After Action Report/Improvement Plan: Deepwater Horizon Response
March 2, 2011
2
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 4
Best Practices ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Issues and Challenges ........................................................................................................................... 7
Recommendations ................................................................................................................................ 7
Section 1: Detailed Response Timeline ................................................................................................. 8
Section 2: Best Practices .................................................................................................................... 12
Reconnaissance (RECON) .................................................................................................................... 12
Geospatial Assessment Tool for Operations and Response (GATOR) ................................................ 13
Boom Coordination Cell ...................................................................................................................... 14
Google Docs ........................................................................................................................................ 16
Branch Structure ................................................................................................................................. 16
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) ..................................................................... 16
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) .................................................................... 17
BP and United States Coast Guard co‐location in the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) .. 18
Command Briefings ............................................................................................................................. 18
Business, Industry, and Economic Development ................................................................................ 18
Unified Sampling and Early Testing .................................................................................................... 18
State Management Teams (SMTs) ...................................................................................................... 19
Food Service Area ............................................................................................................................... 19
Volunteer Coordination ...................................................................................................................... 19
Meteorology ....................................................................................................................................... 20
Close Coordination of State Agencies ................................................................................................. 21
Outreach, the Florida Emergency Information Line (FEIL), and the Florida Oil Spill Information Line
(FOSIL) ....................................................................................................................................... 25
Adjusting to Operational Needs.......................................................................................................... 26
Section 3: Issues and Challenges ........................................................................................................ 28
Unified Command Mobile (UC Mobile) .............................................................................................. 28
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) ...................................................................................................... 29
National Contingency Plan (NCP) and Area Contingency Plan (ACP) ................................................. 29
Reimbursement for Government Claims ............................................................................................ 30
After Action Report/Improvement Plan: Deepwater Horizon Response
March 2, 2011
3
Local Integration into Operations ....................................................................................................... 30
Rumors and Outreach ......................................................................................................................... 30
Skimmers and Vessels of Opportunity (VOOs) ................................................................................... 31
Section 4: Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 32
1. Recommend broader incorporation of all federal response plans into the National Response
Framework (NRF) and update the National Contingency Plan (NCP). ...................................... 32
2. Update the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) to reflect the updated
NCP. ........................................................................................................................................... 32
3. Review and update the Area Contingency Plan (ACP). ............................................................. 32
4. Enhance the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) Air Branch. .......................................... 32
5. Integrate the State Watch Office (SWO) into Geospatial Assessment Tool for Operations and
Response (GATOR). ................................................................................................................... 32
6. Develop reconnaissance (RECON) website on FloridaDisaster.Org. ......................................... 33
7. Expand training opportunities for all stakeholders and non‐traditional lead agencies. .......... 33
8. Review and develop best practices for sampling analysis and distribution. ............................ 33
Appendix A: List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................. 34
After Action Report/Improvement Plan: Deepwater Horizon Response
March 2, 2011
4
Executive Summary
The purpose of this report is to provide information on response efforts during Deepwater Horizon
Response. The Florida State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) was activated for 120 days from April
30, 2010 to August 27, 2010. This report was initiated by the State Emergency Response Team (SERT)
for its own review and analysis on the efficacy and efficiency of their performance during that time. It
contains recommendations for improving upon operations and procedures for future activations.
The Deepwater Horizon offshore oil drilling platform experienced a major explosion in the Gulf of
Mexico on April 20, 2010. Initial reports of oil release from the disaster site were limited to by‐products
of the collapsed oil rig itself, but further examination revealed that the well blow‐out preventer was not
functioning. Shortly after this discovery, BP confirmed that oil from the MC‐252 well site was entering
the Gulf. Under the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990, BP was designated the responsible party, meaning
that they would have the statutory obligation to fund all response efforts. President Barack Obama
designated the United States Coast Guard (USCG) as the lead federal response agency.
Rescue crews try to extinguish the flames onboard the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig
Fire extinguishing, search and rescue, and skimming operations began the following day with off‐shore
fire suppression vessels. Three attempts were made to shut‐down the well, all unsuccessful. The USCG
was on scene assisting with response efforts, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) began monitoring the response, the fire, and the oil release.
The Unified Command (UC) Mobile was established quickly in response to the spill to allow
representatives from federal and state (Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida) emergency management and
environmental partners to make consensus decisions regarding objectives, strategies, and plans for
dealing with potential impacts of coastal shorelines from the oil spill. Florida sent a For
![INDEX [ ] ... National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon OIl Spill and Offshore Drilling Index](https://img.pdfslide.us/doc/110x75/5fa13815c5ccaf641f3defa7/index-national-commission-on-the-bp-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-and-offshore.jpg?t=1656158002)