Businesses and people are suffering and struggling along the Gulf Coast because of the BP oil spill’s impact on the coastal areas. Hospitality, restaurants, gift / souvenir shops, amusement, water parks, site seeing, on-beach businesses, and definitely the fishing industry are feeling the effects everyday.

Each and every business interviewed in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama and the people who work there, regardless of the business type, has the same story. Their livelihood and businesses are being destroyed everyday this disaster continues. From the smallest restaurant or gift shop to the largest of the hospitality and seafood businesses, 40% – 80% and some, much more, of their normal business is gone. This is not just a bad day, week, or even a month’s business that is gone, this is happening every single day.

Their fear of unknown futures and their anger toward BP is well understood. When or if the tourists and business will return is one of the biggest questions they face everyday and night. How are they going to keep their businesses going? The people who work at the businesses, are depressed, worrying how will they support themselves, their families and keep their homes? Many of the businesses and families have been here for generations. This is all they know and have.

                 The business people reflect the same thoughts, but also emphasize how much more there is to do in the area. There is golf, water and amusement parks, parks, lakes, restaurants of every kind, and shops to enjoy. The General Manager of Waterville USA, John Tuberville said that people can bring the whole family to Waterville and spend the day. They have not only the water park, but also the amusement park. “One admission will get them into both areas and allow them full use of all the rides and the water park.”

The restaurants are all open and the seafood is safe to eat. Those that do not want seafood, there is an abundance of every kind of restaurant to choose.

“The seafood on our menu is brought in from the areas that are not affected by the oil spill. Our suppliers can supply us most of the seafood we order.” said Bert Scott, the Associate Manager of Wintzell’s Oyster House in Orange Beach, AL. Chris, who is a waiter at the restaurant said he is here working for the summer. “Business is slower than normal now. We are all hurting to make the money we usually make.”  The sentiment is felt by all of the waitresses and waiters, especially the ones working to support their families. One waitress at a local restaurant that did not want her name used, said she is afraid she is going to lose her house and car. “I have been here for years. What if I can’t feed my kids and give them someplace to live? The people need to know the beaches are good. It is not all bad like the tv and newspapers say.”

The tourists who are coming to this area are pleasantly surprised when they get to the beaches. They are not finding the areas like they have perceived and were led to believe they would find them. The people speak of seeing the bad effects of the oil spill being reported in the news. Very little is being reported of how various beach areas are clean and unaffected.

Jimmy Buffett gave a free concert to over 35,000 visitors to Gulf Shores on July 11^th. CMT broadcast the 90 minute event live on Country Music Television and CMT.com. After the regular broadcast time, Jimmy Buffett came back on stage and continued playing for almost another hour.

He and the other performers all volunteered their time to help the Gulf coast area and to raise their spirits in light of the oil spill crisis. For this one day, the oil spill did not seem to be the main thing on everyone’s mind. People, young and old alike, were able to come to the concert, relax and enjoy themselves. Promoters and organizers, afterward, said that there will likely be more concerts in the area to help the people and tourism industries along the Gulf coast.

Larry and Walina Kendrick of Nashville, TN brought their 5 and 9 years old children to the area for vacation. “We wanted to see what happened and also for our children to see the beaches.” Asked if they were concerned driving this far and not knowing what they would encounter, Mr. Kendrick said he went to the Meyer Real Estate website, (www.meyerre.com) to see the daily beach and area reports.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, (www.gulfshores.com) and many other area businesses are also posting daily written and video updates on the beach conditions.

Sarah Kuzma, Corporate Relations Director at Meyer Real Estate said they have a commitment to provide the actual conditions in their daily website updates, as well as video updates 5 days per week. “We have over 1700 properties, 1400 condos and 300 houses we manage. We are building relationships for the future and we want the guests to be pleased. We know that many of our people come back every year and we have to give everyone the best information we can on the conditions.” They are currently providing rental discounts of 40% on condos and 30% on houses. 

Regina Holman was visiting from Albany, GA. She brought her daughter and granddaughter here because they have been coming to the area for years. “I was shocked to see the beaches so nice. I don’t know if we picked a good day or what. All we saw in the news was all of the oil. There is nothing smelly and the beaches are great.” Ms. Holman said. They have been on the beach for two days looking for shells and playing. She said they are eating seafood everyday and are not worried about it.

People speak of how they walk the beaches and have no oil on their feet. A few scattered tarballs are seen in various places, but for the most part, these are the beaches they have known and been coming to for years. Dozens of people can be seen playing in the surf or at the waterline. Men, women, and children are laying or playing at the beach. Many say that if people knew this, there would be many more people here. One man, who chose not to identify himself, said the smaller crowds and discounts are really nice and helpful to his family budget, but unless people come here, there will not be any places for all of us to come to one day.

Nikki was walking the beach in Orange Beach, Alabama with her young son and daughter. She said; “We came to the beaches here to play and the beaches at home ( Pensacola) have too much oil on them for my children now.” As her eyed begin to water, she said; “I want my children to know the beach like I did when I was growing up. I want them to see the beach like it is now, not like I am afraid it may be one day.”

People can still go to the seafood processors and plants like those in nearby Bon Secour and buy the shrimp and oysters they have always bought and take them home. The prices have understandably gone up on some seafood. How much of a price increase depends on what type seafood you are buying. One man at a local seafood retail counter said the money he saved with his condo rental discount, he can easily make up for the little increase of the seafood prices. “I am buying a few extra pounds of shrimp than what I planned to take home.” He looked around sheepishly at his wife; “Actually, I am buying about ten extra pounds.”    

The boats and fisherman now have to travel hundreds of miles farther to safely catch the shrimp and seafood they once caught locally.

John Nelson, VP of Bon Secour Fisheries, Inc said the whole oil spill situation is tragically hurting the industry. His business, like every other fishery, is down dramatically. The public perception that seafood is not safe to eat is just not true. The fishing boats that are not part of the Vessels of Opportunity Program with BP are going hundreds of miles away to get the seafood that was once caught in local waters. Boats are going to the waters off Florida and Texas. “The seafood being caught now is very safe. The inspection process is stronger now than before the spill.”  When asked how it is affecting his employees and business. “We are working shorter days now. Hopefully, we will not have to start layoffs.”