FWC Daily Briefing: BP Oil Spill Facts and Figures for Florida

Local News

State Government

Written by Captain David Pate, FWC Wednesday, 30 June 2010 21:39

FWC SEOC DAILY BRIEF
For Operational Period: June 29, 2010

Click here for a printable copy of this report.

AIR OPS

A morning flight was conducted in Zone 1 from Pensacola to Pensacola Beach offshore westerly to the Florida / Alabama state line. This flight continued along the shoreline east to Fort Pickens State Park. An afternoon flight was conducted in Zone 1 from Pensacola to Interstate 10 Bridge to Escambia Bay and Pensacola Beach.
We observed a very large sheen 4-5 miles offshore from Pensacola Pass. Within this sheen there were numerous sporadic tarmats and more pea-sized to baseball sized tarballs than could be counted.
In the center of Pensacola Pass we observed a large tarmat approximately 40ft x 10ft. There were a few vessels that appeared to have just found it and there was no recovery effort ongoing at this time.
We also observed weathered oil and numerous tarballs washing onto the beach from Pensacola Pass to the Pensacola Pier. There were a variety of areas where the product was visible in the surf and the water line was strewn with oil.
A morning flight was conducted in Zone 2 from Pensacola to offshore of Gulf Breeze easterly to Navarre Beach and along the shoreline to East Bay and to Escambia Bay. An afternoon flight was conducted from Pensacola to Gulf Islands west to the Florida / Alabama state line and Perdido Key.
On our afternoon flight we observed a rainbow and metallic sheen just north of the westbound lanes of the I-10 Bridge. The sheen was approximately ¼ mile from the east end of the bridge. It was unclear whether this sheen was related to the Deepwater Horizon incident.
We observed weathered oil and tarballs washing ashore along the Gulf side of Santa Rosa Island. The product was in the surf for approximately 1 mile.
Travelling east, we observed multiple transparent large sheens nearshore and approximately 5 miles offshore we observed even more sheens with sporadic tarmats and tarballs within them.
FWC Aviation assets:
- Three Helicopters
- One fixed wing

FWC OFF-SHORE PATROL VESSEL OPS

The Orion crew departed for far offshore recon patrol from the Santa Rosa marina towards the Pensacola Bay and pass. The crew saw no oil in the bay but approximately four miles offshore the officers spotted several three- to four- meter wide tar mats. The Orion crew contacted the EOC and was able to take a snapshot of the tar mats with the web cam from the vessel. There were dead fish trapped in the tar mat.
Orion crewmembers reported poor sea conditions but we’re able to patrol out to approximately 25 miles offshore. Crewmembers saw several vessels of opportunity on the way out and did encounter several areas of oil that left sheen on the water and some tar mats.
Later in the patrol, the Orion was dispatched to a location five miles south of the pass and located numerous tar mats approximately two- meters wide.
Lastly, the Orion crew arrived at the Pensacola Coast guard Station to take part in a security zone on the water protecting Vice President Biden.

ATV/VESSEL/RECON OPS

PENSACOLA COMMAND (VESSEL PATROLS)

Predawn patrols from Pensacola Pass area reported a light sheen entering the pass with the incoming tide. Two to four feet seas were reported in the pass.
Predawn patrols in Perdido Pass reported tar balls entering the pass with the incoming tide. The tar balls ranged from quarter size to softball size.
Predawn patrols in Destin Pass reported the waters were clear of any oil product.
Predawn patrols in the Gulf Breeze area reported the area to be clear of any oil product.
FWC officers spotted a waterspout in the ICW near the canal bridge. The officers turned several boaters around and warned people in the immediate area. The waterspout went directly over two unoccupied docked vessels. One vessel received minor damage and there were no injuries reported.
Officers reported small tar mats five miles south of Pensacola Pass.
Officers reported a large tar ball in Pensacola Pass. The tar ball was 40-ft. by 10-ft and was coming into the pass with the incoming tide.
Oil sheen and tar balls were reported ½- mile south of Destin Pass. The area was two miles long and 100 yards wide. The tar balls were the size of baseballs.
A six-foot diameter area of tar balls was reported just north of the Hwy. 98 Bridge in Destin Pass.
Boom on the west side of the Pensacola Pass was reported to be in place.
Escambia County/Ft. Pickens area: Midwest Cleanup crews are now on site. Coast Guard personnel advised that they will be there all day.
Land recon units reported heavy oil product rolling into the beach of Fort Pickens being brought in from inclement weather coming in from the Gulf.
Santa Rosa County: Officers reported that large tar patties (pancake in size) coming into west Navarre area from Crossover 12. The National Seashore is thoroughly covered. Miller Environmental cleanup crews on site.

ST. ANDREWS COMMAND (LAND OPS)

Total recon reports: 205.
Three priority call as of CST.
Weather again hampered cleanup efforts from Bay County west.
Weather affected recon efforts from Bay County west.
Concentrations of tar balls crossed over into the tidal pools of several coastal lakes in Walton County.
DEP ATV units responded to oil and tar balls on both sides of Pensacola Pass.
No oiled wildlife reported for this date.
Land recon units reported heavy oil product coming onto the beach in Navarre West. It was reported that quarter size to pancake size tar balls covered the beach.
Plans were established for a media event to be held tomorrow in heavily affected areas. This event will allow for vendors to show personnel from the various responding agencies their product and how it will work and be applied in affected areas.
Command staff discussion took place today regarding gaining assistance from DEP BER with the evidentiary pick up of oiled birds. Further discussion on this issue will take place tomorrow.
Recon units were dispatched out to various locations in Walton County in the afternoon to confirm tar balls in tidal pools.

CARRABELLE COMMAND (VESSEL PATROLS)

Oil recon patrols observed no oil today.
Franklin County: Officers working the area from East Pass to Indian Pass did not receive any recon missions and reported no oil products. Inshore officers did not receive any recon missions and reported no oil products in their area. Night shift boom security patrols reported no contact with any vessels. Night shift boom security will provide a boom condition/integrity report by 0600 hours CST tomorrow.
Gulf County: Dayshift standby officers did not receive any recon missions and reported no oil products in their area.
Bay County: Dayshift standby officers did not receive any recon missions and reported no oil products in their areas.

VESSELS OF OPPORTUNITY “VOOS”

FWC officers reported a line of tar balls ½- mile south of Pensacola NAS in Pensacola Bay. The line of tar balls was 20 yards wide and ½- mile long. Six VOO’s were engaged in clean-up in this area.
FWC officers reported a line of scattered tar balls north of the Old Coast Guard Station on Fort Pickens. Two VOO’s were present in the area attempting to clean up the tar balls.
Tar balls were reported ½ -mile south of Destin Pass. Another area of tar balls was reported ½ -mile west of Destin Pass, approximately ½- mile offshore. VOO’s were seen in the Destin Pass engaged in clean up operations.

DECON VESSELS

• No new information provided.

NIGHT SECURITY DETAIL

• No new information provided.

BOOM INTEGRITY

Gulf County: Patrol teams did not encounter any vessels near or around boom areas during the overnight shift. Light rain in the area became consistent around 0400 hours. One break in the boom was observed on the Gulf side of St Joe Beach / Beacon Hill around 2057 hours EST. The breach in this boom was about 30-ft wide but was being held together by a line that was 1-2 feet below the surface of the water.
Gulf County: Some sections of booms placed in and around the mouth of St Joe Bay / Gulf side Cape San Blas are twisted and not functioning properly and a few of these sections are underwater.
Franklin County: Night shift boom security patrols reported no contact with any vessels. Night shift boom security will provide a boom condition/integrity report by 0600 hours CST tomorrow.

FLARNG UPDATE

The Florida Army National Guard (FLARNG) has deployed 41 personnel in support of the State’s response to the Deepwater Horizon incident. FLARNG personnel are utilizing 20 UTVs for their teams that are conducting land operations. FLARNG personnel are on recon patrol with eight teams in Bay County, one team in Gulf County, and two teams in Franklin County.

Scheduled Assets

PENSACOLA

• ORION
• 22 MID-RANGE VESSELS

DESTIN

• 9 MID-RANGE VESSELS

BAY

• 2 MID-RANGE VESSELS

GULF

• 2 MID-RANGE VESSELS

FRANKLIN

•   2 MID-RANGE VESSEL
•   2 IN-SHORE VESSEL (boom integrity)

LAND “OPS”

•   7 ATV’S

PENINSULA COMMAND OPS

INFORMATION FROM LT JAY MARVIN:

Sentry Vessel Update 6-29-10

M/V Florida Fish Finder – On patrol Western sentry patrol line. Scientific Observer on board.
M/V Megan Miller – Diverted and enroute to Mobile, AL via a coastal route.
M/V Ocean Star – Operating along pre-determined track lines enroute to patrol the area north of the Eddy Franklin. Scientific observer onboard.
M/V Sea Sub – Enroute to Eastern sentry patrol line.
M/V Becker – Off-Hire returns on 7-1-10 to replace M/V Megan Miller.

Weather

Off Shore Report –Seas beyond reef 4-6 feet. Winds out of the Southeast at 15 to 20 Knots.

Future

Identifying additional assets to relieve or supplement Sentry Plan
Interfacing with Branches to identify current and future operational needs which require FPCP support.

Aviation 6-29-10

C-130 – Flight cancelled due to thunderstorms.
H-60 (2 flights) – North Flight experienced mechanical failure and returned to base from Wakulla County.
South flight completed mission and reported negative findings.

Planning

No changes to yesterday’s planning brief.

Additional

Eight media outlets arrived and were given tour of the FPCP, given a briefing and interviewed the Unified Command Staff.
Area of “possible oil” that was depicted on the Experimental Marine Pollution Surveillance Daily Composite Product 16 nm. SW of Cape San Blas was reported to SEOC.

INFORMATION FROM BILL SHARP:

Several members of the local print and broadcast media toured the CP yesterday morning.
Will be rotating out and will be replaced by George Henderson.

INFO PROVIDED BY DAVE PALANDRO:

We learned that the naming convention being used by folks is wrong and does not correspond to the ACP. They are calling level ‘A’ sites (3 diamond) tier 1 sites. This is not the case tier 1 (2 and 3) refer to booming strategies being employed where, for example, tier 1 boom is what covers inlets and other ocean-side concerns. In brief ACP level A (◊◊◊) ≠ tier 1. This is important because the rest of the state, 4 other USCG sectors all follow the ACPs as they are written. If we are hoping to have a single common operational picture (COP), then the nomenclature has to be the same. I’m not certain where this all went awry, but it is a problem for Florida. This will be an ongoing process.
The Florida Panhandle is about to be broken down into 4 operational branches; Panama City, Pensacola, St. Joseph Bay and Eglin AFB (Destin). Ops will be run out of those locations for those areas. I expect that this will thin the numbers in Mobile ICP some.

ALEX DEEPENING AS IT MOVES CLOSER TO THE NORTHEASTERN COAST OF MEXICO...

SUMMARY OF 400 AM CDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...23.3N 95.1W
ABOUT 175 MI...280 KM E OF LA PESCA MEXICO
ABOUT 235 MI...375 KM SE OF BROWNSVILLE TEXAS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH...130 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 7 MPH...11 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...961 MB...28.38 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...

NONE.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...

* THE COAST OF TEXAS SOUTH OF BAFFIN BAY TO THE MOUTH OF THE RIO
GRANDE

* THE COAST OF MEXICO FROM THE MOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE TO LA CRUZ

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FOR...

* THE COAST OF TEXAS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT OCONNOR

* THE COAST OF MEXICO SOUTH OF LA CRUZ TO CABO ROJO

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED STATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS... PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE UNITED STATES... PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 400 AM CDT...0900 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE ALEX WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 23.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 95.1 WEST. ALEX IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH... 11 KM/HR. A SLOW WEST TO WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF ALEX WILL APPROACH THE COAST OF NORTHEASTERN MEXICO OR SOUTHERN TEXAS BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING... AND MAKE LANDFALL IN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA LATE TONIGHT OR EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH... 130 KM/HR... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ALEX IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST... AND ALEX COULD BECOME A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE PRIOR TO LANDFALL. ALEX WILL BEGIN TO WEAKEN AFTER ITS CENTER CROSSES THE COASTLINE.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 25 MILES... 35 KM... FROM THE CENTER... AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200 MILES... 325 KM.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY MEASURED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT WAS 961 MB...28.38 INCHES.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
RAINFALL... ALEX IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHEASTERN MEXICO AND SOUTHERN TEXAS... WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES... ESPECIALLY IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. RAINBANDS ASSOCIATED WITH ALEX ARE SPREADING ONSHORE IN NORTHEASTERN MEXICO AND SOUTHERN TEXAS.

WIND... TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE COAST WITHIN THE HURRICANE AND TROPICAL STORM WARNING AREAS LATER THIS MORNING... MAKING OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT OR DANGEROUS.

STORM SURGE...A DANGEROUS STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST TO THE NORTH OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL. THE SURGE COULD PENETRATE INLAND AS FAR AS SEVERAL MILES FROM THE SHORE WITH DEPTH GENERALLY DECREASING AS THE WATER MOVES INLAND. NEAR THE COAST... THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WAVES.

TORNADOES... ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF EXTREME SOUTHERN TEXAS TODAY.

OILED WILDLIFE REPORT

Eight birds rescued: Five northern gannets, one common loon, one pied-billed grebe, and one laughing gull were rescued in Florida yesterday and taken in for rehabilitation.
Eight birds in rehab died.
Six dead visibly oiled birds were recovered yesterday.
Florida’s totals of visibly oiled birds now stand at:
- 121 recovered alive
- (57 have died, 3 released, 61 in rehab)
- 71 recovered dead
- Total live and dead recovered is 192
- Total dead is 128
There has been one visibly oiled dolphin and three visibly oiled sea turtles rescued in Florida during the event.
Note: cause of death and stranding has not been determined for these animals; these are simply reports of birds, turtles and dolphins that had some measure of oil product externally.
331 additional dead birds have been recovered in the panhandle during the event that aren’t visibly oiled externally but have not yet been necropsied to determine cause of death.

SEOC UPDATES

SEOC remains at Level 1 activation.
Daily brief is held at 1000 Hours.
County conference call is held daily at 1600 Hours.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

COMMAND TEAM FOR OPERATIONAL PERIOD JUNE 28 – JULY 4:
LTC BRUCE BUCKSON (850-251-7230) WILL RELIEVE LTC CALVIN ADAMS (850-251-5818) AS INCIDENT COMMANDER
MAJOR PAUL OUELLETTE (850-251-7288) WILL RELIEVE MAJOR DAVE PRIDGEN (850-258-5998) AS FIELD INCIDENT COMMANDER
MAJOR DAVID BULLARD (850-251-7232) WILL RELIEVE MAJOR CAMILLE SOVEREL (850-251-0210) AS OPERATIONS CHIEF
CAPTAIN DAVID PATE (850-519-7008) WILL RELIEVE CAPTAIN DEAN KELLY (850-251-7321) AS LOGISTICS OFFICER AT SEOC FWC ESF 16 WATCH DESK (850-921-0234)
LT. TOM SHIPP (850-251-7278) AND LT. JACK MARTIN (850-251-7265) WILL SHARE RECON RESPONSIBLITIES IN THE SEOC STATE WARNING POINT OFFICE
CAPT. KEVIN VISLOCKY (850-251-7286) AND PILOT JOHN MCDONALD (850-921-0234) WILL SHARE AIR BOSS RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE SEOC STATE WARNING POINT OFFICE
LT. JAY MARVIN (305-360-0931) WILL BE THE POINT OF CONTACT AT PENINSULA COMMAND – MIAMI
THE RECON TEAM FOR THE OPERATIONAL PERIOD JUNE 28 TO JULY 4, OPERATING FROM THE SEOC STATE WARNING POINT WATCH OFFICE IS AS FOLLOWS:
- MAJOR DAVID BULLARD (850-251-7232)
- LT. TOM SHIPP (850-251-7278)
- CHIEF GREA BEVIS – DEP (850-251-1933)
- LT. JACK MARTIN (850-251-7265)
- OFFICER CHARLES FIELD - DEP (850-212-8702)