Sarasota - Bradenton Beaches are Still Pristine

Sarasota and Manatee County Florida beaches, including those from Anna Maria Island and Bradenton, through Sarasota, with its Island Keys including Longboat, Siesta, Lido, and Casey Key, and south to Venice and Nokomis remain untouched, clean and as pristine as ever. Sarasota - Bradenton area waterfront properties and beachfront communities are untouched and remain as attractive to owners and investors as ever.

On August 4, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast that what few patches of oil in the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig 130 miles southeast of New Orleans, remain well to the south and west of Florida.

No oil has been observed on the Florida coast for several weeks and it was reported today at a White House briefing that the "static kill" process to seal is working as expected with no oil escaping into the Gulf. British Petroleum, under the direction of Thad Allen, a retired Coast Guard admiral and director of the federal goverment's response began the static kill yesterday. After pumping heavy drilling mud aqll day yesterday, BP and U.S. officals reported that the well remains sealed. Federal officials including spill response commander Allen, continue to insist that crews shove more mud and cement down through the 18,000-foot relief well, which should be completed shortly, as the final step to permanently seal the well.

Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident. They reported that no recoverable oil has been seen through over-flights of the spill area since July 31. Satellite data analysis showed a few small scattered anomalies offshore but no new Florida shorelines are expected to be impacted at any time in the foreseeable future.

All Florida beaches are now open. NOAA announced this week that its latest analysis shows Southern Florida, the Florida Keys, and the East Coast are unlikely to experience any effects at all from the little oil remaining on the surface of the Gulf.

Only in the most northwestern-most Panhandle areas of the state have a few tar balls and light sheen been reported. Nonetheless, as a precaution, five state-leased skimmers remain on standby in that area to protect sensitive inland water bodies and all supplemental Tier 3 booms are being removed and stored in the area in the unlikely case they are needed at some point in the future.

For those with questions, the Florida Oil Spill Information Line (FOSIL) is available from 8am-6pm EDT daily.

•English – (888) 337-3569
•TDD – (800) 955-8771 / Voice – (800) 955-8770
•Spanish – (877) 955-8773

If you have been concerned about how the Gulf oil spill might affect your vacation plans or your interest in investing in a Sarasota area home or condominium on the waterfront, or close to our gorgeous beaches, rest assured. Our pristine beach communities and waterfront properties from Anna Maria Island and Bradenton to the north, through Sarasota, with its Island Keys including Longboat, Siesta, Lido, and Casey Key, and south to Venice and Nokomis have been untouched and remain as attractive to visitors and investors as ever.

Been wondering when would be the best time to buy that greater Sarasota Florida area home or condominium you've been dreaming of owning ? Well, right now is the time, so "Come On Down."