SoWal Scene - South Walton County, Florida Blog

Rip currents, drownings and Red Flags in South Walton - The Danger is Real, Folks

Tropical Storm Edouard (video), like all tropical systems that form in the Gulf of Mexico every year, create a very dangerous situation on the beaches along the Emerald Coast - rip currents.  In the last week since the storm formed and moved ashore in Texas, five tourists have drown in Panama City Beach - two of which had been warned by authorities not to enter the water - double red flags were flying - but who chose not to listen and lost their lives because of it. 

In South Walton county, thank Jesus no one has drown recently but many have had to be rescued, most recently, according to the Walton Sun (see article below), yesterday when two got caught in a current at WaterSound, another at Sandestin who had to be life-flighted to Pensacola as she was close to death from drowning and three others who faced similar peril around South Walton.  Double red or red flags had been flying in all instances.

It is important for visitors to know, though, that there doesn't even have to be a tropical system to create rip currents.  Over the Memorial Day weekend, for example, 60+ swimmers who found themselves caught in rip currents had to be pulled to safety in Bay, Walton and Okaloosa counties and two tourists - a 20-year old and a 15-year old - drown.  I have posted on this before (see Related Posts below) and I will continue to post about it because everyone needs to know that the danger is very real and can, as we have seen over and over and over, end up in a tragedy I cannot begin to fathom having to deal with if it were my child, husband, wife, mother, brother, father, grandmother ...... who died because they didn't follow rules - rules meant to protect the very thing they lost - their lives.

So, here once again is critical information - for locals as a reminder, and visitors because we want to equip you with what you need so you can be safe while here with us on your vacation.  Please follow the rules, folks.

• Check the current beach conditions HERE
• Beach Safety Tips and Information HERE

Related Posts:

• What Do You Think?  Swimming on Double Red Flag Days
• 50+ swimmers pulled from Gulf rip currents so far this holiday weekend. Tragically, one tourist drowns.

Related Articles:

South Walton Environmental & Low-impact Living Meeting Tonight

South Walton Environmental & Low-impact Living (SWELL)
Monday, July 14, 2008, 6:00 pm at the Simple Faith Church on CR 395 in Seagrove Beach, FL
Directions:  Simple Faith Church is located in Seagrove Beach, just north of the intersection of 395 and 30A, next to the Seagrove Village Market. Please feel free to bring your own snacks and NA beverages.

Overview of the event: There will be a couple of things happening this evening.  The first is a movie, The Future We Will Create: Inside the World of TED .  TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) has been called the “hottest gathering in the world”  by WIRED Magazine.  Future We Will Create is an exhilarating behind-the-scenes tour of this stimulating and paradigm-shifting meeting of the minds–an annual conference where theoretical physicists, 11-year-old violin prodigies and venture capitalists present and exchange bold new ideas that will change everything. 

Attendees are encourage people to come prepared to share your ideas and passions.  Feel free to bring books, magazines, DVDs, music, any resource that somehow provided inspiration, hope, or new insight into envisioning and creating a better world that you would like to share with others.

If you find yourself interested in the following things,  join us:

• Sustainable land use and construction practices
• Harmonious living between human and natural communities
• Creation and preservation of beauty
• Socially and environmentally conscious action

SWELL meets once a month at different locations in South Walton to appreciate each others’ company and provide a place for conversation about creating an abundant future.

For more information, if you would like to be included on the SWELL email list, send an email to: chandra@cfhdesignstudio.com

Some Videos about South Walton for Your Viewing Pleasure

Courtesy of YouTube.com.  Enjoy!

[ 4th of July 2008 at Bud & Alley's Rooftop Bar in Seaside ]

[ Photography in Seaside ]

[ Hibiscus Coffee & Guesthouse in Grayton Beach ]

[ The Sounds of Grayton Beach ]

SoWal Scene List of 5 - 5 Not-So-Obvious Things to Do to Prepare for Hurricane Season

It's official - we have our first "major" Atlantic hurricane of the 2008 Hurricane Season - Hurricane Bertha. 

Thankfully, as most living on the coast know as we hawkishly follow this information from June to November, it's headed away from the Gulf of Mexico and the Eastern seaboard but still threatens lonely, isolated Bermuda. 

From the National Hurricane Center, the latest data:  "AT 500 AM AST...0900Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.4 NORTH ... LONGITUDE 53.3 WEST OR ABOUT 675 MILES...1085 KM...EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS AND ABOUT 1035 MILES...1660 KM...SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA."

It's an extremely emotional mind play we on the coast have to go through every year.  When there is a monster looming out there in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic ocean and you find out it's shifted course and no longer headed your way, somewhere in your moments of cheering over the fact that you know your ass is going to be saved, the realization creeps in - while you're celebrating your good fortune and thanking your lucky stars - your neighbor or some other coastal region is about to have their world turned upside down.  Living here during the nutty 2004 hurricane season when Ivan destroyed much in Pensacola and the tragic 2005 season that produced Katrina, I can now wrap my mind around just how serious hurricanes are.  So yes, I'm glad it's you Bermuda and not me but damn, I feel a lot of guilt admitting that.

Regardless, as the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and Hurricane Preparedness is pounded into the psyche of coastal and island dwellers. Strangely, though, I would say the majority don't act until we are directly threatened. (See the poll below).  Is it because we know if it's the "big one" there is nothing we could do that will save us?  Or maybe wishful thinking - like if collectively we don't prepare, somehow we will be spared?  Or do most of us just leave so we know we don't need to stock up on supplies?  I don't know - but I am one of those that waits until we are under the gun to take serious action.

Hurricane Bertha has inspired me to start thinking about the "what ifs" and the things that I need to do to prepare.  For a great list of obvious preparedness reminders, visit the NOAA's website on how to prepare.  As someone that has had to evacuate several times through the years, here is what I feel are 5 important maybe not-so-obvious things to do to prepare for hurricane season.   As always, add your own wisdom and tips in the comment section below.

Breaking South Walton News - Stranded Mother Whale and Baby on Beach at Beachfront Condos in Seagrove

Just in from JD Johnson of Beach to Bayou Property Inspection - a stranded whale was discovered this morning by a member of the South Walton Turtle Watch who was making their daily early morning walk looking for sea turtle nests.  The whale is located in front of Beachfront condos in Lakewood neighborhood in Seagrove Beach.

It appears this is the mother, and there is a stranded calf further west on the beach.  Volunteers were keeping the whale wet, at the instruction of Fish and Wildlife, and awaiting their arrival, as well as that of a representative from Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach.   Stay tuned for more information.

UPDATE...................................
source: Pauline Sutcliffe-Walton Sun | July 5, 2008

Mother whale and calf beach themselves after shark attack
Beach walkers at Lakewood beach entrance found two pygmy sperm whales, a female and her calf, beached Friday morning. Here's a personal accounty of the drama from Seacrest resident Pauline Sutcliffe.

"Mom whale and young calf were picked up by Gulf World shortly after I took these photos and it was established the calf was about a year old.  MORE...

Welcome to the Beaches of South Walton, Dear Tourists!

Wow!  Driving around today, it's almost as if overnight our population has quadrupled!  Traffic on Hwy 331 S, Hwy 98 and Scenic 30A was at a standstill at certain places.  I don't know if there was a parking spot available at Publix at WaterColor Crossing - it sure didn't look like it so I decided to postpone my trip until tomorrow morning.  The 4th of July holiday is historically one of the top 3 busiest times of year in South Walton and it is a relief to see so many visitors.  No one could predict what our season had in store for us with the state of economy where it's at.  Numbers aren't in but I think we'll fare well this year.  And all these folks in town is great news for all businesses in our area. Yeah!

Let me be one of the first to welcome all of you visiting our beautiful beaches!  We are really glad you are here.  Here are just a few gentle reminders - for both locals and tourists - as we all dive into a 4th of July week of fun in the sand, surf and sun.

• Mind the Beach Flag System
  The flags on our beaches inform you of what the current "risk" is to swim in the Gulf.  Rip currents are prevalent here and every year, tragically people are pulled out far from shore and drown because they don't mind the flag system (read more) and don't know how to navigate out of a rip current.  When in doubt or if you are swimming in water more than knee deep, it's a good idea to swim with a flotation device.  Green means low hazard/calm conditions.  Yellow means Medium Hazard and Moderate Surf/Currents.  Red means High Hazard and High Surf and/or Currents - don't enter the water.  Double Red means it's so dangerous, the water is closed to swimmers.  Purple means Marine Pests are present (right now, it's Jellyfish).
• Leave No Trace at the beach
  Our beaches are some of the most beautiful and pristine in the world.  Did you know the Beaches of South Walton is the only destination in the country to have all 26 miles of coastline certified as "Blue Wave"?  Everyone needs to pitch in to keep it this way by making sure, when you leave the beach, you remove every single item that you brought there with you.  Do not leave garbage of any sort behind.  And I know - lugging a truckload of beach chairs, toys, tents, towels and coolers to the beach is a real pain in the butt.  Lugging it all back home after a long day in the sun and surf sucks even more.  But it's your responsibility to remove it all.  And fill those holes you dig, too, please!
• Help The Sea Turtles
  Did you know we have several types of turtles that use our beaches to nest every year?  This is their nesting season and when we dig big holes and don't fill them or leave chairs and toys scattered on the beach, they sometimes can't navigate around this stuff and they don't nest.  Keep in mind, too, they are endangered species so they need us to be good stewards. 
• You Have Arrived - You can Slow Down
  There is a sign in Grayton Beach that says this which I appreciate every time I drive by.  It reminds me we are headed to the beach and it's time to switch into relaxation mode and leave the office and bills at home.  There is no need to rush when you are in paradise.  There is no need to get huffy if you have to wait - in line, for a table, at a stop sign... You have arrived - relax, smile, be happy.

Plastic, real estate and how they compute?

Posted by contributing Real Estate Blogger, Bert Summerville-Kain

When I was a young child, during a rainy day, I would sit on the hardwood floor of the cozy little kitchen we had, and set up the black and white dominoes like tiny soldiers in one continuous line.  Sometimes the line would be curvy and sometimes I would make it as straight as an arrow.  Then after I had put the last domino from the box at the end of the line, I would stand up, make a quick observation of my work of art, and slowly proceed to lightly tap the first domino.  The individual domino would begin to fall, catching the next in line and then that would tap the next and within seconds, a rhythmic chain of falling dominoes would delight my eyes.

Okay, I know you are all wondering what do dominoes, plastic and real estate have in common? 

Living on this beautiful piece of land with the Gulf of Mexico to the south and the Choctawhatchee Bay to the north is, in my estimation, a privilege.  Everyday, we have the ability to observe the natural beauty of this Earth and the added bonus is that our homes and land have a significant monetary value, far above many other parts of the World, which I am going to call my domino number THREE.  Daily, there are new groups of people visiting this area for the first time, and those mesmerized individuals, immediately fall in love with our spit of land.  Many visitors will purchase while they are here, and more come back to find their perfect spot, these are who I call my domino number TWO.

Please stay with me, because it really does come together...............I walk the beaches quite frequently from my home in Seaside to the Grayton State Park where many mornings I will find "treasures", such as  a Mermaid's Purse, a newly built turtles nest, or a glimpse of the dolphins playfully gliding through the water. 

However, more often, my eyes fall upon PLASTIC.  I call this my domino number ONE.  Plastic toys, plastic glasses, plastic bottles, and plastic bags which have all been lazily and carelessly discarded at the water's edge.  If you haven't given much thought about the consequences of misuse and the negligent disposal of this wonderful invention, please take a look at the following link:

http://www.acfnewsource.org/environment/plastic_plankton.html

It made me stop to realize that the various actions we take on this earth are like the motion set in place with the domino set that I used to place so carefully on the kitchen floor.  If we allow the PLASTIC to fall into our water, or overtake our beautiful beaches, it will then push the next domino to reject our area, and that pushes the value of our land, the last domino to tumble. 

I have been so upset about this that I have decided to try and make a difference.  Now, when I get up and walk the beaches every morning, I have a garbage bag in tow, and hope that I might be able to create a large space between the negative dominoes of the world.  I am challenging others to take notice, and be proactive.  WE all can make a difference in maintaining our earth and property values. 

Although I am not an environmentalist, I am a concerned Republican passenger on this spaceship called Earth. 

Bert Summerville-Kain is a Realtor® with Destin Real Estate Company on Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach.  Visit her website at www.beachhouseproperties.com.

Trial Recycling Program Coming to South Walton County!

I got an email from Bridgette Lowe-Stringfellow of Dancing With Life Studio about a curbside recycling program that will start in South Walton this fall.  I've added the article from the NW Florida Daily News she sent me below - click on it to make it larger. 

This is such great news!  When we first moved to the Emerald Coast, I couldn't believe there was no formal recycling program in force.  Every place we had lived had one - it was really bizarre to see people not recycle.  Rejoice - there is progress in this department for South Walton, first with the blue bag program and now this trial program.  Lets feel honored they have chosen South Walton as their initial test location!  We must all start to recycle now, to get used to it now, so that when the trial program starts, they will deem it a success and keep it going.  And for Godsake - do not use the blue bags for regular garbage as I've heard people have been doing.  Be responsible and be green.  They are making it easy for us to do!

Related Post - SoWal Scene List of 5: Living Green in South Walton

What Do You Think?

Ooooh K - went to fill up today and paid a staggering $4.199/gallon.  I have to put in premium gas but still, I put $35 bucks and it only gave me a little under 1/2 tank!  OUCH.  It got me interested in hearing how the gas prices have affected, or haven't affected, day-to-day life for people out there.  Cast a vote and add a comment!

Added comment - please excuse all the typos in the poll below - a copy editor I am not <grin>. 

What do you think?

The public vs. private beach controversy is back in the spotlight - this time over the "Leave No Trace" ordinance.  Started a year ago, it gives the county authority to remove any personal items left on public beaches after dark, and on private beaches, the owners of the items are left a warning, all in an effort to protect the environment and sea turtle nesting.  Private beach owners are claiming they own the land to the water and should be able to leave whatever they want on their private property.  What do you think?

Related post: Leave No Trace

What do you think? Swimming on Double Red Flag Days

South Walton Life Guards have performed a record number of rescuses in the Gulf so far this season and tragically, two have drown this year.  What do you think?  Should people be ticketed if they enter the Gulf on Double Red Flag Days?

Related Article:

Five years after Black Sunday
Better beach safety in place today, rescuers say
Robbyn Brooks | June 6, 2008 | NW Florida Daily News (story here)

Shalyn Cuadrado loved the beach.

On June 8, 2003, the former lifeguard from Louisiana left the sand and entered the Gulf of Mexico to try and save a young boy in distress. She, along with seven others, didn't survive the surf conditions that day.

(Junior) Lifeguard program aims to create generation of safety awareness

Sean Boone | Walton Sun

The South Walton Fire District begins its first ever Junior Lifeguard Program on June 17 – training children from ages 9-15 the fundamentals of being safe and aware on the water.

“Safety education starts with the kids,” said SWFD Beach Safety Coordinator Gary Wise. Wise said if the younger generation can learn such things as the beach flag system and how to find a dangerous rip current in the water, there won’t be as many people getting in the water when they shouldn’t.
He noted this year’s Memorial Weekend, when more people were rescued than the entire 2007 season, as a clear indication of how important it was for school children to learn proper beach safety and teach it to their parents and friends.

“It brings a new awareness level,” he said. “If we start with the kids, we won’t have so many people coming into the area that don’t understand (the safety warnings).”

The program will be held at the Ed Walline Beach Access every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through July 31. Participants will be taught such things as CPR, rescues and how to make quick safety decisions that a real lifeguard would have to make in an emergency situation.

As of Wednesday there were 18 available spots left for the program.

Tryouts are being held June 7 at 9 a.m. at Ed Walline. An applicant, depending on their age, must meet a certain time and distance requirement to be admitted to the program.

Wise said there is a possibility for a trip to the U.S. Life Saving Association’s (USLA) Southeast Junior Regional Competition in Fort Lauderdale on Aug. 2.

The cost of the program is $325, but the SWFD is still seeking sponsors for such things as rescue boards. Contact the SWFD Beach Safety Division at 850-267-1298 for signup information.

Sea Turtle Nesting Alert!!

While listening to NPR this morning on the daily drive to school, I was so excited to hear that another Loggerhead turtle nest had been found on Panama City Beaches!  This is the second in PCB that has been found - the first was discovered at Carillon Beach on May 28.  In South Walton, two nest have been found this year, both at Deer Lake State Park - one on May 13, and another on May 25.  Amazing!

I am making an assumption here, but I don't think most know that the Loggerhead, Kemps Ridley and the Green Sea turtle nest on the local beaches every year, from around May 1 to October 31.  We are incredibly fortunate to be witness to this.  The Loggerhead, Kemps Ridley and Green Sea turtles are "threatened species" and it is our duty to act as responsible stewards - to protect and advocate for these ancient, beautiful creatures.  Some more info from TurtleWatch.org (Panama City Beach's Turtle Watch Group) and SeaTurtleWatch.com (South Walton's Turtle Watch Group):

A full-grown loggerhead is about 3 ft long and weighs between 200 and 350 lb.  The females come ashore at night to bury about 100 leathery-skinned eggs, each the size of a ping-pong ball.  The nesting season officially runs from May 1 through October 31.  The first nests are laid near the end of May and the last in mid-August.  Hatchlings first emerge in late July, and hatching usually continues through October unless storms wash the nests away.

Female Sea Turtles that were born on the white sandy beaches always come back to nest on  white sandy beaches.  The sea turtles’ tracks on this sand show up differently than on other darker sand beaches. Because the sun reflects off this white sand the sand does not get as hot as darker beaches, this fact also effects sea turtles. The number of days it takes for the eggs to hatch are longer than on darker beaches and because the temperature of the sand effects the sex of the hatchlings, this means that these white sandy beaches produce more male sea turtle hatchlings. The fact that the ones hatched on these beaches come back makes it our duty to protect these wonderful creature in any way we can.  The Loggerhead sea turtle that has hatched on these white sandy beaches is a sub population of the worlds Loggerheads and there are not many left.  Sea turtles as a group have been on our earth since Dinosaur time.

My elation this morning quickly turned to irritation when I heard that the mama turtle at Carillon had to - get this - navigate through a bunch of beach chairs to find the right spot to lay her eggs.  GRRRRR..... 

I thought to myself at that moment that I'm going to channel my irritation into a positive action and have decided not only to join the South Walton Turtle Watch group, but to use this forum to educate locals and those that visit our beaches about the nesting season - and advocate for the turtles by trying to remind people over and over and over and over if I have to that it is of critical importance that we leave the beach the way we found it when we spend a day there. 

People, listen up:

• If you and your children spend an hour digging a hole to China, fill it when you tire of this exercise.
• Do not leave garbage of any sort behind.  Attention smokers, the beach is not one big ashtray.  Bring your own for godsake.
• I know - lugging a truckload of beach chairs, toys, tents, towels and coolers to the beach is a real pain in the butt.  Lugging it all back home after a long day in the sun and surf sucks even more.  But you made the decision to not pack lightly and therefore it's your responsibility to remove it all, regardless of how tired you are - period.  I don't care if the kids are cranky and you are sunburned - just do it!

What should you do if you encounter a sea turtle?

• Do not go near the turtle - hide if you have to!
• Do not take flash photos - you could scare her back into the water.
• Do not shine any kinds of light on her - again, you can spook her.

Immediately call the Florida Marine Patrol 24 Hour Hotline at (850) 233-5150 or Sharon Maxwell at (850) 897-5228.

If you would like to get involved, here are the links to the local Turtle Watch Groups:

• South Walton Sea Turtle Watch - www.seaturtlewatch.com
• Panama City Beach Turtle Watch - www.turtlewatch.org

How are you preparing for Hurricane Season 2008?

As most of us that live in coastal areas know, Hurricane Season 2008 officially started yesterday.  TS Arthur already soaked the Yucatan Peninsula a few days ago and forecasters are alerting us that once again, we should brace for an active season.  How are you preparing?  Cast your vote and share your comments with us.

Diachlorus ferrugatus (Fabricius) - Family Tabanidae

It's official - we have entered the most dreaded South Walton season in my book - yellow fly season.  In the last week, I have killed two of the lil' MFs - one riding on our bassett hound, Valerie's, back and one that had made its way into the kitchen at dinner time. 

I can't quite explain to those of you that have never experienced a yellow fly season - or bite - how horrible these biting flies actually are.  They are silent warriors - you don't hear a buzz of their wings - so they sneak up on you.  They are vicious predators - little kamikazes - and relentlessly dive bomb at you, usually toward your head and typically in a small pack.  It's a common yellow fly season practice for me to run down the street screaming and flailing my arms wildly when under siege while walking Valerie.  Poor Valerie - she always thinks she has done something wrong.

The absolute torture, though, is the bite of the yellow fly.  My toes and fingers have blown up to the size of small sausages.  When they bite you, you can feel their venom spreading out and the swelling take place.  And the itch - the itch is like no other insect bite itch I've experienced.  It is a torturous feels-so-good-but-hurts-so-bad itch.  It gets so intense for me at times that I have actually scratched the top layer of skin off in my sleep before. If you get bit, here are some things that may help (they have helped me):

1. Do anything you can to prevent yourself from itching right after being bit.  I have figured out that if I don't itch right after I've initially been bit, the bite doesn't swell that much and the itching actually disappears much quicker.  Ice, hydrocortisone cream, wine ... they all help.  YES, I know, this is an excruciatingly  difficult thing to do!  The alternative is you could develop elephantitis of the affected area - do you want that??
2. If you are able to (you don't have an allergy to or some other health issue), you could try an oral antihistamine as I've heard from friends they help.  I don't tolerate them well so I stick to the topical creams and sprays which work well for me. As with all medications, you should consult your doctor if you have questions and/or doubt.
3. Some people are just highly allergic or develop severe reactions to the bite of a yellow fly.  If you are experiencing disturbing symptoms - like trouble breathing or scary amounts of swelling - get to your doctor or nearest ER right away.  Better sometimes to be safe than sorry, you know?

Knowledge is power so I've read up on my enemy to refresh myself on how to deal with the impending battle.  There are preventative measures you can take - hanging black sticky balls in your yard, wearing light colored clothing, long sleeves and pants (and a face net?) when out at dawn and dusk, their peak time of feeding activity, staying away from shaded areas in swampy/wet environs, and wearing DEET-based bug sprays.  For those of you with interest, I have compiled some interesting facts below on the yellow fly and links to some informative websites.  Enjoy and ... good luck!