June 16, 2010
Sign up now for training and assignments
Sanibel City Manager Judith Zimomra announced that Major Michael F. Murray, a 26 year Police Department veteran, will organize and lead the community's Coastal Watch program. At this time, the beaches of Sanibel, and all of southwest Florida, remain in pristine condition with no known threat from the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill.
In announcing the appointment Zimomra stated, "The purpose of the Coastal Watch program is to train Sanibel volunteers as front-line reporters and observers. Members of the Coastal Watch program will be trained to serve as the City's eyes in the field not because we expect oil on our beaches, but because we want to be prepared for all possibilities."
Major Michael Murray was appointed as Sanibel's Emergency Management Coordinator in 2003. He is a member of the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association, is a current Lee County Disaster Advisory Committee member and is fully trained in National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) by FEMA. Major Murray was voted the 2005 Officer of the Year by the Lee County Bar Association.
Zimomra and Murray both stressed that if in the unexpected event that the volunteers do observe oil, they will report exact locations, type and size of the oil as well as report on any impacts to wildlife and/or habitat. The Coastal Watch volunteers will not collect or come in direct contact with any oil.
Coastal Watch volunteers will be identified with t-shirts, caps and Sanibel Police Department issued identification cards.
In addition to appointing Murray to organize and lead the Coastal Watch program, Zimomra also announced that Gates Castle PE, Director of Public Works, is responsible for evaluating Alternative Technologies the City is currently assessing for application if, in the unexpected event, oil does reach the beaches and shores of Sanibel.
Director Castle and his staff of engineers are currently evaluating several Alternative Technologies. Their recommendations and observations will be the basis for deployment in the event of oil reaching Sanibel.
Zimomra stated that, "Castle and his staff completed a similar thorough review of alternative technologies for removing algae from the beaches during that threat." His Department has been tasked to identify "all practical options" that may have application here.
Finally, Zimomra also announced that the City of Sanibel Finance Director Sylvia Edwards, CPA, has confirmed that as of today, the City has $12.6 million dollars in unrestricted reserves available to access in the event the City incurs oil related expenses. Zimomra emphasized that the City would seek all avenues to be totally reimbursed and made whole by British Petroleum, the responsible party.
"Our contingency plans take into consideration that we do have some level of funds available to mobilize our own resources in the event that other levels of government and the responsible parties do not properly protect Sanibel," stated Zimomra.
Over the past 57 days, the City of Sanibel has continued to refine and update our disaster contingency plans to address any threat of oil that Sanibel may encounter.
The City continues to coordinate directly with the staffs of the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the Lee County Office of Emergency Management, and the Island's non-profit organizations.
In closing Zimomra stated, "Over the past 57 days, many lessons have been learned. We have carefully evaluated the rate of success of the alternatives tried along Florida's panhandle and continue to adjust our plans accordingly. Foremost among the lessons learned is that we need to prepare for this disaster as we do for all disasters; take every step we can as a community to prepare for the worst and pray for best."
Please click on the link below to sign up for the coastal watch program:
