DEEPWATER HORIZON Oil Rig Explosion

On April 30, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist Issued Executive Order Number 10-99 (Emergency Management - Deepwater Horizon) proclaiming a state of emergency for Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay and Gulf Counties.

On May 3, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist issued Executive Order Number 10-100 that amended Executive Oder 10-99 to include Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is asking for the community's help to prepare for injured birds and coastal cleanup as the disastrous Gulf oil spill moves towards Florida. The sanctuary is asking for volunteers and items to be donated.

A Special Beach Cleanup Volunteer program is being managed by Keep Pinellas Beautiful. A banner on their website www.pinvol.org will enable people to sign up online to participate in a pre-beach cleanup. The goal is to get 5,000 people pre-registered. With notification from the USCG ICP the group can be activated 48 hours in advance to get them out 24 hours in advance to do the cleaning.

PLEASE NOTE: NEW WEBSITE FOR SPILL AND RESPONSE INFORMATION: National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen announced the launch of a new federal web portal— www.RestoreTheGulf.gov—dedicated to providing the American people with clear and accessible information and resources related to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill response and recovery. RestoreTheGulf.gov is designed to serve as a one-stop repository for news, data and operational updates related to administration-wide efforts to stop the BP oil leak and mitigate its impact on the environment, the economy and public health—unifying web resources across the administration and increasing public access to the latest information.

The web portal maintained by the Unified Area Command’s Joint Information Center as a short term incident communication site www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com will be phased out over the coming weeks as information there is moved to RestoreTheGulf.gov.

Please help get the word out to your constituents about this new website to ensure that they have uninterrupted access to information about resources available to impacted individuals and communities.