Here is some information on what you can do…
Deepwater Horizon Response Volunteer Request Line at 1-866-448-5816
To Volunteer in your state, please visit the appropriate website below. It is very important that you do not touch any oil, tar balls, or oiled wildlife! Please call your local Emergency Operations Center!
Florida
Louisiana
Mississippi
Alabama
For more information regarding the oil spill in Florida, please visit Florida’s DEP and view information below from
Martin B. Main, PhD
Professor, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida
Program Leader, Florida Master Naturalist Program
For the most accurate and up-to-date information on the spill and containment efforts, please refer to the official website for the Deepwater Horizon Response at: http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/
This website has a great deal of information, including daily updates.
To see an image of the approximate extent of the spread of the spill in the Gulf, as reported and prepared by USA Today, go to: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/oil-spill-map.htm.
Volunteer assistance is needed and the official FLORIDA volunteer response website for the Deep Horizon Oil Spill is through the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service at: http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/
There are many links for various volunteer activities on this website.
Note that a companion website: http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/1800Vol/volunteerflorida/viewEventDetails.do?eventId=31601
Specifies that:
“Volunteers will not be in direct contact with oil or oil-contaminated materials. Oil-contaminated materials will only be handled by trained, paid workers such as Qualified Community Responders (QCR) and not by volunteers. Oiled wildlife will only be handled by trained, contracted professionals. Even though volunteer opportunities with the oil spill are limited, volunteer opportunities in your local community are limitless. Many organizations need support and service now more than ever. The oil spill is bringing communities together, and your volunteer service strengthens local responding groups. Thank you for the time you give now, and the time you will continue to give after the oil spill.”
However, there may be a great deal of assistance needed doing other services, and I encourage you to register.
Additional ways to assist and report important information include:
Reporting oiled wildlife – the FLORIDA hotline to call to report oiled wildlife is: 1-866-557-1401
Reporting oil on the shoreline - the FLORIDA hotline to call to report oiled wildlife is: 1-877-272-8335 (1-877-2-SAVE-FL) or #DEP from your cell phone.
Two documents that provide useful information regarding oil spill reporting can be viewed (and printed) online at:
http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/Deepwater/docs/OilSpillReportingGuide.pdf
http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/Deepwater/docs/OilFactSheet.pdf
