Deepwater Horizon county action update #5

Situation Update

• According to the Florida Department of Emergency Management, oil impact to immediate coastal areas is currently not expected in Florida through the next 72 hours.
• Several residents have reported brown or black foam on Navarre Beach. The foam is natural and not a result of the oil spill. DEP has tested local areas and will make the results public.
• Residents may have or begin to notice an odor carried in by the winds from off shore.
• Individuals concerned about air quality issues can view an up-to-date map with pollutant concentrations at www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill or www.airnow.gov, or they can report suspected changes in air quality at http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/.

Community Meetings

• The community meetings held on Monday, May 2 are available at www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill.
• Questions asked by attendees at yesterday's meeting are being complied and will be sent to BP for follow up.
• Future community meetings will be announced as they are scheduled.
• Santa Rosa County officials and emergency management staff are available to speak to groups, please contact 983-5360 for more details.

Booming in Santa Rosa County       

The following sites have been placed or were scheduled to be placed today:

• Aquatic Preserve Yellow River (site # PEN12)- placed
• Boathouse Bar (site # PEN28)- awaiting confirmation that it was placed today
• Central Oyster Bed (site # PEN21)- awaiting confirmation that it was placed today
• Deadman Island (site # PEN32)- placed
• Gulf Island National Seashore Live Oaks (site # PEN7)- awaiting confirmation that it was placed today
• Indian Bayou Oyster Bar (site # PEN29)- awaiting confirmation that it was placed today
• Live Oaks National Seashore (site # PEN11)- placed
• Mullato Bayou (site # PEN45)- placed
• North Oyster Bed (site # PEN20)- placed
• North Oyster Bed (site # PEN20)- awaiting confirmation that it was placed today
• Red Fish Cover Oyster Reef (site # PEN19)- placed
• Santa Rosa Island Shoreline (site # PEN18)- placed
• Santa Rosa Island Gulf Island National Seashore (site # PEN13)- placed
• Shoreline Park (site # PEN30)- placed
• Southern Bayou Tarar (site # PEN14)- placed
• Western Shore Aquatic Vegetation site # PEN43)- placed
• Maps, including overall locations and a priority listing, of the U.S. Coast Guard's booming strategy are available online at www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill. Additional locations have also been suggested by Santa Rosa County through the unified command system including the 3-Mile, Garcon Point, Bob Sikes and I-10 bridges.

BP Resources

• The Governor stated that BP has put up a $25 million Block Grant for the State of Florida.
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, a BP contractor, to provide assistance to oiled wildlife. The service recognizes Tri-State's expertise in wildlife oil spill response, and while many wildlife organizations and individuals have expressed interest in providing their assistance, all rehabilitation efforts must be coordinated through the service and Tri-State. Coordination is vitally important for recovery and research efforts, and specific safety and other requirements must be met before anyone will be allowed on-site for any participation. If you already have wildlife training, call BP at 1-866-557-1401.
• Programs Currently being worked on
  • Shoreline Assessment/Clean Up Plan
  • Pre Impact Debris Removal Program
  • New Staging Area in Panama City being mobilized (85% complete)
• 90,000 feet of boom has been placed in our region as of Monday afternoon.
• Today's goal was to place an additional 35,000 feet of boom.
• Boom quantities at Pensacola NAS as of May 4- 50,700 on deck.
• Boom Deployments
  • April 27- 2,500 feet deployed
  • April 28- 21,200 feet deployed
  • April 29- 14,100 feet deployed
  • April 30- 19,000 feet deployed
  • May 1- 18,000 feet deployed
  • May 2-13,000 feet deployed
  • May 3- 3,500 feet deployed

Actions Taken By Santa Rosa County

• Emergency management staff had identified long and short term objectives, to include but not limited to:
  • Continue coordinating training needed for workers and volunteers to participate in clean-up & coordinate training opportunities.
  • Update priority list for boom requests to unified command
  • Request BP to establish a claims/information office in Navarre
  • Follow up on air, water and sediment quality baseline tests
  • Monitor water for oil or affected wildlife
  • Document local resources used
  • Research and track financial impacts and tourism
  • Prepare contingency plan for response to protect Santa Rosa resources
  • Monitor requests made to unified command
• Santa Rosa County will watch for possible cases of contractor fraud related to the oil spill, will track and document these cases, and submit the information to state officials.
• A local state of emergency was declared at 3 p.m., Friday, April 30, allowing the county to implement proactive measures as needed.
• Emergency management officials continue to participate in the unified command and State of Florida Department of Emergency Management conference calls to obtain the lasted information to plan our role accordingly.
• Pre-qualified debris contractors and environmental engineering consultants have been contacted and are ready to respond as required.
• The EOC is activated at a level 2, or partial activation with essential staff, from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. until further notice.
• The Santa Rosa County Citizen Information Line at (850) 983-INFO or 4636 is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
• For more information www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill

Fraud

• The Attorney General's office reported instances of fraud from companies claiming to be BP training contractors. Free volunteer training will be available through Santa Rosa County.
• To report possible causes of fraud, call the Attorney General's Office fraud hotline at 1-866-966-7226.

Visitor Information

• Navarre Beach and all of Santa Rosa County are open for visitors.
• Due to changing conditions there is no way to know for sure when the oil could affect Navarre Beach, or for how long.
• If you have concerns about reservations, please check with your management company regarding cancellation polices.
• Monitor the situation at www.santarosa.fl.gov/oilspill.
• Decide if you can take a "wait and see" approach rather than cancel your plans to vacation on Navarre Beach.

Volunteers

• Trainings for Santa Rosa County volunteers are being coordinated. Times, locations and requirements will be announced as soon as arrangements can be confirmed with BP.
• To become a part of the Santa Rosa County volunteer database for volunteer opportunities that may arise, contact the Volunteer Reception Center operated through Help Thy Neighbors in coordination with emergency management at (850) 983-5223.

NOAA Closes Commercial and Recreational Fishing in Oil-Affected Portion of Gulf of Mexico

• NOAA is restricting fishing for a minimum of ten days on Sunday, May 2, in federal waters most affected by the BP oil spill, largely between Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River to waters off Florida's Pensacola Bay. The closure is effective immediately.
• Details can be found at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/
• Fishermen who wish to contact BP about a claim should call (800) 440-0858.

Clean-Up Jobs

• Workforce Escarosa, Inc. will host hiring events in effort to recruit and screen applicants for an estimated 500 clean-up jobs with Advanced Employment Solutions on the following dates:
  • Wednesday, May 5- 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., Workforce Escarosa Pensacola One-Stop located at 3670-A North L Street
  • Wednesday, May 5- 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., Workforce Escarosa Century One-Stop located at 8120 North Century Blvd.
• Applicants must bring proof of U.S. citizenship, a valid driver's license, and any relevant credentials. For more information, visit www.employflorida.com and search for job order numbers 9481666, 9481677, 9481703, 9481718, and 9481331.

BP Claim Line

• BP has established a claim system that will allow people to begin the process to recover lost income or recoup damage related expense at (800)-440-0858.

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 (425) 745-8017

Alternative Response Technology

• To submit alternative response technology, services or products please email horizonsupport@oegllc.com or call (281) 366-5511.

Oiled Wildlife

• To report oiled wildlife, please call 1-866-557-1401 and leave a message. Messages will be checked hourly. Individuals are urged not to attempt to help injured or oiled animals, but to report any sightings to the toll free number.

Report Oil Sightings

• To report oiled shoreline, please call 1-866-448-5816.

Other Contact Numbers

• Transocean hotline: 832-587-8554
• MI Swaco hotline: 888-318-6765
• BP Investor Relations: 381-366-3123
• BP family hotline: 281-36-578
• BP third party contractor hotline: 281-366-5578

General Safety Information

• www.santarosa.fl.gov
• Please monitor your home weather radio and local media outlets for the most up-to-date information.
• Your best defense in any disaster is a NOAA Weather radio.
• 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.

Citizen Information Line

• The Santa Rosa County Citizen Information Line at (850) 983-INFO or 4636 is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
• Citizens may call (850) 983-INFO (4636) with questions.