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Latest Headlines

• Cantonment Man Charged With Sexual Battery, Molestation Of 5-Year-Old
• Two Newly Elected Escambia School Members Installed
• Matt Gaetz Withdraws From Attorney General Consideration
• Molino Dollar General Assistant Manager And Her Boyfriend Charged With Theft
• Century Town Hall Closed For Portions Of Next Two Business Days
• Troopers Say Semi Driver Fell Asleep Causing Crash That Block I-10 For Hours
• Free Dental, Vision and Medical Care Available At Weekend Clinic
• Farm Share Food Distributions Friday In Walnut Hill, Saturday In Cantonment
• ECUA Elects Board Officers, Appoints Advisory Committee
• One Injured In Highway 29 Crash

Latest Escambia Oil Update

Here is the latest Deepwater Horizon oil spill information specific to Escambia County:

Oil Related Information

• On the afternoon of May 7, a kerosene-like odor was detected in areas of Escambia County. While this odor was most likely associated with the oil spill, the spill remains well to the south. Escambia County officials deployed staff to check the waters, however there is no oil sheen or slick sighted near our coastlines.
• For air quality reports, visit http://www.airnow.gov. For health and safety information, visit http://www.escambiadisasterresponse.com.
• Individuals experiencing symptoms that are aggravated by the odors from the oil spill should consider: staying indoors, in air conditioning, and avoiding strenuous outdoor activity. If symptoms do not improve, contact a primary care physician or other health care provider for medical advice.
• If anyone sees anything out of the ordinary on the beaches that they feel they need to report, if in Perdido Key please contact the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce at 850-492-4660 or for Pensacola Beach please report to the Lifeguards on duty.
• Reminder: If oiled wildlife is spotted do not attempt to make contact with the animal, please call the Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research 1-866-557-1401.
• Deflective boom – large floating barriers that help contain floating oil – around sensitive shorelines.
• We are not anticipating any oil impact over the weekend.
• We are forecast for favorable weather conditions for oil response preparations.

BP Actions

• BP reported that 7 claim adjusters are on site in Florida and there are currently 373 open claims.
• BP has completed construction of a dome, which will be used in an attempt to contain the oil discharge. BP has also begun drilling a relief well to eliminate the discharge. The dome is roughly 125 miles offshore, southwest of Pensacola.
• BP Vessel of Opportunity – master vessel charter agreement and vessel requirements checklist online www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.
• BP claims categories
• BP is working on the following programs:
• Shoreline Assessment and Clean Up Plan
• Pre Impact Debris Removal Program
• BP has put up a $25 million Block Grant for the State of Florida.
• BP Officials want everyone to be aware of scam artists posing as BP contractors. Citizens are discouraged from signing any documents provided to them in return from money form BP or anyone else until they know the extent of their loss.
• BP officials carry proper identification badges or business cards.
• BP is handling volunteer registration. Anyone interested in helping, should use the toll free number to register, 1-866-448-5816. They do not use contractors to contact or solicit anyone to volunteer for cleanup, nor will they ever ask for any kind of advance fee from you.
• Training offered by BP is free. There are no fees for classes or registration.
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research (Tri-State) who is contracted by BP 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 with 1-866-557-1401.

Guidelines for Waterfront Property Owners

• Oil is a hazardous material. It should only be handled by professionals trained in handling hazardous material.
• Avoid entering areas where oil can be seen or smelled.
• Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil-contaminated water, sediment, and wildlife.
• Do not swim, ski, or fish in areas affected by the oil spill.
• If you get oil on your skin, wash it off immediately with soap and water.
• Do not eat dead fish, fish with oily residue, or fish that have a petroleum odor.
• Restrict pets from entering oil-contaminated areas.
• Report oiled shorelines to 866-448-5816
• Report oiled wildlife to 866-557-1401
• Report claims to BP at 800-440-0858
• Take photographs of your shoreline to document pre-impact baseline conditions, and after oil impact.
• 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. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is the permitting agency for Beaches and Coastal Systems. No obstructions to sea turtle nesting behavior is allowed.
• BP has the lead for response and clean-up activities.

Federal Actions

• On May 7, NOAA has modified and expanded the boundaries of the closed fishing area to better reflect the current location of the BP oil spill, and is extending the fishing restriction until May 17. Details click here.

State of Florida

• The Florida Small Business Development Center Network is part of the State’s EOC Emergency Support Function as a responder for assistance in business recovery. The Mobile Area Commands are fully self-contained and staffed by SBDC Certified Business Analysts who are experienced in providing assistance to businesses impacted by disasters, including providing assistance with both federal and state disaster loan programs. The MACs are currently deployed here in Pensacola and SBDC staff are meeting with area business leaders and available to provide technical assistance to local businesses.
• For more information, please visit http://www.floridasbdc.org/SpecialPrograms/bcrm.asp
• The fisheries and seafood off Florida’s coast in state waters are safe and there are no health alerts at this time.
• Pre-Oil Arrival Beach Cleanup Guidelines and Checklist
• In response to the possibility of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affecting the West Coast of Florida, representatives from BP, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), along with several federal, state and local agencies have officially established the incident command post in St. Petersburg.
• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has temporarily suspended the restriction on use of purse seines landward of the COLRGEGS demarcation line in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.
• Safety Resources for Volunteers
• The Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service is encouraging Floridians and visitors to watch for oiled wildlife, vegetation and beaches by becoming a Coast Watch volunteer.
• Coast Watchers will assist BP, the state of Florida and partnering organizations in identifying beaches that need attention.
• Coast Watchers will work within the coastal communities where they live or visit and commit to do the following.
• For information on scheduled beach cleanups and other volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/.
• CFO Sink also noted that in all oil spill circumstances, 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 at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).
• The state of Florida reminds its residents and visitors that the state’s coastline has not been impacted at this time and remains open for the public enjoyment.
• At this time, there are no indications of health risks to Floridians due to the Deepwater Horizon incident. The Department of Health (DOH) and DEP are closely monitoring health and environmental impacts to Florida’s beaches and will notice an advisory if conditions become unsafe.
• The Attorney General’s office reported instances of fraud from companies claiming to be working with BP to set up training classes and asking people to pay up front. The training classes for oil cleanup being offered through BP are free and available to those that have registered. If you feel that you have been approached fraudulently, please call the Attorney General’s Office fraud hotline at 1-866-966-7226.
• The state emergency operations center remains at a level 2 activation.

Actions by Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and Staff

• Boom has been deployed in all locations of the Local Action Plan and addendum one. Staff continues to evaluate areas to determine if more boom is needed and is currently monitoring all deployed boom.
• Environmental staff has completed collection of sediment, water and oyster tissue samples. The samples are currently at the lab for analysis.
• Due to the exceedingly remote possibility of the oil hitting our shores over the weekend, the SRIA lifeguards are temporarily suspending the 24 hour watch. They will continue patrolling our beaches from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
• The Declaration of Local State of Emergency has been extended to May 21, 2010.
• On Thursday, May 6, Escambia County’s contractors deployed 5,300 feet of boom.
• To keep waterways open as long as possible, boom will be “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.
• Coordinating with city officials on additional boom deployment locations.
• BP has assumed deployment of boom to the Pensacola Pass East and West potions of the Escambia County Local Action Plan.
• County staff will make adjustments to utilize the boom priorities of Stage One and Stage Two sites. For a complete listing of sites see the Local Action Plan beginning on page 4 and the corresponding boom deployment map.
• The Local Area Plan has been approved by Secretary Sole for funding. (Plan)
• A Special Board of County Commissioners’ Meeting has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m., May 13. The purpose of the meeting is to allow staff the opportunity, if necessary, to present to the Board, time-sensitive recommendations relative to the Deep Horizon Oil Plume. The meeting will be held in the Escambia County Governmental Complex, Board Chambers, Room 100, 221 Palafox Place.
• We are evaluating several operational options from contractors for coastal protection and recovery.
• We are looking at every viable proposal, coordinating with Unified Command and we will share that information as it is approved.
• The Celebrate Escambia Waterways Beach Fun and Safety event for Saturday, May 8 has been postponed until further notice.
• All along our Gulf front shoreline beaches are small, basically clear and somewhat “pointy” plankton. The Pteropod, also known as the sea butterfly, is a larval snail that is naturally occurring. These plankton blew in with the Portuguese Man-O-War and By the Wind Sailors. Although they are fairly sharp and may stick your fingers and hands when picked up or your foot when you step on them, they do not pose a threat to people. They are not washing ashore due to anything oil related.
• Residents and business owners with any water access on their property should have pre-assessments prepared now (photos, video, anything documenting the current condition of your property).
• The brown foam seen on the beaches recently is not associated with the oil spill. This is a common natural occurrence especially in the spring when fish are spawning and there are hard winds, rain, and wave action.
• Officials continue to monitor coastlines.
• The EOC remains at level 2 activation. This is a minimal activation with only specifically involved agencies activating at this time.
• Meetings of all essential local emergency support agencies are being held daily.
• Pre-qualified contractors and consultants are coordinating with county staff on the disaster response.
• Environmental staff are confirming pre-assessments on air and water quality, and identifying any gaps.
• County officials continue working through state and federal channels to establish a process for resources and equipment.
• Emergency Management officials continue to communicate with the State of Florida liaison at unified command.
• County staff is continuing to coordinate with the Santa Rosa Island Authority on equipment necessary for the response effort.

Local Beaches

• Remain open, water is clear and air quality is good.

City of Pensacola

• Coordinating with county officials.

Volunteer Opportunities & Training

• Training Courses for Tuesday, May 11 and Wednesday, May 12 are now open. Click here to register or call 850-471-6600 for information if you do not have computer access.
• BP has trained over 500 volunteers to date.
• This is for the health and safety training. This is not training for handling oiled wildlife.

Safety Messages
Wildlife

• Do not attempt to rescue oiled or injured birds or wildlife. Doing so can cause additional injuries.
• If oiled, injured or dead wildlife are found, call the Oiled Wildlife hotline at 866-557-1401, please provide location of where the wildlife was sighted.
• May is the hatching season for many birds and reptiles. Please use the toll free number above.

Boats

• Boats should keep a safe distance from any of the booms. Do not drive boats over any booms.
• Boat owners are urged to dry-dock boats.

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 entering areas where oil can be seen or smelled. If you see or smell oil, leave the area immediately.
• Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil-contaminated water and sediments.
• Do not swim or ski in areas affected by the oil spill, and if you travel through the area by boat, take precautions when hoisting the boat anchor. If you get oil on your skin, wash it off immediately 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.
• Do not drive your boat through slicks or sheens.
• 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.
• Those near Florida’s Gulf Coast may detect an odor because of the oil spill. Some people are more sensitive to these odors and may experience nasal irritation and feelings of nausea. In combination with seasonal allergies, such as sensitivity to pollen or pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, some people may experience more severe symptoms.
• 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 866-448-5816. Report oiled wildlife to 866-557-1401.

Businesses Information

• Take detailed records of canceled reservations. It is important that when these cancellations occur, the canceling party is questioned whether the cause is because of the oil spill. If the answer is yes, keep a record of the person’s name and contact information, and also the revenues lost as a result of the cancellation.
• Businesses, including hoteliers, sport fishing charters, watersports rental companies, etc., that may be negatively impacted are asked to keep detailed profit and loss records and track any cancellations, 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 such a claim. A good idea would be to compare business now 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. For 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 and it is important to record this depreciation.
• The Vessels of Opportunities Program call 281-366-5511.
• BP has established a claim system and toll free number, 800-440-0858. This system will allow people to being to process to recover lost income or recoup damage related expenses.
• If you are not satisfied with BP’s resolution, there is an additional avenue for assistance available through the Coast Guard once BP has finalized your claim. Those who have already pursued the BP claims process 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 www.uscg.mil/npfc.
• 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

• The Citizen Information Center phone is open for questions from residents, 850-471-6600.

Contact Numbers

• Volunteer hotline: 1-866-448-5816
• Transocean hotline: 832-587-8554
• MI Swaco hotline: 888-318-6765
• BP Investor Relations: 381-366-3123
• BP family hotline: 281-366-5578
• BP third party contractor hotline: 281-366-5578