DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL INFORMATION
Situation Report as of October 7, 2010
 

• The Okaloosa County Health Department's press release  (PDF)
• Revised (August 9, 2010) Concept of Operations  (PDF)
• Florida's long-term oil impact health advisory guidance  (PDF)

• Since July 3, 2010, no significant beach oiling events have been reported to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).  The FDEP has conducted sampling of water and sediment (sand) samples to determine potential impacts to human health between July 4 and August 2, 2010.

• Chemicals that were consistently found in samples taken from Florida waters were placed on the chemicals of concern (COC) list.  All FDEP samples collected between July 4 and August 2 were analyzed for COC.  Levels of each COC were compared to the adopted threshold value.  Adopted threshold values were based upon either a chronic human health benchmarks or on the analytical method detection limit.  This analysis concludes that COC related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill have not exceeded any adopted thresholds in coastal waters of Okaloosa County since July 4, 2010.

• The FDEP also conducted a study of visibly clean sand and sediment on Northwest Florida's white sandy beaches and demonstrated that oil and its associated COC tend to settle within a layer below the surface, and that they can be easily seen when exposed.  Samples of visibly clean sand and sediment immediately above the visible oil layer were free of detectable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).  These results were repeated in multiple sample locations, indicating that people can rely upon visual cues to avoid exposure to weathered oil that is both on and in the sand.
   

• Beaches may continue to be impacted by the oil product over time.
• Severe weather may change the oiling of all or a portion of any beach.
• It may be necessary to issue health advisories or other public health messaging in order to protect the health and safety of Florida residents and visitors in the future.

• Because wave action and currents may periodically bring tar balls ashore or expose small areas of buried oil within the sand, beach goers may encounter weathered oil products and tar balls, and should AVOID touching the product.
• If people accidentally come into contact with buried oil product or tar balls, they should wash the residue from the skin as soon as practical.  Brief skin contact is not a medical emergency, but can result in skin irritation if not removed.
• Avoid contact with dead or dying fish or other aquatic life.

The Florida Department of Health and the Bureau of Environmental Public Health Medicine monitors data daily from the Florida Poison Information Center Network (FPICN) and the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (ESSENCE) to track clinical affects reported in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay and Gulf counties linked with the oil spill. In addition, they utilize a particle pollution index from the Department of Environmental Protection to associate air quality with any reported health affects. The Bureau is also linked to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is providing illness surveillance for the state through a system called BIOSENSE. The Okaloosa County Health Department receives these reports daily.

>> To date, we have seen no clustering of clinical symptoms related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in northwest Florida.

August 13:    Oil Impact Notices Rescinded for Okaloosa County Beaches
July 2:          Health Officials Replace "Health Advisory" with "Oil Impact Notice"
June 25:       Health Notice Rescinded for Destin Beaches
June 24:       Health Notice Issued for Destin Beaches Due to Oil Spill
June 18:       Health Officials Notify Public of Potential Offshore Oil Burning Operations
June 17:       Health Advisory Rescinded for Portion of Beach Due to Oil Spill
June 16:       Health Advisory Issued for Portion of Beach Due to Oil Spill

Click to Visit:  www.RestoreTheGulf.gov

For a recording of updated info in Okaloosa County:
Call 311 (Citizens Information Line), & select option 8,
or
call 850-423-4894 & select option 8.

To report any oil spill you notice:
Call 311, & select option 0 to be connected to an operator,
or
dial #DEP from most cell phones.

To report an odor call:
1-866-448-5816

Florida Oil Spill Information Line:
1-888-337-3569

Poison Control Center
for questions about oil spill-related health issues:
1-800-222-1222

Medical Support Hotline
1-888-623-0287

EPA Region 4 National Response Center
Air Quality Questions & Concerns
1-800-424-8802

Helpline Set Up For Folks Stressed by Oil Spill
1-800-985-5990
or visit www.samhsa.gov for tips

**NEW Nov 29, 2010
Oil Spill Stress Resources
Visit http://oilspillstress.promoteprevent.org

Behavioral Health Response Information
View this PDF for hours of operations & hotline numbers

Daily Updates - Situation Reports - News Releases
Florida DEP - Deepwater Horizon News

(FAQs updated: August 13, 2010)

1.  What does oil look like when it comes on shore?
2.  Who do I contact if I'm worried about health issues related to the Gulf spill?
3.  Are the fish in panhandle waters safe to eat?
4.  My water tastes or smells different.  What should I do?
5.  I am feeling stressed by the oil spill, and/or I am having trouble talking to my kids about the oil spill.  Any tips?
 

1.  What does oil look like when it comes on shore?
Oil on the shoreline is likely in the form of emulsified or highly weathered oil.  It will be brown, red, or orange in color.  See this PDF, Oil on the Beach - What it is, for photos & descriptions.

2.  Who do I contact if I'm worried about health issues related to the Gulf spill?
Continually check out the information provided by the OCHD on this webpage (www.HealthyOkaloosa.com/Deepwater_Horizon). Poison centers in the gulf region are available to take any and all health-related calls related to the oil spill. Please call Poison Control Centers at 1-800-222-1222.

3.  Are the fish in panhandle waters safe to eat?
Updates and status reports posted to the DEP website at www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon will post up-to-date info about this.

>> Want to know about the bioaccumulation of oil chemicals in seafood?  Bioaccumulation of Oil Chemicals in Seafood (PDF)
>> Want to know about evaluating the risk to people of oil contaminants in seafood?  Seafood Oil Contamination (PDF)
>> Other resources:
•  DACS Division of Aquaculture main number:  850-488-4033
•  Daily Status of Harvesting Areas: http://shellfish.floridaaquaculture.com/seas/seas_statusmap
•  Shellfish Harvesting Area Information: www.floridaaquaculture.com/seas/seas_areainfo
•  Shellfish Harvesting Website: www.floridaaquaculture.com/SEAS/SEAS_intro (explains terminology)
•  Live Water Monitoring: http://sondes.floridaaquaculture.com/sondes/sonde_cedarkeygulfjackson

4.  My water tastes or smells different.  What should I do?
If you have any concerns about your drinking water, you should contact your water supplier. The oil spill is not expected to affect drinking water. If your water supply does not meet EPA or state standards, your water supplier must notify you by newspaper, mail, radio, TV or hand-delivery. If you have a private well, you may wish to have your well tested. There are many private contractors who do this type of testing. The DOH has a web page that may assist you further: www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/water/privatewells.

5.  I am feeling stressed by the oil spill and/or I have been having trouble talking with my kids about the oil spill.  Any tips?
You are not alone.  Check out these Tips for Dealing with the Oil Spill and get information on how to talk with your family about this disaster.

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