The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

Good Morning, Due to a shift in winds, tar patties and tar balls have begun impacting some panhandle counties.  Cleanup is ongoing. The State EOC is now at a Level 1 (Full) Activation.  Hours will be 0700-1900 each day. As this event progresses, there may be an increased number or recon flights flying off of our shores.   At this time there are still no projected impacts for SW FL over the next 72 hours (see NOAA trajectory link below). New  Health Information and Advisories  page added. Information on potential health impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. BP Live subsurface video feed:  http://www.bp.com/liveassets/ bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_ uk_english/homepage/STAGING/ local_assets/bp_homepage/html/ rov_stream.html Latest Trajectories from NOAA:  http://www. deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/ go/doctype/2931/53979/ Volunteer FL:  http://www. volunteerfloridadisaster.org/ Primary Deepwater Horizon Response Website:  http:...

Gov. Charlie Crist today expanded an executive order declaring a state of emergency in the Panhandle to include all counties on Florida's west coast as far south as Sarasota. Crist says officials do not yet have an estimate of what it is going to cost to clean up Florida's shorelines if a massive oil spill reaches the state. Crist, though, said that Florida would send the bill to the “responsible party" — BP PLC, the oil company that leased the drilling rig that exploded and continues to leak oil in the Gulf of Mexico. The governor said he shared the frustration of local officials who are worried about not having enough floating booms to protect their beaches. Mote Marine's site offers info on beach conditions around the state. It now has info on oil spills. Click here to see it. And see below for info on Tallahassee's Emergency Operations Center Hotline - click to enlarge: