On April 20th in 2010, local beaches and residents experienced the worst environmental impact to the area in modern history. On this date 15 years ago the Deep Water Horizon oil rig exploded and began releasing millions of gallons into the Gulf, which eventually rode the waves and current to our shores.

The vision of the beach is still fresh in the minds of many locals.  Seeing Mayor Tony Kennon of Orange Beach on the national television news, then the videos and pictures of hundreds in white, full body outfits, cleaning the shoreline and animals for months. The local "aquatic militia" laid miles of oil booms but the slick of chemicals came into the bays and shoreline.

Resilience should be in the local motto of our communities. Just like after the many hurricanes, locals took charge and cleaned up the treasured coastal towns. Many sacrificed the boats, and some their health, as they became part of an army to rebuild the beauty of the Alabama coastline and the environmentally sensitive bays.

The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig is no longer functioning and sits an the seabed deep under the water's surface. But the beaches from Fort Morgan to Perdido Key have slowly come back to life.

Yes the Restore Act, which Congress passed to allocate penalties from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund for ecosystem restoration, provided money, but it was the resilient people along the coasts who truly bought the beaches back to life. 

While the date of the Horizon tragedy sometimes fade from the memory, we should always remember those locals who fought so hard to preserve the pristine beauty of the community. Thank You!