ST. PETERSBURG AND ITS AREA BEACHES ARE EXPERIENCING NO IMPACTS FROM THE GULF OIL SPILL.
St. Petersburg and its emergency management staff, Pinellas County and agencies from the city's Ocean Team continue to monitor the oil crisis in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The future threat of Deepwater Horizon oil reaching Tampa Bay is essentially zero, according to NOAA's Chief of Emergency Response Division. This is due to factors such as the oil being over 300 miles away, the prevailing winds and currents, and the decreasing amount of oil in the Gulf. Local hotels are offering a "Book with Confidence" guarantee to offer a free night's stay if the oil spill affects our area. See http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/pages/oil-spill-update
- Visit the Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater website at http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/wide-open-beaches which offers excellent beach photos, live beach cams, and two underwater reef videos.
- Read latest press release
- Flow: New estimates indicate that a total of approximately 4.9 million barrels of oil were released from the well. Not all of this flowed into the Gulf; containment activities captured approximately 800,000 barrels of oil prior to the capping of the well. For more info, click here.
- Oil breakdown: New federal report shows that one third (33%) of the total oil released was captured or mitigated, 25% has evaporated or dissolved, 15% was dispersed into microscopic droplets, and the residual 26% is either on or just below the surface of the Gulf as residue or weathered tarballs, or washed ashore. Early indications are that the oil is degrading quickly. See full report and pie chart.
- Dispersants: EPA testing indicates that dispersant-oil mixtures are generally no more toxic to the aquatic test species than oil alone. There has been virtually no dispersant use since the well was capped on July 15. For more info, click here.
- Wildlife: Sea turtle eggs continue to be relocated from the Gulf coast to the East Coast where the hatchlings are released in to the Atlantic Ocean.For info, click here.
- Wellhead: Final "static kill" operations to seal the well are underway. The static kill will be followed by a final "bottom kill," after a relief well intercepts the crippled well. For information on well operations, click here. View a video here.
- For additional information, visit our website at www.pinellascounty.org/oilspill.
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BP has opened a local claims office, located at 2551 Drew Street in Clearwater. To file an oil spill-related claim, it is recommended that a business first visit www.BP.com/claims or call the BP hotline at 800-440-0858 to request a claim number. |
Florida small business owners who have lost income because of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and are struggling with the BP claims and payment system can apply for an expedited interest-free, short-term loan through the State of Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. Under the program, small business owners are eligible for up to $25,000 in interest-free financial help, with terms up to 12 months and available in most cases between 48-72 hours of submitting a completed application. Go to www.floridaoilhelp.com to learn more.
Updates
- 08/04/2010 - 12:00 p.m. - Deepwater Horizon Situation Report 98 [PDF 144KB]
- 08/04/2010 - 10:00 a.m. - Florida Deepwater Horizon Response [PDF 51KB]
Links
- St Petersburg Ocean Team
www.SPOceanTeam.org - Ocean Circulation Group
- Home page - http://ocgweb.marine.usf.edu/
- Models - Oil Spill Trajectory and Forecasts
- Tourism Information
www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/pages/oil-spill-update - More Info - www.pinellascounty.org/oilspill2010.htm
- "Underwater Updates" videos
www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/videos/underwaterupdates070710 - Deep Water Horizon Response Web Site:
www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/ - Florida Department of Environmental Protection
www.dep.state.fl.us/DeepWaterHorizon/
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Links for more information
Deep Water Horizon Response Web Site
www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/
Ocean Circulation Group
- Home Page: http://ocgweb.marine.usf.edu/
- Models - Oil Spill Trajectory and Forecasts
St Petersburg Ocean Team
www.spoceanteam.org
Visit St. Pete Clearwater (Tourism Information)
www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/pages/oil-spill-update
Volunteer Information
www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/