In New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast, we take for granted easy access to fresh fish and seafood. We take for granted that we are home to many species that are reliant on the condition of our coastal waters and wetlands to survive. We take all of this for granted until they are threatened by something that is out of our control.
Over 6,000 square miles of fishing waters have been shut down due to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Stop for a moment and consider that. Over six thousand square miles.
That number will more than likely grow over the coming days since it appears that BP has yet to figure out how to cap the leak that continues to spew oil into the Gulf at this moment.
Not only is this a tragedy for our environment, but 11 workers lost their lives during the initial rig explosion. Many of them were from right here on the West Bank and it makes my heart ache to see posts offering prayers to those who lost loved ones.
I've been watching the Facebook updates from people who live in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. I've read how willing people are to step up and offer help in any way they can, whether it's with the actual clean up or through donations. It's been difficult to separate the real information from the rumors, but this appears to be the most accurate list I can find.
- From the State of Louisiana
Volunteer
To report oil on land and for Community and Volunteer Information, call 1-866-448-5816.
To offer your vessel for service or submit alternative response technology, services or products, call 281-366-5511 or email HorizonSupport@OEGLLC.com
You can register through OilSpillVolunteers.com to volunteer or join a cleanup organization.
The BP Volunteer Hotline has set up numbers if you need to report injured wildlife or damage related to the spill. You can also request volunteer information at 866-448-5816.
The Oiled Wildlife Care Network is providing volunteer information, though help from private citizens is not being requested at this time.
- The Audubon Society is rounding up volunteers here.
- Can't join the clean up? Local t-shirt designer Fleurty Girl is selling the Rescue Me shirt, with all proceeds going to the Audubon Institute's oil spill rescue efforts of marine mammals and sea turtles. Printed with soy inks, no petroleum products were used in printing. You can order shirts here and use discount code RESCUE for free shipping.
The impact this will have on the Gulf Coast environment and economy has the potential to be devastating for many. Please take a moment and help in whatever way you can.
****************************************************
UPDATE 5/5/2010 - THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY SENATOR DAVID VITTER
****************************************************
Our office has received a significant number of calls and e-mails from people all over the country wanting to help or get involved in cleanup efforts for the oil spill in the Gulf. Also, we are working to stay on top of BP as the situation is assessed and trying to ensure that BP complies with its responsibility to stay involved and assist as many affected Louisiana constituents as possible.
There are two program updates that fishermen and other affected parties need to be aware of.
1. Claims: BP has initiated a program to assist those affected parties who can claim lost wages or other income due to the spill. Full details of the program are not yet available, but BP has indicated that they want to get restitution into the hands of affected parties. At minimum, it is important that affected Louisiana families and individuals get a claim number by calling the hotline: 1-800-440-0858.
2. Vessel of Opportunity: We wanted to inform you that BP has established a new Vessel of Opportunity line for those wishing to offer their vessels for service. The prior e-mail contacts and hotline were overwhelmed by those wanting to help. The new number is 281-366-5511. The new e-mail address is HorizonSupport@OEGLLC.com. Vessel owners will need to provide details about their vessel, including the name, owner, horsepower, length, draft, etc.
Other Pertinent Information:
• To report oiled wildlife, please call 1-866-557-1401 and leave a message. Messages will be checked hourly.
• To discuss spill related damage, please call 1-800-440-0858
• To report oiled shoreline, please call 1-866-448-5816.
• To request volunteer information, please call 1-866-448-5816.
• To contribute an idea or offer resources to the cleanup efforts please submit all relevant information to horizonresponse@piersystem.com.
• To submit an alternative response technology, services or products please email horizonsupport@oegllc.com or call 281-366-5511.
• For the latest information visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Oil_Spill_2010 or on Facebook at Deepwater Horizon Response.
• For members of the media needing more information regarding the Deepwater Horizon incident, contact the joint information center at 985-902-5231/5240.
If you're a Louisiana constituent affected by this spill and have concerns that BP is not committing enough resources or providing access to the claims program or the Vessel of Opportunity program, please call our hotline at 1-866-345-0931. If you do not receive an answer at that number, please call my Metairie office's direct line at 504-589-2753.
More information here too: http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov/
Just saw some actions that BP and others are taking to deal with the spill. I hope it works. It is still a challenge.
Lisa, Thanks for taking the time to research this and to make a post. The t-shirt idea is great for people out of the area who what to help. I will re-blog this for more people to see.
Gloria
Lisa,
BP is taking full responsinility for it. Also, Canada is sending down a team of exterpts to help.
Lisa - thank you for posting this. What a horrific event, the impact of which we will likely see for years.
Jeff
Lisa, I am originally from Baton Rouge (moved away for college) and watching all of this is absolutely heartbreaking. Thank you for bringing more attention to this and letting people know how they can help out. Here is a link to a CNN article that has volunteer opportunities in Alabama and Florida: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/30/impact.oil.spill/index.html. Love the tshirts from Fleurty Girl, about to order one!
N E W S F L A S H!!
This disaster could easily to driven by the Golf Stream north along the Atlantic Coast to the estuaries along the VA and MD coast into the Chesapeake Bay.
Lisa, Excellent post to give direction for folks who would like to help and just don't know where to start.
Lisa...
This disaster makes me so sad. So much is on the line. It sucks. If I could go help clean that mess up, I would. I'm gonna grab a few tees for the older Grand Kids.
TLW...ROAR!
Wonderful post!!!
Keep Blogging and remember Postive breesds Postive and neg_____ breeds - well no need in even mentioning that word:)
Great call to action. I heard on NPR that the shrimping industry is so seriously threatened that some have shut down their business and are seeking other careers. They've lost hope that they would be able to pass their business on to the next generation. Can you imagine? That's 10 or more years of a loss of shrimp due to oil. I think this is devastating.
We here in Florida share these concerns as well. Volunteers are being organized to help with cleanup and preventative measure to protect some areas. This is not just going to have an impact on the fishing industry but on tourism as well. Sad.
L:isa, thanks for providing some specific things that volunteers can do to help. I wish the best for all the folks who live and work in the Gulf region. I also pray that this disaster doesn't become a political football used to try to shut down the rest of the oil production that is so critical to our economy.
Lisa .. it is soo sad how this will affect so many, many people, wildlife and industry. Thank you for the info!
Lisa,
This is a major disaster. It just demonstrates how fragile the environment really is.
Brian
Lisa it is truly sad how much your great state of Louisiana (and my former home in '93-94) has has to bear the brunt of these disasters.
My suggestion is to take the entire arrogant executive staff of BP and have them volunteer to get out there and start heping with their own bare hands, of course the top guys probably need to be flogged in a public venue but wait...is that still allowed? Maybe in Arizona...
I am so sad to hear of this. I was a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity that helped after Katrina and this is just another horrible event!
Lisa, this is a sad situation and requires everyone to pitch in and help. Thanks.
Thats is great that so many people want to help, the only thing that makes me sad is that people have to collect funds to rescue the animals when BP should provide all funds for the damage they caused, they surely have them. They just collect the money and then turn their backs to their responsibility. Sad :(
On a larger scale, push for alternative, clean, and safe energy. Quit letting oil companies dictate energy policy. It seems that it is our problem when they screw up and BP is one of the leading offenders. They originally asked the schrimpers to help out and they would pay them as long as they signed a waiver for not seeking damages. They should pay for every bit of this clean up and compensate people who have lost their livelihood otherise the taxpayers have more unemployed to take care of.
Thank you for this information- I was wondering what could be done and what we could do if and when it heads our way here on Central Mid Florida Coast.
My heart is sick for the sea and wild life and our planet being affected by this disaster and for all the families whose livlihoods depend on the sea. I will re-blog this information to get the word out with the valuable informational links you have provided and I promise to do my what ever I can do.
This is one more wake up call to GO GREEN....we must support and fund alternate energy sources.
Lisa, What a great post not only because of the heightened awareness but more so because of the options you present for ways in which people can help.
Hi Lisa -- I saw an interview last night from a local business owner who has the capacity to store seafood, has heavy equipment, barge related services, and has inquired with both the Feds and BP multiple times about offering her services and has yet to receive a response. Absolutely heart breaking. I can't believe that a 500K piece of equipment (that exists in Norway, South America, etc.) could have instantly shut down this leak.
Lisa, I am so glad you wrote this post. I have been looking for one. You provide great information. Living near the ocean it saddens me to see this happening. The ocean is a great privilege and to have it removed from your life is like taking a piece of your soul. Re-blogging with a tear in my eye.
Lisa,
Thanks for writing this post and giving us the information needed. The ocean is an important part of our ecosystem and we need to care for it.
Lisa,
Thank you for the information and various ways to help. I'm forwarding this to as many people as possible.
thanks for the information. I hope this can be cleaned up with minimal impact but it seems it is going to do some serious damage.
Thanks for sharing more information about the spill. I did not hear that some lives were lost also. So much at stake and we take all this for granted.
Well done, Lisa. Reblogged.
I've reblogged this for the future.
Patricia
This is a catastrophic mess, sad to say.
Patricia
Great post, Lisa. I can't even being to imagine the effect that this is going to have on our coastal area for years to come.
Lisa- Thanks for passing ono the information on how to help! Very Cool!
The oil companies make all the profits on oil, so maybe they should take some of the money and clean this thing up themselves.
Already ordered the t-shirt thanks to you spreading the word on how we can help. It's a small help, but every little bit helps. Thanks for doing your part Lisa. You rock!
how to stop oil leak: remove boom from trackhole that has the jaws of life type tool on it, attach cables and hoses lower to bottom attach to pipe and smash off pipe to stop leak.
Our hearts go out to you guys! We hope and pray that this isn't another Exxon Valdez!
I've read online news about the seafood harvests and the worried fishermen throwing back their catch. It is a huge problem. Good luck with the clean up.
The President has the situation under control, he send lawyers down there right away to help. He is doing something, not sure what but he is talking about it so everything will be ok. Praise be to obama.
Hello Lisa, Great post. this is such a horrific tragedy on our environment for years to come.
Once again, man-made disasters pollute our planet...
Helping you help others live their American dream...
Hi Lisa, great information. It is so sad to see that this happened.
Lisa, Great post. Poor New Orleans. Another bad hit and shame on BP and Haliburton. It's not like they will be paying for anything-the environment and consumers pay. They just have a little mudd on their face while they scurry about to make it go away.
http://www.tonic.com/article/how-you-can-volunteer-to-clean-up-the-gulf-coast-oil-spill/
Want to volunteer to help clean up the gulf? The above link will show you how you can help.
Hi Lisa ~ As always, your are doing your part to help out when needed. This is a very sad situation that needs a lot of attention, help and devotion to get this disaster in the ocean cleared up immediately. I hope the links and suggestions you have provided will motivate people to take action and do something to help!
Lisa,
BP seems to be putting in all the effort to contain and eventually clean up the problem and our government needs to stay on top of that to make sure they'll do it, too.
I updated the post with more contact information provided by Senator Vitter's office.
This is so sad, Lisa. Just looking at that first bird they had all over the news was heartbreaking.
Lisa, This is such a devastating situation for the Gulf Coast. Thanks so much for putting the word out for everyone to see what volunteer opportunties there are as well as providing information for those involved in the tragedy. I ordered my t-shirt - thanks for that link as well.
I would love to help, but how from South Florida?
Here is WHAT I don't understand. How is it that we get ourselves involved in middle eastern wars in order to protect "our" oil interests there; yet we are allowing a foreign oil company to deep water drill in ouir own waters. It has been that fact that makes me feel so outraged!