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Oil from spill not likely coming to North Carolina
Although it’s been speculated that the oil spill from the Gulf of Mexico could possibly reach North Carolina’s coast, officials say that this is not likely. The U.S. Coast Guard says there is less than a 1 percent chance of the oil reaching this far north. This map shows what would happen if the oil were to reach North Carolina.
North Carolina feels that it is better to be safe than sorry and has updated their already existing plan if an oil spill were to occur. The plan can be found at The Department of Crime Control and Public Safety under the Emergency Management Division.
Governor Beverly Perdue met last week with the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard to discuss the state’s preparations if the spill were to spread up North Carolina’s coast.
“I believe North Carolina has the best emergency management team in the country. We have proven over and over we can handle whatever emergency comes our way,” said Perdue. ”No matter how small the chance that oil could reach North Carolina, my goal, as always, is for us to be prepared.”
Since the Gulf’s oil spill isn’t likely to affect local coasts, UNCW’s Beach Blast should run normally. Jon Kapell, associate director of campus activities and involvement, said that it is something he’s keeping his eye on as Beach Blast gets closer.
“The safety of the students is our primary concern and we will be working closely with Wrightsville Beach should the oil spill makes its way to our area around the time of Beach Blast,” Kapell said in an e-mail.
The N.C. Oil Response Plan also states that tarballs on the beaches of North Carolina are common from activities un-related to the Gulf of Mexico’s oil spill. The response plan, as well as Gov. Perdue, stressed that North Carolina beaches are still open despite the situation in the Gulf. However, beach-goers should be on the lookout for swimming advisories issued by the Division of Environmental Health’s Recreational Water Quality Program based on bacteriological results found in the water.
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