Retirees Join in Gulf Effort

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Many NPS retirees (and CNPSR members) worked on the NPS response to the Gulf Oil spill. Most seemed to work in the Mobile, AL command center, but CNPSR executive council member Anne Castellina and I went as Public Information Officers, as AD (Administratively Determined) emergency hires. I ordered through the EICC (Eastern Interagency Coordination Center at Shenandoah NP) on a 30-day assignment in June, then returned in July for another 14-day assignment.

Anne and I were the only non-NPS employees who worked as Public Information Officers. Anne had had direct experience with the Exxon Valdez Oil spill: she was the superintendent of Kenai Fjords during that unfortunate event. Anne had also formerly worked at Gulf Islands National Seashore (GUIS). During her detail as PIO, she helped the GUIS interpretive staff cope with the oil spill and develop educational programs. As PIOs, we served as the primary connection between the media and the incident workers. I took thousands of photographs (some of which were used on the NPS spill response and intergovernmental response websites). Very often, interagency wildlife rescue and beach cleanup crews worked in full view of the public. Onlookers were fascinated at the efforts to preserve our natural resources.

More of my Gulf photos can be seen at www.nps.gov/guis.

Photos, from June 23, 2010: Top, Florida Dept. of Environmental Conservation and U.S. Coast Guard workers prepare to move an oiled dolphin to an observation site on the beach.

Bottom: Hurricane Alex approaches a tarballed Langdon Beach as cleanup crews work.