We have some good news for Florida today as winds have shifted to blow the spill to the west. Oil is not expected to reach our area for at least the next 72 hours. Our beaches remain beautiful and oil free. See today’s Surf Dweller photo and 2 Okaloosa Island photos taken yesterday. Four oil diversion booms will be placed on our island in the near future.

Due to size, I will send the final local action plan developed by the emergency task force via separate e-mail. The Okaloosa county plan was revised at our recommendation to include use of the PAN machine and disking. The PAN machine can remove a layer of contaminated sand as little as 1/4″ in depth. Disking is used to invert a thin layer of stained sand. We also requested weighing all sand removed from Okaloosa Island beaches. This suggestion was incorporated, and will quantify sand volume lost.

There are no confirmed incidents of oil on Okaloosa county beaches. Please remain vigilant and report any suspected oil spotted in the water, on the beach, or affected wildlife to the appropriate hot-lines.
To report oil on shore: 1-866-448-5816
To report oil affected wildlife: 1-866-557-1401
To make spill related claims: 1-800-440-0858
To volunteer: 1-866-448-5816

Below is the latest update from senator Gaetz, and a local press article.

David Sherry
President SDOA

From Senator Don Gaetz
5:00 p.m. Central Time, May 10, 2010
Dear Neighbor,

Just a few moments ago, I talked again with DEP Secretary Mike Sole, who is Florida’s “point man” in addressing the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Here are some highlights from that conversation:

1. BP will try the “dome” again.

2. At my request, Sec Sole is asking in the strongest terms that BP establish “claims centers” throughout Northwest Florida, so that persons and businesses with damages and business losses can speak face to face with decision-makers, who have the authority to make payments. More needs to be done sooner to meet the business loss realities caused by the spill. At present, BP has seven claims adjusters on the ground in Florida. They have processed 493 claims and paid out $44,000 – a small fraction of the business loss that could be documented just by walking the docks at Destin, Panama City or Pensacola.

3. Sec. Sole tells me that Escambia and Santa Rosa’s booming plans HAVE been approved.

4. Both Representative Matt Gaetz and I have strongly advised that the State of Florida should approach BP now for far more than the $25 million granted by BP for state and local government costs associated with the spill.

We will keep you advised of any developments as fast as possible.

Respectfully,

Senator Don Gaetz