[From the Northwest Florida Daily News, Sept. 20, Ft. Walton: Navigational Aids Status]

In the meantime, the Coast Guard has established a 500-foot security zone around all barrier islands from the Florida-Alabama state line to Destin Pass, about 50 miles east of Pensacola, to try to keep recreational boaters and rubberneckers away.
Gordon’s crews have checked more than 40 navigational aids so far; dozens are offstation — meaning some buoys eventually will have to be towed back into place.
"It’ll take three or four more days to finish surveying," Gordon says. "To repair it? We have no idea."
Gordon skims along the coastline while his crewmate, Ryan Pritchett, punches coordinates into the computer. All the while, both men peer intently into the murky waters, on the lookout for debris.
Gordon turns the boat east, heading into the sound off Santa Rosa Island. A two-mile stretch known as "Live Oak Park," oncepristine white sands, are bathed in splintered remains of the storm: a boat, latticework off a house, chairs, bedding.
"The only thing that was there were trees," says Gordon. "Everything that you see on the beach came from Santa Rosa Island."
Gordon heads into an inlet to take a close-up look at Pensacola Beach, which has remained closed to residents since Ivan struck.