Situation Update·       Navarre Beach and Santa Rosa’s entire coastline is open.  Two links to live Web cams on Navarre Beach are available at www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill.·       The oil plume is more than 75 miles from Florida and no oil impacts are expected upon any part of the Florida coastline within the next 72 hours.

·       According to the NOAA oil plume model, the oil spill is 75 miles southwest of Pensacola, 140 miles from Port St. Joe, and 270 miles from St. Petersburg.    

·       ·       NOAA has released a description of the potential forms the oil may take over time as it weathers and degrades; its chemical makeup; its hazards to humans and the environment, especially on beaches and land; and the most likely effective cleanup protocols. For more information visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill, under the Fact Sheet and Q & A heading.·       NOAA's latest observations indicate that a small portion of the oil slick has reached the Loop Current in the form of light to very light sheens.  In the time it would take for oil to travel to the vicinity of the Florida Straits, any oil would be highly weathered and both the natural process of evaporation and the application of chemical dispersants would reduce the oil volume significantly. However, the oil may get caught in a clockwise eddy in the middle of the gulf, and not be carried to the Florida Straits at all. Oil entrained in the Loop Current would require persistent onshore winds or an eddy on the edge of the Loop Current for it to reach the Florida shoreline. If this were to occur, the weathered and diluted oil would likely appear in isolated locations in the form of tar balls.·       Tarballs were reported found at Navarre Beach Park today. The items found were pieces of asphalt, NOT tarballs Pieces of asphalt are not uncommon on Navarre Beach from roads and parking lots destroyed by previous hurricanes. ·       Oil on Florida’s coastline will most likely be in the form of tar balls, oil sheen, tar patches or mats. To learn more visit  For more information visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill, under the Fact Sheet and Q & A heading.·       In 2008 and 2009 there were 667 and 681 reports respectively of oil and petroleum incidents along Florida’s waterways and beaches so these types of occurrences are not as unusual as one might think. Specifically in the Florida Keys (Monroe County) there were 53 incidents in 2008 and 72 incidents in 2009 of oil and petroleum products being reported in their coastal waters. o         It is important that residents and visitors await confirmation of the testing on these tar balls before assuming where they came from.·       The public is reminded that ALL suspected sightings of oil substances from the spill should be reported directly to the oil sighting hotline at 1-866-448-5816.  Do not pick the substance up. When reporting to the hotline, please be ready to provided detailed sighting information, including a description and an address or prominent landmarks.·       Spill responders are asking for the public’s help in monitoring boom along the Gulf Coast. Boaters are requested to report sightings of broken, disconnected, or adrift boom; and encouraged to keep their distance from boom especially at night and in conditions of restricted visibility.  Report damaged, vandalized, adrift, or stolen boom to 1-866-448-5816. ·       Santa Rosa County and the State of Florida continue to make preparations to safeguard the state’s shoreline.·       In order to condense our updates, older information that is still valid including tips, links, training schedules and other information for business and residents, are now available at www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill. BP Claims·       To serve the residents of Santa Rosa County, BP opened a claims office in Midway on Friday, May 14. The office is located at 5668 Gulf Breeze Parkway Unit B-9 in Gulf Breeze. Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. o        BP recommends anyone with a claim to call 1-800-440-0858 to help expedite the process. By calling the claims number, adjusters at the claims office will have the information prior to your visit. o        The office is located at: BP Claims Office 5668 Gulf Breeze Pkwy Unit B-9 Gulf Breeze, FL 32563·       Most Common Types of BP Claims in Santa Rosa County:o        Wage loss§         Shrimper: loss of income§         Fisherman: loss of income§         Charters: loss of income·       BP claims in Florida: 1,680 / approximately $688,639 paido        Wage Loss: 765 claims/ $225,160o        Loss of Income:§         Commercial: 162 claims/ $36,249§         Business Interruption: 66 claims/ $17,900§         Shrimper: 68 claims/ $163,750§         Fisherman: 175 claims/ $112,999§         Oyster Harvester: 1 claim/ $2,500§         Crabber: 4 claims/ $5,000§         Recreational Fisherman: 2 claims/ $5,000§         Rental Property: 232 claims/ $12,280§         Charters: 129 claims/ $106,120§         Maintenance Co: 4 claims/ $1,680 Fishing·       On May 18, NOAA modified and expanded the boundaries of the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico into the northern portion of the loop current as a precautionary measure to ensure that seafood from the Gulf will remain safe for consumers. The closure affects commercial and recreational fishing in the oil-affected area in the Gulf of Mexico.  Learn more at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/bulletins/pdfs/2010/FB10-040_BP_Oil_Spill_Closure_051810.pdf. ·       The fisheries, wildlife and seafood off of Florida’s coast in state waters are safe and there are no alerts at this time. ·       The recreational red snapper season in the Gulf will remain closed until June 1. For more information on red snapper management rules and research efforts, go to MyFWC.com/Rules; click on “Fishing – Saltwater.”·       The FWC reminds Floridians and visitors that the state’s recreational and commercial fisheries have not been impacted by the oil spill and remain open for public enjoyment and commerce. Florida saltwater fishing regulations remain in effect as usual and are available online at MyFWC.com/Fishing.·         Modeling and mapping the actual and projected spill area is not an exact science. NOAA Fisheries Service strongly advises fishermen not to fish in areas where oil or oil sheens (very thin layers of floating oil) are present, even if those areas are not currently closed to fishing.·         Details can be found at:  http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/     Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Business Survey #3·       Florida emergency management and economic development staff are continuing to gather information from businesses impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  Survey #3, in now available until May 22.  The surveys continue to provide crucial information that will help shape Florida's response to this event.  The survey is updated periodically, so please check back, as your specific situation and information may change.·       The survey can be found at www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill or  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y5WGZR7.  Small Business Disaster Loans Available·       Governor Crist announced Friday that the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved disaster loan funds for businesses along Florida’s Gulf coast that have been impacted by the Deepwater Horizon incident.o        SBA representatives opened a disaster loan office on Tuesday, May 18 at the Navarre Visitor Information Center located at 8543 Navarre Parkway (U.S. Hwy 98) in Navarre. Hours of operations will be 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday- Saturday until further notice.o        More information can be found at: www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/SERV_DISASTERASSISTANCEGOV.htmlBooming Stats·       An estimated 214,800 feet of boom has been placed out of the Pensacola and Panama City staging areas in support of Unified Command.·       Florida staging areas have approximately 27,250 feet staged.·       Maps of the U.S. Coast Guard’s booming strategy, including overall locations and a priority listing, are available online at www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill. ·       To view the Coast Guard Sector Mobile Area Contingency Plan, visit http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ACP/MOBACP/StartHere.html Vessels of Opportunity (boats) program·       BP is looking to contract shrimp boats, oyster boats and other vessels for hire through the Vessel of Opportunities Program to deploy boom in the Gulf of Mexico. For more information 907-301-8878.·       128 out of 454 contracts have been activated for the Vessels of Opportunity program in Florida.·       Submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system: (281) 366-5511 BP Training ·       New classes for the Wildlife Recovery and Rehabilitation Module 3 training have been added. An updated schedule and description of all current training opportunities is available at www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill. ·       The online training for Wildlife Recovery and Rehabilitation Paraprofessionals is available online at https://www.2.virtualtrainingassistant.com/BPPublic/wc.dll?learner~cmenu.  Important Phone Numbers·       Florida Oil Spill Information Line- 1-888- 337-3569 ·       Fraud Hotline- 1-866-966-7226.·       Submit Alternative Response Technology Services & Products- email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 1-281-366-5511·       Report Oiled Wildlife- 1-866-557-1401 ·       Report Oil Sightings- 1-866-448-5816. General Safety Information

• www.santarosa.fl.gov
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• The Santa Rosa County Citizen Information Line at (850) 983-INFO or 4636 is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.