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May 4, 2010
Coast Guard planning to expand area commands
The Coast Guard reports there are now 10 Remotely Operated Vehicles assigned to the Deepwater Horizon response with four more on the way, while the Coast Guard continues to evaluate the 24-hour continuous sub-sea dispersant trial.
In the next 24-48 hours, the USCG plans to expand area commands to include representatives from Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts winds for today as variable at 5 knots with smooth seas (2 feet or less) and no chance of rain until May 10.
The next cold front is forecasted for Friday, May 7, through Saturday, possibly increasing winds and the chance of showers and thunderstorms.
The amount of boom deployed, to date, is 486,940 feet. The USCG has not received any confirmed reports of oil reaching any shorelines. The U.S. Department of Interior announced restrictions on fishing in portions of the Gulf of Mexico for a minimum of 10 days in federal waters most affected by the spill (more than 6,800 square miles from the mouth of the Mississippi to waters off Pensacola Bay, Fla.).
The National Infrastructure Coordinating Center reports the State of Louisiana plans to collect baseline contaminant samples from Vermilion Bay near the center of the state coast and Calcasieu Lake at the western end of the coast. Shipping channels and ports remain open in the Gulf Coast Region.
Office of Public Information - rlafontaine@gulfport-ms.gov - Phone: 228-868-5782
P.O. Box 1780 Gulfport, MS 39502-1780 - FAX: 868-5800
