Since then, Kennon may as well be an accountability czar for BP, pushing for bigger beach cleanup efforts, faster settlement of claims and larger marketing budgets to bring visitors back to Alabama’s Gulf Coast. When BP completed a major cleaning of the beach, Kennon made sure it was done right by having city workers put a 12-inch auger on the back of a John Deere tractor and drill 10,000 holes, 4 feet deep, looking for any evidence of oil.
With the beaches clean, business owners are optimistic tourism will bounce back. The city has already seen plenty of snowbirds and spring breakers so far this season, Kennon says. “[But] if we don’t have a good summer, then this off season will be devastating.”