Oil spill resources for Gulf Coast residents
Mississippi state agencies are working with federal officials and BP to respond to the oil spill nearing the coastline. The following is a list of resources for Gulf Coast residents:
To see the latest action by Mississippi agencies to protect the Gulf Coast, click here (PDF).
Click here to view tips on identifying oil and what to do if you see oil.
For information from BP on the oil spill, visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.
For claims, call 1-800-440-0858.
For any health related concerns regarding the oil spill, contact the Poison Control Center at 800 -222-1222 or go to www.aapcc.org/DNN/.
For information from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, click here.
For information from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, click here.
To work or volunteer with cleanup efforts:
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources: The DMR’s website, www.dmr.state.ms.us, provides information for those wanting to volunteer. To volunteer with shoreline clean-up, call 1-866-448- 5816.
Health, Safety and Environmental Training has been a key focus to properly prepare those interested in participating in shoreline clean up. The training is fit-for-purpose based on whether you are a volunteer, contractor or vessel owner. The Post-Emergency Spilled Oil Response Training Modules were prepared by Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), with review and approval provided by BP, Occupational Safety & Health Administration and US Coast Guard personnel. The training is for those registered in the Vessel of Opportunity program or as a contractor who wants to participate in clean up. The non-contaminated beach clean up "volunteers" will receive a basic BP health, safety & environmental orientation which as been endorsed by OSHA and the the Coast Guard. To be included as a volunteer, please contact the BP volunteer hotline at 866-448-5816. Your contact information will be gathered and you will contacted when opportunities arise in your area. If you are interested in assisting in shoreline oil spill clean up operations, and you live in one of the coastal states (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or Florida), you can request placement in a spill response course by emailing Horizonresponse@pecpremier.com. This course is not a guarantee of employment but provides credentials needed to be hired for spill cleanup work by BP contractors.
Mississippi Department of Employment Security: MDES is the state's employment agency which handles workforce and unemployment services.
Unemployment claims
To file an unemployment claim with the agency, you may file online at this link or by calling (toll free) 1-888-844-3577.
Job openings
You can apply for job openings related to the oil spill by selecting this link or you may contact your local WIN Job Center. A listing of WIN Job Centers and contact information can be found here.
Employer services
WIN Job Centers offer employers free job postings and access to a large pool of available and skilled workers. For more information on how to post job openings, you can call your local WIN Job Center or visit this link. Employers interested in listing job openings may also contact Barbara Hicks at 601-321-6049 or email her bhicks@mdes.ms.gov.
To Help Injured Wildlife:
A toll-free number 1-800-557-1401 was established and announced to report oil or injured wildlife. People are urged not to attempt to help injured or oiled animals, but to report any sightings via the toll-free number. To report stranded dolphins or sea turtles, please call (888) 767-3657.
Mississippi Board of Animal Health: MBAH is currently asking veterinarians or a veterinary technicians who are interested in assisting with the oil spill to contact Dr. Carla Huston at Huston@cvm.msstate.edu or Dr. Brigid Elchos at Brigid@mdac.state.ms.us. in the event there are animals are affected. Until that time MBAH recommends that those who are interested to gather credentials in the following areas: Certifications and experience in Oiled Animal Response. Certifications and experience in Haz-Mat Awareness and Operations 3. Incident Command. System training and experience (ICS 100, 200, 700) 4. Current State Licensures if you are a veterinarian.
Environmental Monitoring:
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality: MDEQ and the Department of Marine Resources are conducting extensive environmental monitoring to document the curent conditio of the state's coastal waters. This includes sampling water, sediment, fish, shrimp, crabs and oysters. MDEQ and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are sampling the air, some data is available in real time; however, some samples can take time to process, usually about three to four days. Sampling data will provide specific information about the pollutants and will be used to help guide the response and cleanup. To see the latest data, visit www.airnow.gov. To suggest technology solutions, visit www.epa.gov/bpspill/techsolution.html.
May 13, 2010
GOVERNOR BARBOUR SEEKS RELIEF FOR GULF COAST BUSINESSES
Governor Haley Barbour announced today he has requested assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration to aid businesses that have been financially impacted by the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico since April 20.
May 6, 2010
MDEQ AND DMR TO ADMINISTER BP DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE $25 MILLION BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR) announced Thursday that they have been asked by Governor Haley Barbour to administer the $25 million Mississippi British Petroleum Deepwater Horizon Response Block Grant Program on behalf of county and municipal governments in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. This program will reimburse local governments for their expenses related to Deepwater Horizon Response activities.
April 30, 2010
GOVERNOR BARBOUR ISSUES STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST
Governor Haley Barbour issued today a State of Emergency for the Mississippi Gulf Coast in response to the oil spill moving toward the state’s coastline. He also ordered the Mississippi National Guard to aid local officials with emergency response.
Governor Barbour