First Tropical Storm Could Be Forming; What Impact On Oil Spill?

June 23, 2010

Florida emergency responders are looking into the Caribbean as they prepare for what could be the first storm of the 2010 hurricane season, an arrival that would not only curtail recovery operations but could require them to open up the partially capped oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico.

Meeting with a group of local and state officials, Florida Director of Emergency Management David Halstead said Tuesday there is a possibility that a tropical wave developing in the Atlantic will intensify into a tropical cyclone within 48 hours, though by late Tuesday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said the probability was only about 20 percent.

Though the preliminary forecast calls for the system to move further west into Mexico, the storm’s path could veer northward and might then require cleanup crews to cease operations until weather conditions improve.

And that’s a problem.

Officials are in the process of replacing the current, rigid well containment and oil collection system with another that is more flexible. Though that will allow them to collect more oil, it does not help in the event of bad weather. In the event of a storm, the recovery vessels and their crews will have to detach themselves from the collection system, leaving the oil free to spew into the gulf again.

“The spigot at Deepwater Horizon is going to be pouring whatever the total quantity is, whether it’s 50,000 or 60,000 barrels a day, for the number of days that they disconnect to get to safe harbor until the tropical event passes by, and they can go back and reconnect,” Halstead said. “You could certainly be talking a couple of weeks.

“During that time, nobody will be doing skimming operations, there will be no burns,” Halstead added. “None of the work that is currently being done will be done.”

State emergency responders will have a much better bead on the issue in the next 48 to 72 hours as they continue to track the tropical wave now located south of Cuba. Conditions remain favorable for tropical cyclone formation over the next week or so.

On Tuesday, state emergency response team leader Mike DeLorenzo reminded state emergency responders that they needed to better focus on hurricane preparation while not taking their eyes off spill recovery efforts. Such a dual role is not unusual for the agency that at one time handled back to back hurricanes over a two-year period.

State officials are gearing up for big meeting Wednesday as BP executive Darryl Willis joins in a daylong series of presentations on the BP claims process. State oil spill task force members will also get reports from officials on how the spill is affecting employment and food stamp enrollment.

To date, BP has paid nearly 18,000 claims worth nearly $16 million in Florida. But local governments say they have yet to see a dime from the oil company for preparation and clean-up efforts. That process has been frustrating for many Panhandle counties that lack the financial resources to pay for the equipment, additional salaries and other expenses associated with the spill. So far, Escambia County is the only government to file a formal claim with BP. The company has requested additional information.

By Michael Peltier
The News Service Florida

Comments

3 Responses to “First Tropical Storm Could Be Forming; What Impact On Oil Spill?”

  1. anydaynow on June 23rd, 2010 12:08 pm

    Escambia county filed a claim for $8M+, do you know what that eight million was spent on?

  2. EMD on June 23rd, 2010 10:59 am

    “Additional Information?” Stonewalling on dry land is easier, isn’t it?

  3. YELLARHAMMER on June 23rd, 2010 9:09 am

    Not Good.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News