Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response Volunteer Classes

Pensacola Florida

05.12.10

Escambia County is being pro-active and is offering four hour volunteer orientation classes to anyone who wants to educate themselves about the chemical makeup of an oil spill and what they can do if the oil impacts our community.  They invited Bowman Olds, Emergency Operations Manager, who helped with the response and recovery in the Valdez oil spill over 20 years ago and Steve Davis, Health and Safety Manager, how has taught this kind of awareness class all over the world.  Both men are very knowledgeable and familiar with what we may have to deal with here in Pensacola Florida. They took the time and with great concern, were able to teach hundreds of worried locals about the nature of an oil spill, how to deal with the hazards of the chemical compounds that one might encounter with the oil and how to protect themselves with Haz Mat suits and gear while trying to keep our area water ways, shore lines and wildlife safe from anything that could come our way.

Very informative,,, but sobering,,, learning about what we may be in store for.

Thanks goes to Escambia County, Mr. Olds, Mr. Davis and their team for taking the time to teach us about something that we have never encountered and I hope that we will never have to use.