Press Release

APALACHICOLA — At a Special Franklin County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, July 21, 2010, a presentation was made by Secretary Mike Sole of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Gary Wise of ACT, which is the state boom cell contractor concerning the current, past, and future status of the oil spill response especially as it relates to Franklin County. Secretary Sole is hopeful in his opinion that Franklin County is at a “low risk of impact” from the oil spill.

APALACHICOLA — A special Franklin County Commissioners meeting will be conducted at 3:00 PM EST Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at the Franklin County Court House Annex to review and discuss the booming strategy for Bob Sikes Cut. All interested parties are urged to attend.

FYI Concerning Oil Containment Boom In Franklin County

APALACHICOLA — Work crews are busily placing oil containment boom throughout sensitive waters in Franklin County. A number of inquiries have been received questioning the placement of boom.

One of the most common misconceptions about boom placement is that people tend to assume that boom in the water is permanently placed. In fact, however, much of the boom in Franklin County waters is “staged,” which means that it has been assembled and put near the point where it will be deployed in the event oil contamination is imminent.

Latest Information On Possible Closure Of Bob Sikes Cut

APALACHICOLA — On Wednesday, June 30, 2010 Franklin County representatives, including County Commission Chairman Smokey Parrish, met with representatives of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the US Coast Guard in Tallahassee to finalize plans for blocking oil at Bob Sikes Cut if and when oil contamination becomes imminent.

APALACHICOLA — Current conditions in Franklin County are favorable. Despite a number of reports of tarballs and/or oil, all of which have been investigated, none has been confirmed. As yet there have been no adverse effects from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill confirmed in Franklin County.

APALACHICOLA — From Agriculture Commissioner’s office at 3:00 PM EDST, the following message was received at the Franklin County EOC office.

"Apalachicola Bay has not been shut down nor are there any immediate plans to do such. There has not been any shut down of any shellfish harvesting in this area."

If you have any questions, please contact the EOC, Emergency Hot Line at 850-653-4206 and you will be directed to the proper contact person.

APALACHICOLA — At the Franklin County Commissioners meeting on June 15, 2010, along with the regularly scheduled business, an in depth briefing and discussion was held on the status of the Deep Horizon oil spill as it is affecting Franklin County.

APALACHICOLA — Please be aware that the Franklin County Emergency (EOC) office as well as any Franklin County offices are not involved in anyway with the Vessel of Opportunity (VOO) program. To receive any information concerning this program, contact the BP representative at 251-648-2803. If you need to see a BP representative, they are at the EOC office in Apalachicola from 8:30 AM ESDT till 4:30 PM EDST ONLY.

Franklin County Emergency Management would like to remind all our citizens that today, June 01, 2010, is the beginning of the 2010 Hurricane Season which will continue until November 30, 2010.

PREPAREDNESS is our goal. “Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is prepared and we ask all of our citizens to join us in this effort “EOC Director Pam Brownell has said. Our goal is to minimize loss of life, property and our way of life.

Franklin County Emergency Management