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Latest Headlines

• Cantonment Man Sentenced To Prison For Drug Possession, Evidence Tampering, Fleeing
• A Warming Trend To Begin Thanksgiving Week
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• ECSO: Truck Stolen In Bratt, Note Left Behind Claims Woman Was Attacked, Kidnapped
• Hundreds Of Families Receive Thanksgiving Meal During Food Distribution
• Two Northview High Career Academies Create Food Cart
• Escambia County Corrections Welcomes 12 New Officer Trainees
• Special Election To Replace Matt Gaetz In Congress Set For April Fools’ Day
• Food Distribution Held Friday In Walnut Hill, Saturday In Cantonment
• Escambia Schools Announce Top 10 Teachers Of The Year

Oil Spill: Latest Escambia Info

Here is the latest Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill information specific to Escambia County:

• Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key remain open. Water is clear and air quality is good.
• Escambia County, in conjunction with the University of West Florida, is collecting Gulf water samples from Santa Rosa Island and Perdido Key on a weekly basis. These samples are being taken to indicate any changes in water quality.
• All local fishing areas remain open.
• According to the NOAA oil plume model, the spill is 65 miles southwest of Pensacola.
• No direct surface oil impacts are expected on county shores within the next 72 hours.
• Gulf coast residents may detect an odor because of the oil spill. Some are more sensitive to these odors and may experience nasal irritation and feelings of nausea. In combination with seasonal allergies or pre-existing respiratory conditions, some may experience more severe symptoms. For Air Quality Reports, see http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/air.html
• The Escambia County Health Department released advice to residents who are experiencing symptoms from odors.

British Petroleum (BP)

• BP has reported over 2,200 claims in the state with approximately $1,297,151 paid to date.
• There are over 1,500 participants in the Vessels of Opportunity Program in Florida with 454 signed contracts and 128 contract activations.
• File claims with BP online: http://www.bp.com/claims
• BP announced a $25 million grant to Florida to promote tourism and mitigate the economic impact of the oil spill in addition to the $25 million grants to accelerate the implementation of area contingency plans. BP also provided $15 million promotion grants to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
• Boaters are requested to report sightings of broken, disconnected or adrift boom and are asked to keep their distance from boom especially at night or in conditions of restricted visibility. Please report damaged, vandalized, adrift or stolen boom to: 1-866-448-5816. See details.
• BP’s claims office is located at 3960 W. Navy Boulevard, Suite 16. The office is currently open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. BP claims categories
• BP recommends anyone with a claim 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.
• The BP community outreach office is open for citizens at 435 East Government Street. Representatives are available to answer any questions on volunteering, vessels of opportunity program, or any other oil spill related questions. Phone: (850) 912-8640, fax: (850) 912-8755.
• To pick up or deliver completed Vessels of Opportunity packets, visit BP’s Community Outreach office at 435 East Government Street. For information, call 281-366-5511.
• BP Vessels of Opportunity – see the master vessel charter agreement and vessel requirements checklist online www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.
• Approximately 175,950 feet of boom has been placed out of the Pensacola and Panama City staging areas in support of Unified Command.
• Do not sign any documents in return from money from BP or anyone else until you know the extent of your loss. BP officials carry proper identification badges or business cards.
• BP does not use contractors to contact or solicit volunteers for cleanup. All training offered by BP is free. There are no fees for classes or registration.
• The Fish and Wildlife Service is working with Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, contracted by BP to provide assistance to oiled wildlife. All rehabilitation efforts must be coordinated through the service and Tri-State. Specific safety and other requirements must be met before anyone will be allowed on-site for any participation. If you have wildlife training, call 1-866-557-1401.

Federal (NOAA)

• NOAA modified and expanded the boundaries of the closed fishing area to better reflect the current location of the oil spill, and extended the fishing restriction. See updates.

State of Florida (DEP, FWC)

• The Small Business Administration issued an economic injury Disaster Loan Declaration for the state of Florida. Pensacola office: 401 E. Chase St., Ste. 100.
• The fisheries, wildlife and seafood off of Florida’s coast in state waters are safe and there are no alerts at this time. See news release.
• Florida saltwater fishing regulations remain in effect as usual. More information.
• FWC press release on data collection on gulf red snapper to address oil spill impacts.
• Submit innovative technology ideas, suggestions or products by completing this form. Send the completed form and any supporting documentation to Innovative.Technolgy@dep.state.fl.us.
• Economic Injury Disaster loans can help eligible small businesses meet the necessary financial obligations they could have met, had the disaster not occurred. Interest rates for businesses and small agricultural cooperatives are as low as four percent, and non-profit rates are as low as three percent, with terms up to 30 years. Loan applications for economic injury can be filed until the close of business on February 14, 2011. For more information visit the SBA website.
• Video and audio public service announcements are available for download to educate the public on response, safety, coast watch and beach cleanup. See details.
• Report boom vandalism to the (800) 320-0519 or #DEP from your cell phone.
• An Economic Recovery Task Force was established facilitate efforts by businesses and industries in recovering from the loss of business and revenues due to the oil spill incident.
• A Legal Advisory Council was established to assess the impact the potential disaster could have on the state.
• DEP Guidelines for Protecting Shoreline from Oil Spill Impacts
•  Homeowners may be able to help prevent oil from reaching private property or damaging sensitive vegetation by utilizing sorbent booms.
•  Booming and alternative absorption measures should be coordinated through Escambia County as incorrect boom placement in navigable waterways can create a serious hazard.
•  Coordination with state and local entities is important to ensure that booming or alternative measures being used do not impede navigation and are not more harmful to the natural environment in the long-run.
•  If a boom is placed by a private citizen, that individual assumes responsibility for the boom, including the chance it could dislodge into the water or be harmful to wildlife.
•  Booms placed by private citizens that become impacted by oil are the responsibility of that individual and require special authorization for removal and proper disposal.
•  Do not place hay bales, sandbags or other unapproved devices along the shoreline, as the overall debris from disposal of such methods would increase and could cause serious long-term damage.
•  Do not attempt to clean impacted beaches or attempt to rescue oiled wildlife. Touching oil is a health risk and disposing of it improperly could cause additional environmental damage.
•  Authorized protective measures should be conducted in a manner that provides protection to, and does not disturb, native vegetation, species and their habitat. Taking or capturing any species, nests or eggs listed as an endangered species is not permitted.
•  For more information on types of protective measures, call 1-866-448-5816.
• The Florida Small Business Development Center has deployed Mobile Area Command centers in Escambia County, with certified business analysts experienced in assisting businesses impacted by disasters, including assistance with federal and state disaster loan programs. For more information, visit www.floridasbdc.org/Special Programs/bcrm.asp
• FWC temporarily suspended the restriction on use of purse seines landward of the COLRGEGS demarcation line in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
• Affected businesses should file a claim with BP via the hotline number, 800-440-0858. Additional guidance to help small businesses survive a disaster can be found at www.MyFloridaCFO.com or by calling 850-413-3089 or toll-free 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).

Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and Staff

• The local state of emergency has been extended until May 28.
• The Escambia County Emergency Operations Center has returned to normal Level 3 operations.
• County staff continue to monitor the situation and will continue to participate in daily briefings with the State of Florida and Unified Command.
• On inland waters (bays, bayous, estuaries, rivers), private property owners may install oil absorbent material, booms or fences on private property above the mean high waterline (MHWL) only. No material may be installed or sprayed below the MHWL.
• On gulf-front property, the use of silt fences, obstructions, hay bales, peat, surfactants or other material is not approved. DEP is the permitting agency for beaches and coastal systems. No obstructions to sea turtle nesting behavior is allowed.
• If citizens see anything unusual on the beaches they feel needs to be reported:
•  Contact the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce at 850-492-4660 on Perdido Key
•  Report to the lifeguards on duty on Pensacola Beach
• Deflective boom – large floating barriers that help contain floating oil – has been deployed in all locations of the Local Action Plan and Addendum One. See boom deployment progress report and map. Staff continues to evaluate areas and is monitoring all deployed boom.
• To keep waterways open as long as possible, boom is “wet staged” at some locations. When floating petroleum becomes an imminent threat, boom will be fully deployed. “Fully deployed boom” is described as boom anchored into a functional configuration.
• Escambia County is evaluating every viable proposa for coastal protection and recovery, coordinating with Unified Command and will share information as it is approved.
• A PowerPoint of oil spill response strategies is posted at www.escambiadisasterresponse.com.
• Pteropods, also known as the sea butterfly, have been reported on gulf beaches. Pteropods are small, clear and sharply pointed larval snails. Although they are fairly sharp, they do not pose a threat to people. They are naturally occurring and not due to anything oil-related.
• Residents and business owners with water access on their property should have pre-assessments prepared (photos, video, etc. documenting the current condition of the property).
• The brown foam seen on the beaches is not associated with the oil spill. This is a common natural occurrence, when fish are spawning and there are hard winds, rain, and wave action.

Local Beaches

• Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key remain open. The water is clear and air quality is good.
• SRIA lifeguards continue patrolling beaches for oil from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• In the event beaches are impacted by the oil spill, it may be necessary to issue health advisories to protect health and safety.
•  The Florida Department of Health will issue advisories as they become necessary for the area of affected water and shoreline.
•  Beaches above the high tide line should remain open for sunbathing, walking, shopping and dining. The exact area for the advisories will be determined at the time oil is reported.

City of Pensacola

• The City of Pensacola continues to coordinate with Escambia County officials.

Volunteer Opportunities

• The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has determined volunteers cannot be used in any situation where they may come in contact with oiled shorelines or oiled wildlife.
• To volunteer, call BP at 1-866-448-5816.

Safety Information

• If you see a tar ball on the beach, DO NOT PICK IT UP. Report it to 1-866-448-5816.

Wildlife

• Do not attempt to rescue oiled or injured birds or wildlife as this may cause additional injuries.
• If oiled, injured or dead wildlife are found, call the Oiled Wildlife Hotline at 1-866-557-1401. Please provide location of where the wildlife was sighted.

Boats

• Boats should keep a safe distance from the booms. Do not drive boats over booms.
• Boat owners are urged to dry-dock boats. Do not drive your boat through slicks or sheens.

Beaches and Waterways

• Citizens should take precautions around waterways to avoid contact with oil substances.
• Officials are closely monitoring potential public health and environmental concerns.

Personal Safety (if areas are affected by oil)

• Avoid areas where oil can be seen or smelled. If you see or smell oil, leave immediately.
• Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil-contaminated water and sediments.
• Do not swim or ski in areas affected by oil, and if you travel through the area by boat, take care when hoisting the anchor. If you get oil on your skin, wash it off with soap and water.
• Do not fish in the oil spill-affected waters.
• Do not harvest and eat dead fish, fish with oily residue or fish that have a petroleum odor.
• Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid the area.
• Restrict pets from entering oil-contaminated areas.
• Individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma or other respiratory illness should contact their health care provider if feeling symptomatic.
• Report oiled shorelines to 1-866-448-5816.

Business Information

• Florida emergency management and economic development staff are gathering information from businesses impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Please complete their survey and help shape Florida’s response to this event. The survey will be updated periodicallye.
• BP has established a claim system and toll free number, 1-800-440-0858. This system will allow people to begin the process to recover lost income or recoup damage-related expenses.
• If you are not satisfied with BP’s resolution, 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 to seek compensation can be found at www.uscg.mil/npfc.
• Take detailed records of cancelled reservations. When cancellations occur, ask the party if the cancellation is related the oil spill. Keep the person’s name and contact information, and the revenues lost as a result of the cancellation.
• Businesses that may be negatively impacted due to the oil spill, are asked to keep detailed profit and loss records should a claim need to be presented.
• Calculate estimated losses for a six-week period and be able to provide records, sales receipts and documentation to support your claim. Compare business to a five-year average of revenues between May and June, which can offer insight as to the damages incurred.
• Make a detailed list of assets, including non-structural, and include appropriate records to support the list. Example: if your hotel or restaurant is within walking distance to the beach and that beach has oil reach its shores, the business’s assets could be damaged even though there is no physical damage to the structure. It is important to record this depreciation.
• To register as a consultant, contractor, vendor or submit information on alternative response technology, services products or suggestions, call BP at 281-366-5511.

Citizen Information

• Florida Oil Spill Information Line is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, 1-888-337-3569.