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*** UPDATE 6-11-2010 ***
“The thick gooey sludge sticks to everything it touches. People on Boggy Point like tourist Bo Self from Texas, can’t believe what they’re seeing. “It’s just devastating. The birds and the animals is the most devastating thing.” – WKRG.com
Oil Spills Into Perdido Bay
*** UPDATE 6-1-2010 ***
Read how Gulf oil spill threatens Louisiana Native Americans’ way of life
*** UPDATE 5-31-2010 ***
DATE: May 31, 2010 18:17:50 CST
Federal mobile medical unit arrives in Louisiana Key contact numbers
Deepwater Horizon Incident Joint Information Center
Phone: (985) 902-5231 (985) 902-5240
VENICE, La. – A federal mobile medical unit arrived in Venice, La., today to provide additional basic medical care for responders and residents of coastal communities affected by the oil spill. The mobile medical unit, provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, will integrate with the local medical community to triage and provide basic care for responders and residents concerned about health effects of the oil spill. Patients then can be referred to local healthcare providers or hospitals. “We are very concerned about the impact of the disaster on public health in the Gulf region,” Secretary Sebelius said. “We have been on the ground monitoring the spill’s impact on health and have remained in close contact with state and local health authorities as well as members of the congressional delegations from the affected states to understand the health and medical needs in these communities. I particularly want to thank Representative Melancon and Senator Landrieu for their efforts to bring the mobile unit to Venice. So far, surveillance efforts have detected complaints of throat irritation, eye irritation, nausea, headache, and coughs-these could be caused by a number of conditions, but we’re watching them closely. The mobile medical unit and a medical team arriving today in Louisiana can help address health concerns of local residents and responders.” “While the oil spill is a tragic event environmentally and economically, the impact on the health of Louisianians cannot be overlooked,” added LDHH Secretary Alan Levine. “We are glad to be working with Secretary Sebelius and HHS to provide the care our workers and residents need during this crisis.” The mobile unit will be located at 339 Coast Guard Road in Venice, La., and will be staffed by a medical team from the HHS National Disaster Medical System – a doctor, two nurses, two emergency medical technician paramedics (EMT-P) and a pharmacist. HHS activated the National Disaster Medical System as a precaution should Gulf States need additional medical support as a result of the oil spill. The mobile unit complements a broader effort by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to ensure access to care including mental health and addictive disorders services. To learn more about DHH response efforts and services available for coastal communities impacted by the oil spill, visit www.emergency.louisiana.gov . HHS information resources, including food safety updates, health fact sheets, and responder and worker education and training materials, can be found online at http://www.hhs.gov/gulfoilspill/index.html. For information about the response effort, visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.
*** UPDATE 5-24-2010 ***
A heartbreaking story from Mother Jones after a visit to Elmer’s Island Wildlife Refuge: “It’s BP’s Oil”
*** UPDATE 5-21-2010 ***
Miami Herald: BP oil spill: A deadly, brown beach leaves a bitter trail
Huffington Post article: Grand Isle Louisiana Beach Closed After Thick Oil Washes Ashore
Reuters Article about the heavy oil blanket that has hit Louisiana’s Wetlands.
Read Reuters Article Here
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Damage from the oil spill from the Transocean Deepwater Horizon disaster has impacted the fishing industry, tourism and waterway commerce along the Gulf coast states. Louisiana cities that can be affected include New Orleans, Cameron, Chalmette, Bell Chesse, Lake Charles, Morgan City, Venice, Houma, Grand Isle, Lafayette and New Iberia.
More than 6,800 square miles of federal fishing areas have been closed due to the disaster. Affected areas stretch from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Florida Panhandle. Fishermen got the news that the waters that they depend upon for their livelihood were closed until further notice. This has fractured their livelihood just as the prime spring season was kicking in. The closure is likely to last for at least 10 days and will likely last for a much longer time.
The creeping oil slick also has come precariously close to a key shipping lane that leads into the U.S. interior by way of the Mississippi River. This critical shipping lane feeds goods and materials into and out of the area.
Lawyers for Louisiana fishermen are already suing for damages. According to statistics from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the state of Louisiana supplies about 25 percent of the seafood for the continental U.S. states.
If you have a property damage or income claim regarding the BP, Transocean Deepwater Horizon oil rig spill in the Gulf of Mexico that caused pollution and economic destruction in the Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama and Gulf coast states, please contact us. Our environment, property & income damage lawyers have over 50 years experience representing the marine, fishermen, shrimpers and oyster industries. Gordon & Elias, LLP were one of the first Maritime law firms first contacted to file a lawsuit against British Petroleum, BP and Transocean on behalf of a missing Deepwater Horizon oil rig worker. For a FREE consultation concerning rights and property damage claims, call 800-773-6770.