Oil Spill Information
05/03/10 1pm – Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Update
Monday, May 03, 2010
Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Update
Dated: 5/3/10 at 1:00 p.m.
Jeff Amy in an article on AL.com quoted Governor Bob Riley that no landfall was expected in Alabama through at least Wednesday evening.
In other good news the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projections showed that the part of the oil slick that extended east from Mobile Bay toward Pensacola would break up by this morning (Monday, May 3, 2010).
“The entire eastern portion of the sheen seems to have disappeared,” said Phil Woods of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. “It’s breaking down rapidly. The solids that remain are emulsified. And while they are going to be hard to deal with, we’re not going to have black beaches.”
The wind will swing to the due south, pushing the oil more toward Mississippi and Alabama. Seas are predicted to calm tonight and stay that way the rest of the week, allowing boats to try to skim the oil and more effectively lay boom.
1.) There currently is no impact from the oil spill on the beaches of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach and, according to NOAA forecasts, no shoreline impact is expected for at least 72 hours. At this point, the extent of any potential impact is unclear.
2.) NOAA is closing commercial and recreational fishing in federal waters between the mouth of the Mississippi River to Florida’s Pensacola Bay. The closure begins immediately and is in effect for at least 10 days. However, fishing is open in waters up to 20 miles out in the Gulf and our inshore waters and charter boats are still going out from Orange Beach.
3.) Governor Bob Riley has committed to placing preventive measures, including oil-absorbing booms, along Alabama’s beaches, at the mouths of bays and inlets, and in sensitive areas all along the coast in an effort to prevent oil from reaching the shores. Officials are optimistic that any impact directly on the beaches can potentially be cleaned effectively and fairly quickly.
4.) National, state and local response teams are deployed at sites along the coast to deal with local effects.
5.) Official information pertinent to our local area is being posted at gulfshores.com. Click the yellow “Oil Spill” link at the top of the page. This is the most recent confirmed information provided by the unified response team (Coast Guard, Homeland Security, NOAA, Department of the Interior, BP and Transocean) and local emergency management officials. For detailed information about the entire incident visit https://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/530631 or https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/.
6.) We will continue to monitor the incident and post information updates at gulfshores.com (click the yellow link at the top of the page) as they become available.
*Additional resources for Industry Partners and residents
1.) BP is now accepting claims for the Gulf Coast oil spill. Please call BP’s helpline at 1-800-440-0858. A BP fact sheet with additional information is available on the Deepwater Response website. Those who have already pursued the BP claims process and are not satisfied with BP’s resolution can call the Coast Guard at 1-800-280-7118. More information about what types of damages are eligible for compensation under the Oil Pollution Act as well as guidance on procedures to seek that compensation can be found at https://www.uscg.mil/npfc.
2.) We appreciate the tremendous outpouring of concern for Alabama’s coast. Volunteers are asked not to self-deploy at this time. Those with an interest in volunteering should the need arise, are asked to contact volunteer banks by dialing 2-1-1 or 888-421-1266. They can also contact the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program at 251-431-6409 or mbnep@mobilebaynep.com with the following information: name, address, phone, email and resources (boat, kayak, etc.). Please be patient while volunteer needs and training opportunities are determined.
3.) A toll-free number (866-557-1401) has been established to report oiled or injured wildlife. People are urged not to attempt to help injured or oil animals, but to report any sightings via the toll-free number.
4.) The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has prepared some precautions to be aware of and they can be found on their website. ADPH has NOT issued any advisories at this point.
