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Subscribe to City LineJune 4, 2010
From the office of Mayor George Schloegel
It appears that a cap has been put on the oil leak in the Gulf, guiding some or maybe even most of the raw crude to a vessel on the surface.
All of us along the Gulf Coast are hoping this latest effort is successful, but it will be some time before we know for sure.
What we do know is this: Your county and city governments are working diligently to ensure that our response to this crisis, on all fronts, is done aggressively and effectively.
Regardless of the outcome of this latest attempt to stop the spewing oil in the Gulf, here at home, we are holding nothing back in the way we respond to oil in the water, and the way we prevent it from ever reaching our coastline.
Ruperty Lacy, director of the Harrison County Emergency Management Agency, along with Bobby Weaver, who oversees our Harrison County beaches, and many others are working around the clock to be ready to swiftly respond to reports of oil on our shores.
Your local government understands that our entire ecosystem is in peril. We understand that we can hardly afford to wait on someone else to put forth a plan to protect our resources. We understand that we are the last line of defense.
That is why, as you read this, officials at the city, county and state level are reviewing a vast array of ideas and new inventions that we can employ to fight this battle at sea rather than on land. We want to do whatever is necessary to keep any oil from reaching our beaches, and if oil does reach the shore we expect to have it removed, and properly disposed of, in a rapid and thorough fashion.
The people of South Mississippi have proved time and time again that we are survivors, and together, we will survive this crisis.
Sincerely,
George Schloegel
Mayor
BP seeks help from more boats
BP’s Vessels of Opportunity Program is seeking additional vessels and will hold an induction and training session Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Gulfport for boat owners not already registered in the program.
The training session will be in the Fine Arts Auditorium of the Jefferson Davis campus of Gulf Coast Community College, at the north end of DeBuys Road.
Interested individuals must register before attending the session by calling 1-866-279-7983.
To qualify, each applicant must meet the following criteria:
- Vessel 50 feet in length or larger
- Commercial Vessels ONLY
- Steel Hull Shrimper-style Vessel with Outriggers, Doors and Nets
- Endurance for up to 7 days offshore
- Willing to work 20-plus miles offshore
- Registered in Alabama, Mississippi, or Florida
Participants in the program will assist in the Deepwater Horizon response by manning boats in a variety of activities, including transporting supplies, assisting with wildlife rescue, as well as towing and deploying absorbent booms. The training covers such areas as oil spill response safety, boom towing and handling, and vessel coordination. Eligible vessels will be compensated for their assistance.
Individuals who are already registered in the Vessel of Opportunity program and contracted with BP should not attend. This meeting is for new applicants only. There is room for only 120 attendees at each training session, and a vessel’s entire crew must be trained. Anyone who has not preregistered will not be allowed to attend.
Coast Parrotheads party for 10th time
The 10th annual MargaritaFest is coming to Centennial Plaza on June 4.
MargaritaFest is a “Jimmy Buffett-inspired” event that brings the Gulf Coast Business Community together for one exciting evening.
This year, a special air-conditioned Parrothead Patron Party has been added for sponsors before the gates open to the public.
For more on the event, click here.
Office of Public Information - rlafontaine@gulfport-ms.gov - Phone: 228-868-5782
P.O. Box 1780 Gulfport, MS 39502-1780 - FAX: 868-5800
