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From the Unified Command:
Forecast
is for increasing SE winds today and then strong, persistent SE winds
of 15-25 kts from tonight through saturday night. These winds will
continue to bring the oil towards the shoreline. Satellite imagery from
this morning indicates the western edge of the oil is 7-8 miles from the
delta, but oil was observed during overflights yesterday afternoon
several miles off SE pass in the Mississippi River Convergence - This
could be the leading edge of the tarballs becoming concentrated in this
region. Shoreline impacts could hence occur as early as this morning, if
the onshore winds are strong enough for the oil to escape the
convergence zone, Shoreline impacts become increasingly likely later in
the day and into Friday with the strengthening onshore winds. Morning
overflight observations will be critical in assessing the strength of
the convergence zone.
A flyover on
Wednesday, April 28 at
2:00 p.m. (CDT), continued to show a large, rainbow sheen with areas of
emulsified crude, approximately 16 miles off the coast of Louisiana.
On
April 28 at approximately 4:45
p.m. (CDT), the response team conducted a successful controlled burn and
is evaluating conducting additional burns.
More than 174,060
feet of boom
(barrier) has been assigned to contain the spill. An additional 243,260
feet is available and 265,460 feet has been ordered.
To date,
the oil spill response team
has recovered 18,180 barrels (763,560 gallons) of an oil-water
mix. Vessels are in place and continuing recovery operations.
76
response vessels are being used
including skimmers, tugs, barges and recovery vessels.
98,361
gallons of dispersant have
been deployed and an additional 75,000 gallons are available.
Five
staging areas are in place and
ready to protect sensitive shorelines. These areas include:
Biloxi,
Miss., Pensacola,
Fla. Venice,
La., Pascagoula,
Miss., and Theodore, Ala.
Weather conditions for April 29 -
Winds from the southeast at 5-15 mph, choppy rough seas.
To
report oiled or injured wildlife,
please call 1-800-557-1401.
To discuss spill related damage
claims, please call 1-800-440-0858.
To report oil on land, or for
general
Community and Volunteer Information, please call 1-866-448-5816.
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