.com