Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key Update
Wednesday, June 23 – 12:30 a.m. – Update #20
If you see tar or oiled debris on the beach. DO NOT PICK IT UP.
Report it to 1-877-389-8932 (new number) or #DEP from a cell phone.
DO NOT TOUCH OILED OR INJURED WILDLIFE. Report it to 1-866-557-1401.
* Teams are currently assessing reports of heavier impacts from surface oil on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key.
* Please avoid driving and walking through tar balls on the beaches. This spreads and further packs the tar/oil into the sand.
* Cleaning stations have been placed next to the crossovers (between the crossovers and the roadways) to aid in the removal of tar and oil.
* County officials are currently working with Unified Command to establish recreational and commercial decontamination stations for vessels (boats and watercraft).
* “Hot shot†teams will respond to specific requests during the day as needed.
* Oil reports vary widely throughout the day as heat from the sun brings subsurface oil to the top, and cooler temperatures at night tend to cause it to sink below the surface.
* A fishing closure is in effect from the state line east to the Pensacola Beach water tower, extending nine nautical miles into the gulf. Catch and release recreational fishing is still allowed.
Pensacola Beach
* Crews were out on Pensacola Beach last night. Workers are back on scene this morning.
* Monitors on Pensacola Beach are reporting heavy tar ball coverage on the beach, increasing in severity to the west of the pier.
* Several solid mats of brown mousse approximately eight foot by 10 foot were seen entering Pensacola Pass this morning. This is being monitored, contained and a skimmer is on-site.
* Harvesting of fish is allowed east of the Pensacola Beach water tower.
* Escambia County has opened field offices on Pensacola Beach to assist in answering questions from the public and act as staging areas for the county monitoring teams. The Pensacola Beach field office will be located at 5 Via Deluna, Suite 8. The phone number is 934-6500.
* Lifeguards are patrolling beaches from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for any sign of oil.
* Pensacola Beach remains open for business.
* Pensacola Beach events and activities
* Pensacola Beach live web cam
Perdido Key
* Crews were also out on Perdido Key last night. Workers are back on scene this morning.
* Reports are that crews cleaned eight tons of product off Johnson Beach last night.
* Monitors on Perdido Key report that tarballs can be seen washing ashore, however, the surf is pulling any debris off shore shortly after it makes contact with the sand.
* The Escambia County Health Department has rescinded the current health advisory related to swimming in the Perdido Key area. More details
* Escambia County has opened field offices on Perdido Key to assist in answering questions from the public and act as staging areas for the county monitoring teams. The Perdido Key field office will be located at 13578 Perdido Key Dr. The phone number is 791-6905.
* The beaches and businesses on Perdido Key remain open.
* Perdido Key events and activities at www.visitperdidokey.com
* Perdido Key live web cam at www.visitperdidokey.com
Pensacola
* Events and activities for Pensacola, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key at www.visitpensacola.com.
Important Phone Numbers
* Report oiled shoreline to 1-877-389-8932 or #DEP from a cell phone.
* Report oiled wildlife to 1-866-557-1401.
* Citizen Information Line: 850-471-6600