Florida Releases August 4, 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Situation Update
On August 4 NOAA forecast oil trajectories continue to keep significant patches of oil to remain well south and west of Florida.
Though no direct oil impacts are expected through Thursday minor tarball impacts are still possible. Offshore, no oil has been observed for several weeks.
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.
BP began the static kill yesterday. After eight hours of pumping heavy drilling mud, the well is static. Cement may be applied to fill the well over the next few days.
Winds will be out of a general southwest direction around 5 knots through the week. Calm seas of 2 feet or less are expected as well. A 40-50% chance of rain is forecast both on and offshore today through Sunday for all Florida branches.
Lightning and gusty winds will be the main hazards. Despite shower activity, heat indices will continue to reach dangerous levels up to 110 degrees for several hours today and a Heat Advisory is in effect for northern Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa, as well as the entire eastern Panhandle and Liberty, Gadsden, and Leon Counties in the Big Bend.
Florida Beaches Remain OPEN! Learn more.
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 4, 2010.
Map of BP Oil Spill as of August 4, 2010. Click on images for larger picture.
This forecast is based on the NWS spot forecast from Tuesday, August 3 PM. Currents were obtained from several models (NOAA Gulf of Mexico, West Florida Shelf/USF, TGLO/TAMU, NAVO/NRL) and HFR measurements. The model was initialized from Sunday-Tuesday satellite imagery analysis (NOAA/NESDIS). The leading edge may contain tarballs that are not readily observable from the imagery (hence not included in the model initialization). Oil near bay inlets could be brought into that bay by local tidal currents.
No recoverable oil has been reported from overflights since Saturday, July 31. The NESDIS satellite data analysis showed a few small scattered anomalies offshore. No new shorelines impacts are expected in the forecast period. The 72 hour forecast shows no visible oil.
View the Florida Gator Interactive Oil Spill Map here.
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:
The remnant low of Tropical Storm Colin has become a little better organized this morning, but due its location in an area of strong wind shear, the National Hurricane Center has given the system a 20% chance of redevelopment within the next 48 hours. The remnant low is expected to continue on its northwestward track and then turn more towards the north later this weekend. An area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms in the southern Caribbean has also been given a 20% chance of development before it moves inland in Central America.
Current Situation:
Florida beaches are open.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced yesterday that a new 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 31,400 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 5,050
- Response aircraft available: 85
- Presently monitoring security situations.
Florida Specific:
All supplemental Tier 3 boom is being removed and stored in the Northwest Florida counties.
Tar balls and light sheen continue to be reported in Northwest Florida.
Five state-leased skimmers remain on standby in Northwest Florida to protect sensitive inland water bodies. These skimmers are operating out of Escambia, Okaloosa, Bay, Gulf and Franklin Counties.
Oil Containment Boom (in feet) total: 299,000 deployed in Florida. Tier 1 & Tier 2: 293,000 / Tier 3: 6000. In accordance with established plans, protective booming, staging, and boom maintenance is being conducted along the coast from Escambia to Franklin. 119 vessels are deployed in Florida for the Vessels of Opportunity program. 607 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 36,189 with approximately $54,506,087.78 paid.
BP Has assumed direct financial responsibility for approx $9 mil 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 1 (Full), operating from 0700 to 1800 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.
The Agency for Workforce Innovation and Regional Workforce Boards are identifying and filling jobs related to the oil spill: 17,170 positions advertised; 45,957 applicants referred.
119 Florida National Guard personnel on duty at various duty posts in the Deepwater Horizon area of operations.
19,740 volunteers have registered to respond to Deepwater Horizon. 25,913 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 Wild Life: 08/01/10
See the consolidated wildlife report updated by noon each day: http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doctype/2931/55963
The Boom Coordination Cell continues to coordinate additional boom requests. The Innovative Technology Cell continues to assess alternative clean-up technologies suggested by the public and stakeholders.
Emergency Bridge Loan Program, cumulative totals- Applications: 84; Declined: 12; Approved: 72; Amount: $1,770,000.00
The Small Business Administration issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Declaration for the State of Florida. Outreach Centers are open in 8 counties.
Total Loan Applications:
- Issued: 713 Accepted: 238
- Declined: 93
- Approved: 46
- Loan amount approved: $4,633,000.00
Local States of Emergency:
- Escambia: Expires on 8/6/10
- Santa Rosa: Expires on 8/06/10
- Okaloosa: Concurrent with State
- Bay: Expires on 8/06/10
- Gulf: Expired
- Franklin: Expires on 8/9/10
- Wakulla: Expires on 8/9/10
- Dixie: Expired
- Sarasota: Expired
- 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 4, 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
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