Florida Releases August 16, 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Situation Update
On August 16 NOAA forecast oil trajectories do not indicate any recoverable oil to appear across the northern-central gulf, but minor tarball impacts are still possible.
View the Florida Gator Interactive Oil Spill Map
Post analysis of the near ambient pressure test, the National Incident Commander has requested further analysis to mitigate possible risks of a bottom kill procedure and this work is ongoing. The DDIII is on standby but maintaining full readiness to proceed when directed.
Approximately 672 miles of Gulf Coast shoreline is currently oiled: 108 miles in Florida, 375 miles in Louisiana, 117 miles in Mississippi and 72 miles in Alabama.
Beaches in Escambia County, including Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key and the Gulf Islands National Seashore, are open for swimming. Learn more.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have reopened coastal state waters off Escambia County and other large areas of the Gulf of Mexico to the harvest of saltwater fish.
Scattered to numerous shower and thunderstorm activity is expected across Northwest Florida today. T.D. #5, located about 60 miles southwest of Panama City, is expected to gradually strengthen through the next 48 hours.
There is a 60% chance of this system becoming a tropical depression within the next 2 days. Southerly winds will continue to supply the area with abundant tropical moisture and there is a 60-70% chance of frequent showers and storms both onshore and offshore today, with scattered storms possible offshore and near the immediate coastline tonight.
Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.
The following is a summary of state and BP response actions as of August 16, 2010.
Map of BP Oil Spill as of August 16, 2010. Click on images for larger picture.
No recoverable oil has been reported by daily overflights since July 30. Daily satellite analyses have indicated a decreasing number of possible oil anomalies since the well has been capped. Recent overflights sent to investigate satellite anomalies have only reported seeing seaweed with an occasional colorless sheen.
We do not expect any recoverable DWH oil to appear in the offshore environment. However, observations will continue into the foreseeable future. If the need arises, surface oil trajectories will be produced again. Periods of onshore winds may result in some scattered tarball impacts for the next few weeks to months.
Visit geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/ to see the latest information about the oil spill’s trajectory, the position of NOAA’s research ships, spilled oil’s coastal location and the areas closed to shipping.
Weather Summary:
Less activity is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday as the system moves westward, but there is still a 40-60% chance of scattered storms along the Panhandle coast.
Heavy rainfall will be the greatest threat and rainfall accumulations may approach 2-4 inches by Wednesday morning.
Seas of 2-4 feet this morning will increase to 3-6 feet tonight and early Tuesday. Heat indices will reach the 100-105 range each afternoon.
Current Situation:
Florida beaches are open.
Currently Deepwater Horizon is not discharging any oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Unified Area Command continues with a comprehensive oil well intervention and spill response planning following the April 22 sinking of the Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig 130 miles southeast of New Orleans. On August 5, pressure testing was performed which indicated there is an effective cement plug in the casing. BP believes the static kill and cementing procedures have been successful.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that analysis shows Southern Florida, the Florida Keys, and the East Coast are unlikely to experience any effects from the remaining oil on the surface of the Gulf.
- This event has been designated a Spill of National Significance.
- More than 28,200 personnel are working the on and offshore response.
- Oil-water mix recovered: over 34.7 million gallons. Dispersant: more than 1.84 million gallons deployed.
- Response vessels available: more than 4,300. Response aircraft available: 75
All supplemental Tier 3 boom is being removed and stored in the Northwest Florida counties.
Florida Specific:
Tar balls continue to be reported in Northwest Florida.
Oil Containment Boom (in feet) total: 36,400 deployed in Florida. 124 vessels are deployed in Florida for the Vessels of Opportunity program. 351 Qualified Community Responders are working in the Florida Panhandle today.
Federal Fishery closure, west of Cape San Blas to state line. 26,388 sq mi of southeast portion has been reopened. (see NOAA FB10-060) A portion of coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County reopened for finfish but remains closed for the harvest of crabs and shrimp.
In addition to $100,000 for Volunteer Florida to maintain a volunteer registration database, BP has issued over $82 million in grants to Florida for booming, tourism advertising, and state preparedness and response efforts. An additional $500,000 has been issued by BP to fund innovative technology solutions for Okaloosa County.
BP claims in Florida total 38,212 with approximately $70,022,841.08 paid.
BP has assumed direct financial responsibility for approx $9 million of Boom contracts for Florida counties.
Florida Information Lines:
The Florida Oil Spill Information Line (FOSIL) is available from 8am-6pm EDT daily.
- English – (888) 337-3569 / TDD – (800) 955-8771 / Voice – (800) 955-8770
- Spanish – (877) 955-8773
- Haitian Creole – (877) 955-8707
For general health/exposures information questions related to the oil spill, contact the Florida Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222.
Two public hotline numbers for oil spill investigation and cleanup:
- Impacted Wildlife: (866) 557-1401
- Oiled Shoreline: (877) 2-SAVE-FL or #DEP for cellular devices
The Florida Department of State has established a hotline for archeological, historical preservation, and tribal lands that may be impacted by the Deepwater Horizon incident: (850) 245-6530.
To confirm legitimate charities and determine if an organization is registered with the state, call Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) (800) 435-7352 or www.800helpfla.com.
Information Websites:
Volunteer registration: www.VolunteerFlorida.org and click “Register to Help”
Health advisories: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/health.htm
State sampling data: www.nrdata.org
GATOR web mapping application: http://map.floridadisaster.org/gator/
Recovery related jobs, response management application: http://FloridaGulfRecoveryJobs.com/
NOAA GeoPlatform: http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/
State Actions
State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is at a Level 2 (Partial), operating from 0800 to 1700 EDT, with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) as the lead agency. :
Governor’s Executive Orders 10-99, 10-100, 10-106 and 10-132 declared a state of emergency for identified Florida coastal counties.
Governor’s Executive Order 10-101 established the Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force, which will facilitate efforts by Florida businesses and industries to recover the loss of commerce and revenues due to the oil spill.
Governor’s Executive Order 10-169, authorizing property appraisers to provide interim assessments of properties affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster.
Four Florida branch offices are fully operational in Northwest Florida. These branch offices bring together federal, state and local agencies to streamline response efforts.
Conducting daily conference calls with county and emergency management partners, the Federal On-Scene Coordinator, and various Unified Commands.
A SERT Toxicological Data Analysis Cell is providing consistent scientific assessments of collected sampling to inform local/state decision making.
85 Florida National Guard personnel on duty at various duty posts in the Deepwater Horizon area of operations.
19,865 volunteers have registered to respond to Deepwater Horizon. 29,841 volunteer hours have been worked.
AmeriCorps, National Civilian Community Corps members are assisting with models for a community-run Citizen Information Station (CIS).
Conducting daily reconnaissance flights and shoreline patrol from Escambia to Franklin Counties for impact. Real time reconnaissance reports are being entered into SERT GATOR.
Currently, Florida’s coast has 9 primary decontamination sites and 2 secondary sites for response vessels and 2 that are being operated for commercial vessels. 3 sites for recreational vessel decontamination have been established and 18 additional recreational vessel sites are in negotiations with BP.
Recovered Oiled Wildlife: 08/16/10
See the consolidated wildlife report updated by noon each day: http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doctype/2931/55963
Emergency Bridge Loan Program, cumulative totals- Applications: 96; Declined: 13; Approved: 83; Amount: $2,030,000
The Small Business Administration issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Declaration for the State of Florida. Outreach Centers are open in 9 counties.
Total Loan Applications:
- Issued: 756
- Accepted: 258
- Declined: 104
- Approved: 49
Loan amount approved: $4,715,700.00
Local States of Emergency
- Escambia: Expired
- Santa Rosa: Expired
- Okaloosa: Concurrent with State
- Bay: Expires on 8/19/10
- Gulf: Expires on 8/17/10
- Franklin: Expires on 8/16/10
- Wakulla: Expired
- Dixie: Expired
- Sarasota: Concurrent with State
- Jefferson: Expired
County EOC Activations
- Escambia, Level 3
- Santa Rosa, Level 2 (Partial)
- Okaloosa, Level 2 (Partial)
- Walton, Level 3
- Bay, Level 2 (Partial)
- Gulf, Level 2 (Partial)
- Franklin, Level 3
- Wakulla, Level 2 (Partial)
- Jefferson, Level 3
Topics: 2010, August 16, beaches, BP, British Petroleum, business, coastline, Deepwater Horizon, Economy, emergency response, environment, environmental impact, Fishery Failure Determination, fishing, Florida, Florida seafood products, GOHSEP, Governance, government, Governor Charlie Crist, Gulf of Mexico, gulf oil map, landfall predictions, loans, Mexico Beach, moniter, monitor, news, noaa oil spill, Obama Administration, oil loop current, Oil Rig, oil spill, oil spill forecast, oil spill map, Panama City Beach, Panhandle, Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Pass, pollution, President Obama, tourism, Transocean, U.S., United States, VISIT FLORIDA marketing campaign, White House, www.visitflorida.com
Print This Article in Plain Text
|
|
Latest Headlines
- Osama Bin Laden Dead?
- Florida To Share $1 Billion For Gulf Coast Restoration Efforts
- Texas Prays For Rain During Extreme Drought Conditions
- Governor Christie Takes Action To Reduce Diesel Emissions, Improve Air Quality
- Governor McDonnell Outlines Draft Transportation Improvement Program
- Alaska Energy Bill Passes Legislature
- Illinois State Building Receives ENERGY STAR Award
- Homeland Security Begins Using National Terrorism Advisory System
- U.S. Outlines New Health Insurance Options For Graduating College Students
- Electrolux Expands In North Carolina, To Create 200 Jobs In Charlotte
- Virginia Storm Victims To Receive Tax Extension
- U.S. Expands Broadband Investment For Rural Areas To Accelerate Job Creation
- U.S. To Invest $130 Million For Advanced Energy Research
- Michigan Passes “I’m Sorry” Bill
- Kentucky Sells Two State Aircraft To Save Taxpayer Dollars
