On Tuesday, April 20, 2010, an offshore oil drilling platform, Deepwater Horizon, exploded in the Gulf of Mexico near Louisiana. The rig, owned by Transocean Ltd, was under contract to BP. Submerged at the bottom of the Gulf, the rig continues to discharge in the range of 35,000 to 60,000 barrels per day. BP, the United States Coast Guard and the Minerals Management Service are the lead response agencies on the oil spill. As a result of the possible threat of danger being posed to our shores, Indian River County Emergency Management staff formed a Deepwater Horizon Task Force with the purpose of improving information sharing and providing a clearinghouse for dispelling rumors.
The goals of the group will be to open lines of communication regarding:
- Protection of the county’s coastline
- Assurance of BP/USCG availability of booms, and/or other protective materials, if needed
- Preservation of the environment
- Potential health concerns
- Distribution of adequate public information
- Protection of our wildlife
- Coordination, training and safety of volunteers
- Coordination of government reimbursement from BP
- Coordination with neighboring counties
The initial meeting of the task force was held at 4:00 p.m. on June 22, 2010, at the county Commission Chambers located at the Indian River County Administration Complex, 1801 27th Street, Building A, Vero Beach, Florida. Future meetings will be scheduled on an as-needed basis.
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