Date: 9.20.19
Contact: Joint Information Center (912) 944-7122
“An outstanding work dynamic amongst the Unified Command is yielding a well informed and calculated response,” – Eric Dykes, State On-Scene Coordinator.
The Saint Simons Sound Incident Unified Command is made up of the U.S. Coast Guard, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and Gallagher Marine Systems. The Unified Command links responding organizations to the incident and provides them a forum to make decisions together.
“Our goal is to provide responders with every resource they need to safely and expeditiously resolve this incident,” – Thomas Wiker, Gallagher Marine Systems Unified Command Representative.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
Specialists are actively monitoring air and water quality around the vessel and the surrounding areas. No impacts have been detected to date. Members of the public are encouraged to monitor the Department of Public Health website for additional information.
ENVIRONMENT
Response teams continue to canvas the shoreline and have identified minimal to no environmental impacts at this time. There are approximately 200 responders attached to the Unified Command and 37 vessels engaged in the response. Environmental assessment teams are continuously scanning the shoreline by air, boat, and foot, looking for evidence of oil. Over 5,300 feet of boom has been deployed surrounding Bird Island, and 18,400 feet of boom is strategically staged for use as needed. If the public encounters oil, they should report the sighting to the National Response Center hotline at (800) 424-8802.
ECONOMIC
Commercial traffic in the Port of Brunswick continues to move on a case by case basis. A claims number has been established for those who have been affected by the incident: (888) 850-8486.