"Florida Specific:
• The 72-hour NOAA trajectory shows no oil landfall in Florida.
• Oil Containment Boom (in feet)
o 93,500 deployed in Florida
o Pensacola staging area: 160,900 deployed/ 11,300 staged/ 20,000 ordered
o Panama City staging area: 6,000 staged/ 20,000 ordered
• In accordance with established plans, protective booming is now being deployed in the coastal areas of Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa Counties.
• There are 401 British Petroleum (BP) and contract personnel working on the effort in the Pensacola area.
• BP issued a 25 million dollar block grant to Florida, which is being used for booming costs.
• The incident command post is established in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector St. Petersburg for the west coast of Florida. A virtual planning section is set up for Sector Key West."
Continued at:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwater...rt9_050710.pdf
"Boom Placement:
• Approximately 160,400 feet of boom has been placed out of the Pensacola and Panama City staging areas.
• An additional 16,700 feet is expected to be placed today.
• Currently 11,300 feet of boom is staged in Pensacola with an additional 20,000 booms on order. In Panama City, there is 6,000 feet staged and an additional 53,000 feet of boom on order.
• Placement of boom is based on tides and where the oil is threatening, as well as direction given in each region’s area contingency plan.
• The booming strategy focuses on identified environmentally sensitive areas.
o Estuaries and inlets are at the top of the list, not the beach areas.
o This is to protect sensitive habitat that support wildlife and fish.
o If the oil washes on the beach, the sand can be cleaned.
o Note that booms are not a failsafe solution.
o They can become ineffective in high seas, strong winds, or currents over one knot.
• Florida’s countieswill notice an advisory if conditions become unsafe.
• Consider the following tips for avoiding negative health impacts from an oiled shoreline:
o Avoid entering areas where oil can be seen or smelled.
o Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil-contaminated water and sediments.
o Do not swim or ski in areas affected by the oil spill, and if traveling through the area by boat, take precautions when hoisting the boat anchor. If oil makes contact with skin, wash it off with soap and water.
o Do not fish in oil spill-affected waters.
o Do not harvest or eat dead fish, fish with oily residue or fish that have a petroleum odor.
o Avoid boating through oil slicks or sheens.
o Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid the area.
o Prevent 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 experiencing symptoms that are aggravated by the odors from the oil spill should consider:
o Staying indoors, in air conditioning, and avoiding strenuous outdoor activity.
o If symptoms do not improve, contact a primary care physician or other health care provider for medical advice.
o Individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma or other respiratory illness should contact their health care provider if feeling symptomatic."
Continued at:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwater...nse_050710.pdf
"Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: NOAA Modifies and Extends Commercial and
Recreational Fishing Closure in the Oil-Affected Portions of the Gulf of Mexico
Closed area restricts fishing in less than five percent of the Gulf"
Continued at:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwater...y_bulletin.pdf
.