Escambia County and the Florida DEP did not learn about oil breaching the Alabama booming system at Perdido Pass. It was until the 3:30 p.m. statewide conference call that officials learned from the Mobile Unified Command that Alabama was skimming oil at the pass and that there was a sheen in Perdido Bay.
It was a complete failure by BP, Coast Guard and the Unified Command. Apparently they have been battling the oil since noon today.
“Nobody was notified,” says John Temperilli, an advisor with James Witt Group that is helping Escambia County. “We are all very upset.”