Gulf Coast Oil Disaster

Gulf Coast Oil Disaster - Special Coverage on CNN.com

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A feather sits on the beach in Grand Isle, Louisiana, in a section closed due to the disaster. More...

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been designated the lead state agency for responding to potential impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill along Florida’s shoreline. Please visit the Deepwater Horizon website for updates and information on response actions and impacts to the state of Florida. An email signup is available...more

Florida Oil Spill Information Line
(888) 337-3569
(800) 955-8771 (TDD)
(800) 955-8770 (voice)

Unified Command for the BP Oil Spil

Unified Command for the BP Oil Spill | Press releases

Florida Responds to Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Disaster

Floridians and Visitors Urged to “S.A.V.E.”

Safety first!

• Oil is a hazardous material and must only be handled by highly trained professionals and volunteers.
• Do not attempt to clean impacted beaches or attempt to rescue oiled wildlife on your own.
• Touching oil is a health risk and disposing of it improperly may cause additional environmental damage
• Distressed wildlife may become aggressive and harm you.

Always heed local warnings from health officials.

• Do not trespass on closed beaches.
• Even leaving your footprints behind may cause environmental damage.
• Volunteers should not expect to just show up at affected beaches and work.
• Doing so puts you at risk for health problems, hinders the efforts of response personnel, and may cause further irreparable damage to impacted beaches.

Valuable resources are needed by responding agencies.

• Consider donating much-needed cash to responding organizations.
• Confirm the needs with a responding organization before collecting items.

Engage wisely.

• Join a responding organization and become trained to volunteer safely and effectively.
• The need for volunteers and donations is long-term.
• Time and resources will be needed for months.

# # #

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Information and Links - Florida

Links - Information About the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

State Emergency Response Team Situation Report for Monday, May 3, 2010 http://www.floridadisaster.org/eoc/PressReleases/Deepwater_Roll_Out_Day_3%5B1%5D.pdf

Florida Division of Emergency Management http://www.floridadisaster.org/index.asp#
Provides daily "Flash Reports" 

Announcement about Unified Command Now Activated in St. Petersburg, FL http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/539371/ 

To find out about volunteer opportunities and cleanup events
 www.volunteerflorida.org 

Air quality monitoring and US Environmental Protection Agency: 
http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/

Coast Guard Sector Mobile Area Contingency Plan   
http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ACP/MOBACP/StartHere.html

Updates by email  
www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon

Florida State Emergency Response Team blog http://flsertinfo.blogspot.com/ 
Department of Environmental Prevention Response Site
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/293/

Hello Grief

A Place to Share and Learn about Grief and Loss

• Community support – Hello Grief offers an online community of real people walking the walk. The community is an extension of our camp philosophy that you are not alone.
• Sharing and Remembering – You can create interactive Memorial Walls, and share your good times and bad in the Forums, or via blog posts.
• Stories and Opinions – In a blog-style format, our articles are from real people, with real opinions, and range from personal stories about living with a loss, to suggested coping strategies from grief experts.
• Resources – We want to connect you with bereavement organizations in your area, so we provide a list by state, and nationally.
• Validation – From your peers, or from our authors, Hello Grief aims to let you know that whatever you are thinking and feeling is OK.

It is OK to grieve, talk, cry, be happy, and live a full life, even with Grief. 

Hello Grief

"When Love Is Not Enough"

Hallmark Hall of Fame Presents "When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story"

Golden Globe winner and two-time Academy Award nominee Winona Ryder (The Age of Innocence, Little Women)and Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominee Barry Pepper (61*, Saving Private Ryan) star in the new Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story. The film, premiering on CBS Sunday, April 25, 2010, 9-11pm ET/PT, is based on the true story of the sorely-tested but enduring love between Lois Wilson (Ryder), co-founder of Al-Anon, and her husband Bill Wilson (Pepper), co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.