Crist Tours Panhandle Oil Cleanup Effort

June 28, 2010

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist was on Pensacola Beach Saturday and Sunday, accessing the threat from the season’s first tropical storm and looking at the possibility that Alex could push more tar and oil into the Panhandle.

Forecasters and emergency leaders told Crist at the Mobile Command Vehicle operated by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) that rough waves from the Alex could push the oil northward toward Florida.

DEM Director David Halstead and Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Sole briefed the Governor on oil cleanup, and Governor Crist and Secretary Sole toured the Gulf on the skimmer Orion to observe firsthand the ship’s oil spill cleanup efforts.

Governor Crist also participated in the Hands Across the Sand event at the Navarre Pier on Pensacola Beach. Hands Across the Sand participants are gathering Saturday at similar events throughout the United States and around the world to bring attention to the dangers of offshore oil drilling. The organization also encourages policies that will increase the use and development of clean and renewable energy sources. Crist has called legislators to support a constitutional amendment that would give Floridians the opportunity to choose whether to ban drilling off Florida’s shores.

“Our first priority is ensuring Florida is doing all we can to prevent oil coming onto our shores and to begin cleanup immediately when it does,” said Governor Crist. “Florida’s emergency responders are the best in the nation, and putting our team in charge of Florida’s response is the best way to make sure our shoreline and beaches are protected. Floridians and visitors to the Sunshine State deserve nothing less than the best response possible.”

Earlier this week, Governor Crist requested faster cleanup and more skimmers and boom from Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett after taking a aerial and shoreline tour of the oil spill with oceanography experts and meeting with leaders of the United States Coast Guard. Governor Crist also requested from BP a complete electronic file of every business, individual, and government claim. He asked for the information to be updated weekly and to include the status of each claim. Data will be used to evaluate the claims process and measure the economic impact of the losses to all level of governments throughout Florida.

Pictured top: Gov. Charlie Crist prepares to take an aerial tour of the Gulf Sunday from Pensacola Beach. Pictured inset: Crist in the Florida Division of Emergency Management mobile command center. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com Pictured below: Waves roll into Pensacola Beach Saturday. Submitted photo by Tanya Poston for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News