MEDIA ALERT 1Background: April 20 is the fifth anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill, which resulted in the loss of 11 lives and substantial environmental and economic impacts for residents along the Gulf Coast region. In 2011, UF became the lead institution on one of four Deepwater Horizon Research Consortia grants, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and other Institutes of the National Institutes of Health. The UF-led team has been studying the safety of seafood, the psychological and sociological coping skills and the resilience of community members that have helped communities to recover and prepare for any future potential disasters, manmade or natural. Project sites stretch along the Florida-Alabama coastline and include communities in Levy, Dixie, Franklin, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties in Florida and Baldwin County in Alabama.
Who: The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Bob Graham Center for Public Service, UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education, Emerging Pathogens Institute, Healthy Gulf, Healthy Communities Project
What: An Oil Spill Summit: The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Five Years Later: Lessons Learned from the Deepwater Disaster Research Update: “Public Health Impact of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in Eastern Gulf Communities”Following the Deepwater Horizon disaster, residents in impacted communities suffered anger, anxiety, depression and fatigue. High levels of mental health problems were identified in community members who experienced a loss of income. Although levels have decreased since the spill, they remain above average.
When: Monday, April 13, 6 p.m.
Where: The Bob Graham Center for Public Service 220 Pugh Hall, The University of Florida Gainesville, Fla. (352) 846-1575
Contact: Ruth Hohl Borger, office - 352-294-3329, cell - 517-803-7631, [email protected] Kimberly Moore Wilmoth, office – 352-294-3302, cell – 321-302-9369, [email protected]
Speakers will include:Dr. Glenn Morris, Project Director for Healthy Gulf, Healthy Communities; Director, UF Emerging Pathogens InstituteDr. Richard Powers, Adjunct Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Former Director of Alabama Dept. of Mental HealthMarc Roy, Director for Disaster Management Services, Matrix New World Engineering, Inc.; Adjunct Professor, Tulane University, Disaster Resilience Leadership AcademyU.S.C.G. Captain Duke Walker, Commander, Coast Guard Sector Mobile; Former Federal On-Scene Coordinator for the Deepwater Horizon Spill of National Significance ResponseGreg Strader, executive director, Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies
MEDIA ALERT 2
Who: The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
What: A Regional Discussion: The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Five Years Later: Report Release: ”Community Perceptions of Recovery and Resiliency, 5 years Post-DWH Oil Spill”Affected Gulf Coast communities continue to see effects and impacts from the DWH oil Spill. The research findings to be released focus on how community members think their communities have recovered following the DWH oil spill 5 years later. When: Thursday, April 23, 2015 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Where: Three LocationsUniversity of Florida, Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI)2055 Mowry Road Room 150- First Floor Gainesville, Fla.352-273-7526
Apalachicola Community Center1 Bay AvenueApalachicola, Fla.(850) 653-9319
Langley Bell 4-H Center3730 Stefani Road Cantonment, Fla.(850) 941-6002
Contact: Ruth Hohl Borger, office - 352-294-3329, cell - 517-803-7631, [email protected] Kimberly Moore Wilmoth, office – 352-294-3302, cell – 321-302-9369, [email protected]
Speakers will include:Dr. Glenn Morris, Healthy Gulf, Healthy Communities Project Director, UF Emerging Pathogens InstituteAndy Kane, Healthy Gulf, Healthy Communities Project One Director, UFLynn Grattan, Healthy Gulf, Healthy Communities Project Two Director, University of Maryland Brian Mayer, Healthy Gulf, Healthy Communities Project Three Director, Arizona State University Tracy Irani, Healthy Gulf, Healthy Communities Project Community Outreach & Dissemination Core Director, UFSamuel Mathews, Healthy Gulf, Healthy Communities Project Community Outreach & Dissemination Core, University of West Florida
RSS