Government Response to the BP Oil Spill View up-to-date information on the Gulf Coast at http://www.epa.gov/bpspill More Information July 2010 EPA has compiled some useful information to help answer several of your questions and provide you with useful contacts to address your concerns. How can I help the response efforts? • General volunteer opportunities: 1-866-448-5816 • Report injured or oiled animals: 1-866-557-1401 • Report oiled shorelines: 1-866-448-5816 • Register boats to assist with response or submit technology: 1-281-366-5511 • Submit your vessel for the Vessel of Opportunity Program: 1-866-279-7983 Local on-line resources for volunteers Louisiana: www.volunteerlouisiana.gov Mississippi: www.volunteermississippi.org Florida: www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org Alabama: www.servealabama.gov What steps are being taken to ensure the workers in the Gulf are protected? The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration has primary responsibility for overseeing worker safety programs and inspecting work place. Information about OSHA's work is available online at www.osha.gov/oilspills, or 1-800-321-OSHA (6742). What will happen to the response efforts if there's a hurricane? How should I protect myself? it is never too early to create your own hurricane evacuation plan. Help planning tools and information is available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at www.fema.gov or 1-80Q-621-FEMA (3362). I'm out of work because of the oil spill. How can I get help? President Obama arranged with BP on June 15 to compensate workers and business owners who have been harmed as a result of the spill. The next day, BP began a $20 billion claims fund that is being controlled by an independent party to ensure claims are paid out quickly and fairly. This process is free of charge. You can file claims online at www.bp.com or over the phone at toll-free 1-800-440-0858. If your question was not answered above, please contact the Deepwater Horizon Incident Joint information Center at www.restorethegulf.gov or 1-985-902-5231. ------- |