It’s been a busy year starting with Haiti, then onto the floods in Rhode Island, tornadoes in Mississippi and Alabama, floods in Nashville and now the Gulf Oil Spill. We are accustomed to dealing with earthquakes, floods and tornadoes, but when the Gulf Disaster began, the Team questioned whether or not they should get involved, but knew the only way to find out was to get on the ground and see for ourselves.
We were given a warm welcome by Lt. General Russel Honoré and The National Guard and immediately were asked to support the Guard in the construction of tiger dams. Water pumps are used to create dams and we have high-powered water pumps that were able to double the production of the building process. We also have a tremendous amount of low ground pressure equipment able to work on the soft sandy beaches and marshy wetlands. In most situations, with the tides coming in and out most wheeled machines and vehicles would simply sink so our gear was the best for this situation in moving the pumps and setting the dams along the shoreline of LA.
The purpose of these dams is to create a wall about 20 feet from the shore line. Because the oil is here and is being pushed onto the beaches by the waves, the walls keep the oil on a small portion of the beach instead of the whole beach allowing a small area where the oil can be cleaned up and removed.
Over the past 6 weeks, the Team has worked tirelessly fighting the good fight. I remember clearly the day when the oil landed on our beaches. The waves became red and the white sand turned black. That day was very emotional, and I could not figure out exactly why. So much of the devastation we encounter regularly includes a tremendous loss of life. Though 11 workers were killed on the oil rig, on that day we were grieving our homeland being invaded by oil. The emotional response was unexpected, and I fear the worst is still to come.
We as American people really have no answers. No one really knows when the well will be capped, if the relief wells they are trying to drill will work, how much oil is spewing into our Gulf daily, how large the plumes are moving like submarines below the surface of our waters and where the currents will take them. What are the long-term effects and could this go down as the worst oil spill in the history of our world?
With all that said, is everything that could be done being done? I think the answer is no. I think the disaster is so large that no one wants to take responsibility for it. This 20 Billion dollar fund is based on what figures? All I know is what I see on the front lines everyday. And what I see is not much.
I believe more can be done and if the opportunity arises or if the Team can create the opportunity, we will. Another fear we face is the imminent hurricane season that is upon us. It was already predicted to be a severe year, but what will the effect be of oil being picked up from the ocean and tossed over our houses, roads and fields. I fear this could become some of our worst nightmares.
Until then, we prepare and work hard daily, looking for solutions and making a difference.
