Situation Update

·       Navarre Beach and Santa Rosa's entire coastline is open for swimming and fishing. Two links to live Web cams on Navarre Beach are available at www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill under the "Links for Visitors" tab.

·       There are currently no swimming or fishing restrictions on Navarre Beach or anywhere in Santa Rosa County.

·       Today, July 19, no new tar balls were reported on Navarre Beach.

·       Isolated impacts are expected in Northwest Florida over the next 72 hours.

·       The NOAA oil plume model shows the oil plume 85 miles from Pensacola, and 130 miles from Panama City. Trajectory forecasts show scattered tar ball fields that are already near shore may be carried onshore along the Panhandle coast.

·       A clean up team of 40 is scheduled to work on Navarre Beach Park tonight, July 19.

·       A tropical wave in the Central Caribbean and a tropical wave in the Southwest Atlantic have a 20 percent chance for development in the next 48 hours.

·       A myth is circulating regarding a methane gas bubble that could cause a tsunami, impacting Florida. Tsunamis are unlikely to occur as a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident. These rumors involve the naturally occurring methane beneath the seafloor in the Macondo Discovery, which is the petroleum reservoir into which the Deepwater Horizon production was drilled. Science does not support the notion of a methane-induced tsunami resulting from the Deepwater Horizon activities. However, while the possibility of an induced tsunami is extremely remote, the Department of Environmental Protection continues to take all concerns seriously and is consulting with experts in all related scientific fields. For more information visit the DEP fact sheet located at www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill under the "Fact Sheets Q&A" tab or at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/files/methane_fact_sheet.pdf.

·       The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that as of July 18, 601 applications were issued and 33 loans for over $3.5 million have been approved to assist Florida business owners affected by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

·       All birds released from rehabilitation receive identification bands in order to help provide identifying information to assist federal scientists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey and other organizations in studying these birds after release. Three colors of leg bands are being used: orange bands with no identification numbers or letters, red bands with identifying numbers and letters, and pink bands with identifying numbers and letters. Individuals are asked to report banded bird sightings to the National Bird Banding Lab at http:www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/default.htm.  

·       Pensacola Pass as well as Perdido Pass will continue to be closed with the tide to reduce the amount of oil from entering inland waters. These waterways are manned to allow access to necessary vessel traffic during low tide.

·       In order to expedite responses to oiled wildlife, please contact the oiled wildlife hotline at 1-866-557-1401 if oiled wildlife is spotted. Qualified personnel will respond to the report. Please do not touch or try and clean oiled wildlife.

·       Citizens are asked not to have direct contact with oil and oil contaminated products such as tar balls, tar patties, tar mats, and oil sheen. Only qualified members should handle oil products and oil contaminated materials. To report tar or oil on the beach, call the Florida State Warning Point Line at 1-877-272-8335 or # DEP from a cell phone.

 

Health

For more information visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill under the "Health" tab.

·       July 15 water sampling by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection showed no petroleum-related contaminants at the Navarre Beach fishing pier or at Navarre Beach West. Two water samples were taken today, July 19, and there are two water samples per day planned for Thursday, July 22. Results will be available at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/water.htm#counties.

·       July 15 water testing by the University of West Florida showed no dissolved petroleum hydrocarbons above what is normal at Navarre Beach Pier and Santa Rosa Island.

·       Air quality reports for July 11 revealed that air quality was considered good for ozone and fine particulate concentrations in the panhandle. "Good" means the air quality is satisfactory and air pollution poses little or no risk.

 

Santa Rosa County Actions

For more information view the Situation Report and Incident Action Plan at www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill under "What's Hot" on the "Main" tab.  

·       The Santa Rosa County water reconnaissance teams continue to survey water and boom conditions daily, weather permitting, providing real time information on oil products including photos and GPS coordinates.

·       County staff and reconnaissance teams continue to monitor beach conditions daily generally from day break until 6 p.m., weather permitting.

·       The Division 1 Branch office is operational and located in Pensacola. It serves both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, bringing together federal, state and local agencies to streamline response efforts. Santa Rosa County has had staff representation in the office since its implementation.

 

Booms

For more information visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill under the "Local Action Plan" tab.  

·       Santa Rosa County and the City of Gulf Breeze boom will remain open until further notice unless there is an imminent threat of oil product verified by state or local surveillance. In this case, the boom could be closed without prior notice and boaters can call (850) 602-0242 for emergency boom openings.

·       Oil containment boom (in feet) total:796,461 deployed in Florida

o        Tier 1 & Tier 2: 481,000

o        Tier 3: 315,461 (deployed by Florida contractors)

 

BP Claims

For more information, including how to file a claim, visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill under the

"Claims" tab.

·         BP claims in Florida total 30,846 with approximately $37,144,082.87 paid.

·         BP claims in Santa Rosa County total 3,423 with approximately $3,873,611 paid.

 

Small Business Disaster & Bridge Loans

For more information visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill under the "Business" tab.

 

Fishing

For more information visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill under the "Boating, Fishing and Wildlife" tab.

·         All Santa Rosa County waters are currently open to fishing.

 

Vessels of Opportunity (Boats) Program

For more information visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill under the "Boating, Fishing and Wildlife" tab.

·       264 vessels have been deployed in Florida for the Vessels of Opportunity program.

 

Volunteer Information

For more information visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill under the "Volunteer" tab.

 

Important Phone Numbers

·       Florida Oil Spill Information Line- is available from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. EDT daily for citizen's               questions- 888- 337-3569

·       Fraud Hotline- 1-866-966-7226

- email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call

·       Report Oiled Wildlife- 1-866-557-1401

·       Report Oiled Shoreline to State Warning Point- 1-877-2-SAVE-FL (1-877-272-8335) or #DEP from a cell phone

·       To Report Oiled Shoreline to BP- 877-389-8932

·       BP Toll-Free Claims line- 1800-440-0858

·       BP's Community Information line- 1-866-448-5816

·       Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner gas price-gauging hotline: 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352)

·       The Florida Poison Control Centers- available for general health information regarding the oil spill and exposure to oil spill products- 1-800-222-1222

·       Florida Gulf Recovery Jobs: 1-877-362-5034 or www.floridagulfrecoveryjobs.com

 

General Safety Information

www.santarosa.fl.gov Citizens can signup to automatically receive breaking news alerts from Santa Rosa County Emergency Management via e-mail or as a text message on their cell phone at: www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency/publicwarning.html. The Santa Rosa County Citizen Information Line at (850) 983-INFO or 4636 is open 24 hours daily.