Give to Disaster Relief--Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
This designated account supplements the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering to enable a significant response for long-term recovery efforts related to the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill. Your faithful giving is deeply appreciated.
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
updated July 1, 2010
Situation Report
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Read a reflection on the oil spill by Judy Fletcher, Executive, Synod of the Sun, after a visit to the oil-damaged coastlands with other representatives from presbytery, synod and the General Assembly, in June 2010.
Information updated May 28, 2010
The oil spill and its effect on the local economy has the potential of impacting the very same people who are only just recovering from Hurricane Katrina which occurred almost five years ago.
A pastoral letter has been written for those affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster and has been shared with 12 Florida and gulf presbyteries.
On Wednesday, May 19, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal noted that "heavy oil" has entered the marshlands, home to endangered plant and animal life. The threat of the spill reaching land and moving along the Eastern seaboard is still real.
Also on Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency informed BP officials that a less-toxic form of chemical dispersants must be used to break up its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This announcement was made due to concerns that the unprecedented use of chemical dispersants could pose a significant threat to the Gulf of Mexico's marine life.
Efforts are underway by many experienced organizations to minimize damage from the huge oil spill caused by the rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. A report from the CWS Emergency Response Committee states, “This type of clean up needs to be carefully supervised by experts — no one should just go out and try to do something, as it is very dangerous to human health.”
The Environmental Ministries Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a blog that includes information on the oil spill.
Note:
Volunteers who are scheduled to go to New Orleans through the Olive Tree Presbyterian Volunteer Village in the near future will continue to work on 2005 hurricane recovery projects. PDA is not requesting work teams for oil spill clean up.
Worship resource
O God, the Great, Wide Seas are Yours — this hymn-prayer by Carolyn Gillette was written in response to the ongoing oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig that started on April 20, 2010. See also the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 218th (2008) General Assembly’s major study titled The Power to Change: U.S. Energy Policy and Global Warming that lays out a clear and well documented path toward sustainability and equity to protect future generations.
- Poetry related to the environment
- Prayers in response to an Oil Spill
- God’s Solemn Reproaches for Our Carelessness of Creation, prepared by Teresa Stricklen of the Office of Theology and Worship, PC(USA)
- Liturgies, scriptures and hymns related to creation and the environment.
Additional resources and links
Several Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) partners in the affected area have sent us links which they find helpful. PDA includes these links for information but is not endorsing or validated the information contained on these web sites.
Deepwater Horizon Response – for the latest official information
Communities on the Horizon – A Resource Center for Communities Affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Drilling Disaster
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Alabama
- Alabama Department of Environmental Management
- Alabama Emergency Management Agency
- Baldwin County, Alabama
- City of Orange Beach, Alabama
Florida
- Oil Spill Academic Task Force
- Volunteer Florida
- Florida volunteer opportunities
- Tampa Bay Watch
Direct email contact - Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida
- Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, Indian Shores, Florida
Louisiana
The following phone numbers from the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) are provided to help area residents:
- To report oiled or injured wildlife, please call (800) 557-1401
- To discuss spill related damage claims, please call (800) 440-0858
- To report oil on land or for general Community and Volunteer Information, please call (866) 448-5816
- LEAN has been established in Louisiana for many years. Following Hurricane Katrina, the United Church of Christ worked with the network on environmental issues related to an oil spill — everything from personal protection equipment for home owners to working with a scientist to test land impacted.
