It has been over 70 days since the tragic Deepwater Horizon rig explosion. Although we have been feeling the impacts of the disaster since the beginning, one of the greatest fears was realized recently when oil reached the shores of our state. Each passing day is critical. Monitoring Hurricane Alex, the first storm of the season, we are reminded of the potential role Mother Nature could play in the upcoming months. Hurricane season is one of the many reasons why we need to expedite the response and cleanup efforts of the Gulf oil spill.

                         Administration’s Slow Response
I have been disappointed with the administration’s response to this disaster. The administration has pledged to do everything it can to prevent oil from reaching our shores, but that effort appears to be delayed by bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of coordination.
 
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to do another fly-over of the impacted waters and saw firsthand the oil in the Mississippi Sound. Since my flight, we have witnessed the closure of our Mississippi Sound fishing grounds.  What struck me the most during my flight was the lack of skimming equipment. Over two weeks ago, the federal on-scene coordinator determined there were not enough skimming vessels. Finally, 15 days after this determination and more than 70 days since the start of the spill, the administration is slowly starting to take action. During that unnecessary delay, more than half a million barrels of oil flowed into the Gulf. This is unacceptable. As the administration further drags its feet in cleaning up the Gulf, another 35,000-60,000 barrels of oil per day continues to leak into our waters.

We cannot afford to let bureaucratic delays get in the way of stopping the leak and cleaning the Gulf. Recently, the administration created a review process for Jones Act waivers, but at the time of this publication, the White House has not granted waivers for international skimming equipment to operate in domestic waters. I hope the President will take this one step further by waiving the Jones Act for all skimming vessels. This is no different than the limited waiver provided for vessels responding after Hurricane Katrina.  We need all domestic and international resources responding to this disaster.

                            Hurricane Season Arrives
The hurricane season may complicate our efforts to stop the leak and clean up the contaminated waters. While we should always be vigilant and prepared for hurricane season, the ongoing oil leak reminds us that we need to stand ready for a two-front fight this year.

The challenges we face are difficult, but Mississippians are resilient. We responded to Hurricane Katrina, and we have learned how we can better prepare for hurricanes in the future. Although Deepwater Horizon is a man-made catastrophe rather than a natural disaster, our resolve should be no different.

Since Hurricane Katrina, I have worked to direct millions of dollars to improve the state’s emergency communications systems, emergency operation centers and shelters, and training of personnel. I continue to stay in regular contact with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) as well as local and state officials to ensure that we are well prepared for an event and ready to respond immediately.

                            Importance of Preparedness
Katrina reminded us that preparedness goes beyond the role of the government. Citizen responsibility is a critical part of how well a state overcomes an event like a hurricane. Now is the time to develop a family plan, stock emergency kit supplies, secure homes, and discuss evacuation routes. I encourage all Mississippians to visit http://www.ready.gov/ or my website at www.wicker.senate.gov to review more tips on how to prepare for hurricane season. 

It is clear that neither BP nor this administration was prepared to deal with an oil leak of this magnitude. As we come together to fight the oil spill, we must not let down our guard when it comes to hurricane preparedness. We have weathered the storms of the past, and we will overcome this challenge. 

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