At a public community forum held Friday, April 30 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa, Walton County Emergency Responders assured citizens that although the magnitude of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill’s impact on our area is unknown, their teams have assembled a united front to prepare for and address what may come.

On Friday the oil slick was reported to be 100 miles south of Pensacola, Florida and the mouth of the Mississippi River. Skimmer boats are stationed near the site of the now sunk rig in an effort to control the oil’s spread. The panel could not speculate on the course of the slick or when it might potentially come ashore in our area, but other sources predict as soon as Monday, May 3.

Emergency Responders are taking part in daily conference calls with the State Emergency Operations Center and the Unified Command Center in Mobile and have established a 24-hour information line staffed by the Walton County Sherriff’s Office to disseminate information to the public.

The panel communicated that it is likely every effort will be explored to protect the 26 miles of beach front in South Walton County as well as its coastal dune lakes. Citizens at the forum offered the assistance of their private vessels to aid in preventative measures. Though efforts are still being made to seal the source of the oil, the panel indicated that Walton County would immediately initiate clean-up measures should the oil slick make landfall on area beaches.

The panel indicated that only in the event that the oil presents a public safety issue will the beaches be closed. Vacationers are encouraged not to change their plans as there are many variables that will affect if and when the oil spill will impact our beaches.

For more information visit www.waltonso.org