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Oil spotted about 32 miles off PCB
A U.S. Navy crew flying late Wednesday evening spotted an oil slick approximately 32 miles southwest of Panama City Beach, Bay County Chief of Emergency Services Mark Bowen told members of the media at a news briefing Thursday. The slick contained sheen as well as thick, orange product and extended for more than a mile. Bowen said Bay County residents and visitors can expect to see additional impacts from the oil release in coming days, which could include scattered tar balls, tar mats, sheen or a mousse-like substance. He noted, however, that the impacts would not likely close the beaches.
"We're going to be affected," Bowen said, "but the extent to which we are depends entirely on the currents and the wind. We will do everything humanly possible to protect Bay County."
He said teams would respond to reports of oil product on the beach and clean them up as quickly as possible, and that contractors would soon begin operating at night so workers could take advantage of the cooler temperatures.
Bay County contracted Thursday with AshBritt, a Florida-based disaster-response company, for additional boom and 23 additional bay skimmers. The county has been in discussions with the company for well over a month for the extra equipment. Bowen said Bay County is also proceeding with plans to further fortify the St. Andrew Bay Pass from oil intrusion.
Bay County has also requested at least 200 U.S. National Guard troops to assist with the cleanup.
Current NOAA trajectories show the oil continuing it's eastward movement over the next few days.
The state Department of Environmental Protection and the state Department of Health continue to conduct water and air quality sampling. To learn more about the sampling and for health advsories concerning the Deepwater Horizon oil release, click here.
To report oil on the beach, a suspicious odor, oiled wildlife or for information about the oil release, please call (850) 248-6030. |
NOAA closes federal waters off Bay County to fishing
Federal waters off Panama City Beach are closed to all fishing as of 5 p.m. today, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Approximately 33.4 percent of federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico are now closed, according to a news release. Federal waters due south of Shell Island are not included in the closed area. Click here to see the map. |
Workforce Center seeking potential clean-up applicants
People seeking employment in any potential clean-up efforts should register with the Gulf Coast Workforce Center. BP has contracted with a private company to fill approximately 600 positions in Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties. For more information about oil spill-related jobs, click here. |
| Visit Bay County Web site for most current information
Unified Command produces an incident action plan (IAP) every 48 hours weekdays on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The IAP contains the newest information regarding the release response in red so that it is easily discernable from more dated information. The IAP is the best way for the general public to keep abreast of all the latest news concerning the oil release. These are posted to the county's Web site for public review as soon as they are prepared and provide the most current information about the oil release.
To view the latest IAP, click here. You may also call the EOC information hotline at (850) 248-6030 for information.
Click here to visit the Bay County Web site.
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BP claims, outreach offices open
BP has opened a claims office at 7938 Front Beach Road, located in the shopping plaza adjacent to the Bay Street Deli. Business owners and those who have been affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil release may use this as a resource for recouping their financial losses. BP advises that people filing claims should still call the toll-free number to enter their information into the claims database. That number is (800) 440-0858. BP also has opened a community support office located at 3101 U.S. 98, across the street from Howell Marine and Tackle Supply. At this office, BP can provide information about the oil release and answer community questions. Bay County continues to monitor the release and work with the U.S. Coast Guard in the ongoing effort to prepare for any effects of the oil release that may be realized here. For more information about the release and efforts being made to contain it, visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com. |
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Bay County will continue to strive to provide residents and visitors with the most current information.
Sincerely,
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Bay County Public Information Officer Valerie Lovett
Bay County Board of County Commissioners |
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