“Large ocean swells from Hurricane Earl are forecast peak today and persist through Friday, particularly along East Central and Northeast Florida beaches,” said State Meteorologist Amy Godsey. “These swells will create dangerous rip currents that could be life-threatening to those who enter the surf unprepared.”

A rip current is a narrow, powerful current of water that runs perpendicular to the beach, out into the ocean. These currents may extend 200 to 2,500 feet (61 to 762 meters) lengthwise, but they are typically less than 30 feet (9 meters) wide. Also, rip currents can often move at more than 5 miles per hour (8 kilometers per hour) or faster and are not always identifiable to the average beachgoer.

In Florida, rip currents kill more people annually than thunderstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes combined. They are the number-one concern for beach lifeguards. According to the United States Lifesaving Association, 80 percent of surf beach rescues are attributed to rip currents. The greatest safety precaution that can be taken is to recognize the danger of rip currents and always remember to swim at beaches with lifeguards.

When at the beach:

* Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard-protected beach.
* Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches.
* Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards. Lifeguards are trained to identify hazards. Ask a lifeguard about the conditions before entering the water. This is part of their job.
* Learn how to swim in the surf.  It’s not the same as swimming in a pool or lake. Also, never swim alone.
* Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist alongside these structures.
* Consider using polarized sunglasses when at the beach. They will help you to spot signatures of rip currents by cutting down glare and reflected sunlight off the ocean’s surface.
* Pay especially close attention to children and elderly when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause loss of footing.

If caught in a rip current:

* Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
* Never fight against the current.
* Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
* Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle–away from the current–towards shore.
* If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
* If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.
If you see someone in trouble, don’t become a victim too:

* Get help from a lifeguard.
* If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.
* Throw the rip current victim something that floats–a lifejacket, a cooler, an inflatable ball.
* Yell instructions on how to escape.
* Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.

Beachgoers who want to learn more about rip currents can visit www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.  For more information on the Florida Division of Emergency Management and to GET A PLAN!, please visit: www.FloridaDisaster.org.  Follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/flsertinfo or join our

“Area beach conditions will be very rough and rip currents can be life-threatening to anyone entering the water along Florida’s East Coast this week,” State Meteorologist Amy Godsey said. “Beachgoers and surfers should check the rip current outlook and remember the warning flag signs before going into the water.”

A rip current is a narrow, powerful current of water that runs perpendicular to the beach, out into the ocean. These currents may extend 200 to 2,500 feet (61 to 762 meters) lengthwise, but they are typically less than 30 feet (9 meters) wide. Also, rip currents can often move at more than 5 miles per hour (8 kilometers per hour) or faster and are not always identifiable to the average beachgoer.

In Florida, rip currents kill more people annually than thunderstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes combined. They are the number-one concern for beach lifeguards. According to the United States Lifesaving Association, 80 percent of surf beach rescues are attributed to rip currents. The greatest safety precaution that can be taken is to recognize the danger of rip currents and always remember to swim at beaches with lifeguards.

When at the beach:

* Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard-protected beach.
* Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches.
* Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards. Lifeguards are trained to identify hazards. Ask a lifeguard about the conditions before entering the water. This is part of their job.
* Learn how to swim in the surf.  It’s not the same as swimming in a pool or lake. Also, never swim alone.
* Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist alongside these structures.
* Consider using polarized sunglasses when at the beach. They will help you to spot signatures of rip currents by cutting down glare and reflected sunlight off the ocean’s surface.
* Pay especially close attention to children and elderly when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause loss of footing.

If caught in a rip current:

* Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
* Never fight against the current.
* Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
* Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle–away from the current–towards shore.
* If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
* If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.

If you see someone in trouble, don’t become a victim too:

* Get help from a lifeguard.
* If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.
* Throw the rip current victim something that floats–a lifejacket, a cooler, an inflatable ball.
* Yell instructions on how to escape.
* Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.

Beachgoers who want to learn more about rip currents can visit www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov. For more information on the Florida Division of Emergency Management and to GET A PLAN!, please visit: www.FloridaDisaster.org. Follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/flsertinfo or join our blog at: http://flsertinfo.blogspot.com/.

Captain Rick Murphy, the official spokesperson for Pitch In-Pump Out, is a well-known Florida sportsman and host of Sportman’s Adventures with Captain Rick Murphy on SunSports. He will be featured on television and radio ads airing statewide spreading the message to pitch in and pump out.

“We are very excited to begin this campaign with Captain Rick Murphy and encourage boaters and marinas to be active in protecting Florida’s waterways,” said DEP Interim Secretary Mimi Drew. “It is important that boaters know how to properly dispose of sewage, and that marinas know about the grant money available right now to help them purchase and operate pumpout equipment.”

Marine facilities can take advantage of CVA grants that reimburse 75 percent of the total costs of approved pumpout projects, leaving the marina responsible for only 25 percent of the total in matching funds. To offset out of pocket expense, the program also allows facilities to count in-house labor costs and pumpout boat trade-in values toward meeting the required match. With an average cost of $12,000 – $75,000, pumpout projects allow sewage to be removed from a boat and then disposed of through established treatment procedures.

The remodeled Pitch In-Pump Out website, www.PitchIn-Pumpout.com, provides easy access to all grant application forms and clear, easy-to-follow steps through the application process as well as an online application for marinas. The site also provides tips for boaters on proper pumpout techniques and a listing of pumpout stations in Florida.

With more than 2,000 marinas, Florida has the largest number of marine facilities in the country. Drawing millions of visitors each year, Florida’s clear waters, world-class beaches and coral reefs support a $60.8 billion tourism industry, an $18.9 billion boating industry and a fishing industry that injects more than $7.5 billion a year into Florida’s communities.

When sewage is sent overboard, it can negatively impact both the environment and human health. Sewage contains disease-causing microorganisms and can reduce oxygen levels in water that fish and other aquatic species need to survive. To date, more than 10.5 million gallons of raw sewage from boats has been prevented from being discharged into Florida waters because one of the state’s 411 pumpout facilities were used.

Shrimp lay on a sorting table after being pulled from the bay to be checked for signs of oil, August 14, 2010. Photo credit: US Coast Guard

“Communities along the Gulf Coast are facing difficult and uncertain economic times,” said Brian McGowan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, who is coordinating the interagency National Incident Command Economic Solutions Team. “The Obama administration is committed to helping the region regain its economic footing and these assessments are one important step in the process to get local residents and the economy working again. This effort will help ensure a collaborative recovery process that targets resources and optimizes economic recovery efforts.”

The deployment of these teams is an initiative of the National Incident Command’s “Economic Solutions Team.” These teams include federal agency representatives, who are part of this interagency working group. They are working in partnership with experienced economic development and disaster recovery specialists, who are providing vital capacity and technical assistance for this initiative. The International Economic Development Council is the lead NGO partner for this effort.

The analysis of these teams is based on qualitative conversations with stakeholders. Two pilot teams have already been deployed to communities in Louisiana, for a total of 21 teams.

While on the ground, teams work with local leadership from regional government, chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, business representatives from key industries, and others. After their initial visits, assessment teams intend to develop reports, which will be shared with communities.

The Coast Guard also says it hasn’t seen any oil in the last 30 days in the 5,144-square mile area of the Gulf, allowing it to be cleared for fishing. Officials in Gulf states, including Florida, were part of the decision, a statement from NOAA said.

The closure has stunted Florida’s Panhandle fishing industry, even though large swaths of the Gulf remained open to fishing throughout. Confusion among the general public about where fishing was allowed was particularly problematic for charter fishing captains, who have seen clients drop off heavily in the last few months. It also has led to a downturn in seafood sales with customers wary of possible impacts from the BP spill.

“Consumer safety is NOAA’s primary concern, which is why we developed rigorous safety standards in conjunction with the FDA and the Gulf states to ensure that seafood is safe in the reopened area,” said Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “We are confident that Gulf fish from this area is safe to eat and pleased that recreational and commercial fisherman can fish these waters again.”

Gov. Charlie Crist praised the move.

“The federal waters off beautiful Northwest Florida are once again open for fishing, and Florida’s commercial and recreational fishermen are eager to get back to work,” Crist said in a statement.  “I join them in celebrating this much-needed boost to our economy and quality of life.” He then invited people to come to the Panhandle to go to the beach and “enjoy Florida’s delicious seafood.”

NOAA officials said they sampled 153 finfish, including grouper, snapper, tuna and mahi mahi, from the area from June 27 through July 20.

“Scientists found “no detectable oil or dispersant odors or flavors, and results of chemical analysis well below the levels of concern,” NOAA said.

”We know how important it is to the culture and economy of this region to get back out on the water and be able to once again harvest the seafood that the Gulf is famous for,” said Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, commissioner of food and drugs. “But our top priority in the wake of this disaster must be the safety of the fish that makes it to market. We are confident that the proper processes have been followed, and that consumers can feel good once again serving their families seafood from these waters.”

NOAA said it will continue to take samples for testing from the newly re-opened area, and the agency has also implemented dockside sampling to test fish caught by commercial fishermen.

After Tuesday’s announcement, the closed area in the Gulf now includes 52,395 miles, or 22 percent of federal waters in the Gulf, down from 37 percent at its largest. NOAA had already re-opened about 26,000 square miles of the eastern Gulf off of Florida last month.

With Tuesday’s action, fishing is allowed in an area that gets as close as about 115 miles from the Deepwater Horizon wellhead that was leaking oil.

The News Service of Florida

Workers continue to respond to reports of oiled beaches due to the BP oil spill. (Photo credit: U.S. Coast Guard)

A third (33 percent) of the total amount of oil released in the Deepwater Horizon/BP spill was captured or mitigated by the Unified Command recovery operations, including burning, skimming, chemical dispersion and direct recovery from the wellhead, the report indicated.

An additional 25 percent of the total oil naturally evaporated or dissolved, and 16 percent was dispersed naturally into microscopic droplets.  The residual amount, just over one quarter (26 percent), is either on or just below the surface as residue and weathered tarballs, has washed ashore or been collected from the shore, or is buried in sand and sediments.  Dispersed and residual oil remain in the system until they degrade through a number of natural processes.  Early indications are that the oil is degrading quickly.

These estimates were derived by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI), who jointly developed what’s known as an Oil Budget Calculator, to provide measurements and best estimates of what happened to the spilled oil. The calculator is based on 4.9 million barrels of oil released into the Gulf, the government’s Flow Rate Technical Group estimate from Monday.  More than 25 of the best government and independent scientists contributed to or reviewed the calculator and its calculation methods.

“Teams of scientists and experts have been carefully tracking the oil since day one of this spill, and based on the data from those efforts and their collective expertise, they have been able to provide these useful and educated estimates about the fate of the oil,” says Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.  “Less oil on the surface does not mean that there isn’t oil still in the water column or that our beaches and marshes aren’t still at risk.  Knowing generally what happened to the oil helps us better understand areas of risk and likely impacts.”

The estimates do not make conclusions about the long-term impacts of oil on the Gulf.  Fully understanding the damages and impacts of the spill on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem is something that will take time and continued monitoring and research.

Dispersion increases the likelihood that the oil will be biodegraded, both in the water column and at the surface.  While there is more analysis to be done to quantify the rate of biodegradation in the Gulf, early observations and preliminary research results from a number of scientists show that the oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill is biodegrading quickly.  Scientists from NOAA, EPA, DOE, and academic scientists are working to calculate more precise estimates of this rate.

It is well known that bacteria that break down the dispersed and weathered surface oil are abundant in the Gulf of Mexico in large part because of the warm water, the favorable nutrient and oxygen levels, and the fact that oil enters the Gulf of Mexico through natural seeps regularly.

View the full BP oil spill budget report HERE.

Residual oil is also degraded and weathered by a number of physical and biological processes.  Microbes consume the oil, and wave action, sun, currents and continued evaporation and dissolution continue to break down the residual oil in the water and on shorelines.

The oil budget calculations are based on direct measurements wherever possible and the best available scientific estimates where measurements were not possible.  The numbers for direct recovery and burns were measured directly and reported in daily operational reports.  The skimming numbers were also based on daily reported estimates.  The rest of the numbers were based on previous scientific analyses, best available information and a broad range of scientific expertise.  These estimates will continue to be refined as additional information becomes available.

You can vote by:

·         Visiting www.refresheverything.com/easyasoneflorida; and

·         Texting 101291 to Pepsi (73774). Standard text messaging rates apply.

“We are thrilled that DEP’s proposal was accepted as part of the Pepsi Refresh challenge,” said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. “The Easy As One campaign’s goal is to show everyone that one simple step can go a long way in protecting the environment, and voting for this project is one easy way to engage students in the effort to green Florida’s future.”

Pepsi accepts approximately 1,000 proposals each month from people, businesses and non-profits whose ideas will have a positive impact on their community. The top 10 projects with the most votes in each category receive funding to turn their proposal into reality.

If the Easy As One project is selected for funding, DEP will:

·         Teach Florida students green habits.

·         Provide information and tools to students statewide.

·         Award schools a grant of $1,500 to use towards greening their schools.

·         Award an additional $7,000 to the school that excels above all others.

·         Hold a YouTube contest demonstrating simple green actions.

On Earth Day, April 22, 2010, the Easy as One campaign was launched, highlighting easy actions each one of us can do to make green practices part of our daily lives at home, at school, at work and at play.  For more information about the Easy As One campaign visit, http://easyasone.wordpress.com/ or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EasyAsOne.

See Video Below

Path of Tropical Storm Bonnie

Allen said that the rig drilling the relief will also be moved, due to the potential risk that might be posed on account of the Storm.  Allen said that he had directed BP to take measures to ensure the vessels operating the ROVs are the last to leave and the first to return in order to maximize monitoring of the well.

Such actions Allen said, may delay the effort to kill the well for several days.   Allen said that a decision had been taken to leave the cap on, even if the well is unattended.

Meanwhile, forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Thursday at 11:00 pm:

“Tropical Storm Bonnie was located near latitude 23.4 north and longitude 76.5 west. Bonnie is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph. A turn toward the west-northwest and a faster forward speed are forecast on Friday.  On the forecast track, the center of Bonnie is expected to pass near or over the Florida Keys and the Southern Florida Peninsula on Friday and move into the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Friday night and Saturday.  Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts.  Slow strengthening is possible during the next 48 hours.  Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 45 miles, mainly to the northeast of the center.”

South Florida residents were urged on Thursday by the Florida Division of Emergency Management, to follow the progress of Tropical Storm Bonnie, head local advisories and be prepared to implement their family disaster plans.

The NHC reported that the storm system had already caused flooding in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Governor Boddy Jindel earlier on Thursday, declared a state of emergency in Louisiana.

In this image taken from video provided by BP at 22:19 CDT, the containment stack is shown at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday, July 18, 2010. BP and the Obama administration offered significantly differing views Sunday on whether the capped Gulf of Mexico oil well will have to be reopened, a contradiction that may be an effort by the oil giant to avoid blame if crude starts spewing again. (AP Photo/BP PLC)

Allen also said that preparations for a final casing run to reinforce the wellbore were being undertaken– a step that must be done before a static kill of the broken well could proceed and before a bottom kill could be conducted through a relief well.

As part of continued efforts to monitor the environmental impacts of the BP oil spill, NOAA scientists today released a data report on air quality measurements collected in June in the vicinity of the well site.

The EPA continues to collect air, water and sediment samples to study the environmental impacts of the BP oil spill. Surface water samples collected on July 13-15 along the Gulf Coast found that nickel exceeded chronic water benchmarks in one sample. At this level, nickel may cause risk to aquatic life.

With another opening in Port St. Joe, the Florida Panhandle now has four branch offices dedicated to providing coordinated and rapid oil spill response efforts to near shore and inland waterway areas. Under the joint tactical direction of the U.S. Coast Guard and BP, the branches are responsible for beach cleaning, implementing the Vessel of Opportunity programs, and boom deployment and maintenance. Branches are currently located in Pensacola, Destin, Panama City, and Port St. Joe—serving Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Franklin, Wakulla, and Jefferson counties.

From the Houma, La., Incident Command Post, a total of 262 personnel, 83 vessels and four helicopters participated in reconnaissance and wildlife rescue and recovery missions. Clean-up crews removed stranded absorbent boom at Delta and Breton National Wildlife Refuges yesterday. From the Mobile, Ala., Incident Command Post, 37 two-person teams, 23 support personnel and 12 vessels responded to 45 Wildlife Hotline calls. To report oiled wildlife, call (866) 557-1401.

The administration continues to hold the responsible parties accountable for repairing the damage, and repaying Americans who’ve suffered a financial loss as a result of the BP oil spill. To date, 121,217 claims have been opened, from which more than $226 million have been disbursed. No claims have been denied to date. There are 1,118 claims adjusters on the ground. To file a claim, visit www.bp.com/claims or call BP’s helpline at 1-800-440-0858. Those who have already pursued the BP claims process and are not satisfied with BP’s resolution can call the Coast Guard at (800) 280-7118. Additional information about the BP claims process and all available avenues of assistance can be found at www.disasterassistance.gov.

By the Numbers to Date:

* The administration has authorized the deployment of 17,500 National Guard troops from Gulf Coast states to respond to this crisis; currently, 1,662 are active.

* Approximately 41,600 personnel are currently responding to protect the shoreline and wildlife and cleanup vital coastlines.

* More than 5,300 vessels are currently responding on site, including skimmers, tugs, barges, and recovery vessels to assist in containment and cleanup efforts—in addition to dozens of aircraft, remotely operated vehicles, and multiple mobile offshore drilling units.

* More than 3.49 million feet of containment boom and 7.62 million feet of sorbent boom have been deployed to contain the spill—and approximately 798,000 feet of containment boom and 3.08 million feet of sorbent boom are available.

* More than 34.7 million gallons of an oil-water mix have been recovered.

* Approximately 1.84 million gallons of total dispersant have been applied—1.07 million on the surface and 771,000 sub-sea. Approximately 577,000 gallons are available.

* 411 controlled burns have been conducted, efficiently removing a total of more than 11.14 million gallons of oil from the open water in an effort to protect shoreline and wildlife. Because calculations on the volume of oil burned can take more than 48 hours, the reported total volume may not reflect the most recent controlled burns.

* 17 staging areas are in place to protect sensitive shorelines.

* Approximately 626 miles of Gulf Coast shoreline is currently oiled—approximately 363 miles in Louisiana, 108 miles in Mississippi, 70 miles in Alabama, and 85 miles in Florida. These numbers reflect a daily snapshot of shoreline currently experiencing impacts from oil so that planning and field operations can more quickly respond to new impacts; they do not include cumulative impacts to date, or shoreline that has already been cleared.

* Approximately 83,927 square miles of Gulf of Mexico federal waters remain closed to fishing in order to balance economic and public health concerns. More than 65 percent remains open. Details can be found at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.

* To date, the administration has leveraged assets and skills from numerous foreign countries and international organizations as part of this historic, all-hands-on-deck response, including Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization, the European Union’s Monitoring and Information Centre, and the European Maritime Safety Agency.

Resources:

* For information about the response effort, visit www.RestoreTheGulf.gov.

* For specific information about the federal-wide response, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/deepwater-bp-oil-spill.

* To contact the Deepwater Horizon Joint Information Center, call (713) 323-1670.

* To volunteer, or to report oiled shoreline, call (866) 448-5816. Volunteer opportunities can also be found here.

* To submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system, or to submit alternative response technology, services, or products, call 281-366-5511.

* To report oiled wildlife, call (866) 557-1401.

* For information about validated environmental air and water sampling results, visit www.epa.gov/bpspill.

* For National Park Service updates about potential park closures, resources at risk, and NPS actions to protect vital park space and wildlife, visit http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm.

* For Fish and Wildlife Service updates about response along the Gulf Coast and the status of national wildlife refuges, visit http://www.fws.gov/home/dhoilspill/.

* For daily updates on fishing closures, visit http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.

* For information on assistance loans for affected businesses, visit the SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance, call (800) 659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

* To file a claim with BP, visit www.bp.com/claims or call BP’s helpline at (800) 440-0858. A BP fact sheet with additional information is available here. Those who have already pursued the BP claims process and are not satisfied with BP’s resolution, can call the Coast Guard at (800) 280-7118. More information about what types of damages are eligible for compensation under the Oil Pollution Act as well as guidance on procedures to seek that compensation can be found here.

* In addition, www.disasterassistance.gov has been enhanced to provide a one-stop shop for information on how to file a claim with BP and access additional assistance—available in English and Spanish.

The first group of hatchlings from endangered sea turtle eggs brought from beaches along the northern U.S. Gulf Coast was released into the Atlantic Ocean off Kennedy’s central Florida coast on July 11. Twenty-two Kemp’s ridley turtles were set free on a Kennedy Space Center beach, which is part of the Canaveral National Seashore.

After being collected on June 26, the Kemp’s ridley nest from Walton County, Fla., was packed in a Styrofoam box with sand and transported by a specially-equipped FexEx truck to a secure, climate-controlled facility at Kennedy where it was monitored until incubation was complete. Most of the nests that will be collected are from loggerhead turtles, but nests from leatherback and green turtles, in addition to Kemp’s ridley, may be brought to the Kennedy hatchery.

The release and relocation work is part of an environmental endeavor by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the National Park Service, NOAA, FedEx and conservationists to help minimize the risk to this year’s sea turtle hatchlings from impacts of the oil spill. During the next several months, this plan involves carefully moving an anticipated 700 nests to Kennedy that have been laid on Florida Panhandle and Alabama beaches.

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 as an overlay of Kennedy Space Center, where it shares the land with space shuttle launch pads, rockets and research and development facilities.

As part of the Deepwater Horizon Response, six brown pelicans, four laughing gulls and one common tern also were released at Kennedy on June 6.