Heroes Wanted: How You Can Help in the Gulf

Now that I've gotten back from training and am awaiting assignment, I have heard a lot of discussion along the lines of "what can I do to help." I thought I'd send a few suggestions out there to get your creative juices going. Remember, even if you can't actually go to the gulf you can still be a valuable asset to our efforts to save the gulf region. 

For those of you who want to go to the gulf to assist in the clean up, my advice for you now is stay home. As I said before in my video log, the people in that region have been out of work for some time and, as is the case with many in the construction, fishing or tourist industries, will most likely will be out of work for a long time to come. Because BP is paying shore clean up crews (yet they still call them volunteers, causing great confusion among the general public), those positions are highly sought after. There have been rumors of fights breaking out while people wait in line for BPs required training as anxious out of work people compete for seats. Believe me when I say they do not appreciate outsiders coming in no matter how good their intentions may be. Several people were far from friendly when I first entered the class, but once they realized I was there for a very specific job that would not interfere with any of their opportunities for employment they warmed right up. Several of them shared their fears and frustrations about outsiders coming in for those precious few jobs, and it was really heart wrenching to see the hopelessness in their eyes. Please, if you are not from the region, stay home.

That's not to say you won't be needed eventually, and there's nothing you can do to help. Train now. Be ready for the time you may be needed. Turnover for this kind of work is extremely high. Some have not lasted through the first day. Of course, keep that in mind for yourself as well. If you cannot stand putting your summer thermostat above 75, this is not the work for you. Put a few garbage bags on and go stand out in your yard for a few minutes in the sun. That might give you an idea of what volunteering for oil cleanup might be like!

Warning aside, if you are still not dissuaded in your quest to help in person it's time to get trained. In order to respond to this spill, you must attend a class called MS-252 Module 3. This is BP specific HAZMAT (Hazardous Materials) training. You will not be granted access to any site without this training. This training is for this specific incident only, and it does not count towards training in any other spill. In other words, unless you intend on working this specific incident only you are wasting your time. Classes are (as far as I know) only in the gulf region, so you will have to travel there in order to get it. In my humble opinion, it was a waste of a day. It was laughably simplistic. But I had to have it in order to work this spill, so 'nuff said. I pinched my nose and swallowed a dose of "duh" and went.

To find out more on when classes are scheduled, you first have to register with the BP/Horizon Response Hotline. It is an exercise in patience, to say the least. But do this first so they have a record of your interest. Then visit the links on that page and volunteer in each individual state. Next go to PEC Premier Safety Management, the company contracted by BP to conduct all training classes. Email your intent to register there.

Beyond that, there are many ways you can get the other training necessary to work not only in this spill, but for the future ones, since we all know this will happen again. Oh sure, the government promises to make sure it doesn't. Pardon me while I sneeze something that sounds suspiciously like "bullshit" and get on with training for it anyway. Here's what you'll need for any oil spill.

ICS 100, 200 and 700. Frankly, everyone in the country should have this training. It is available free online through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). ICS stands for Incident Command System. It is the system of coordinating and communicating with multiple agencies during an incident of any size and scope that could potentially cause harm to life, property or the environment. Everything from a parade to an oilcano is covered here.

HAZWOPER: Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. The more training you have, the greater the access you will have. Courses are available online (though they are neither easy nor free),  but you can sometimes find them through your workplace or through local OSHA contacts. Start there so you will be sure to find a legit source. I am getting mine online through a company called 360 Training.

Oiled Wildlife Response: If you are a wildlife professional or paraprofessional, this is the training necessary to aid in the capture/confinement/decontamination process of oiled wildlife. There are classes available through wildlife rehabilitation centers across the country in coastal areas. The organization Tristate Bird Rescue & Research is the organization contracted by BP to coordinate the wildlife response aspect of this spill along with International Bird Rescue Research Center and US Fish & Wildlife. However, they cautioned me that there is no training available at present in their center for this particular spill, because as of now all their trainers are actually deployed and working in the gulf region. So if you are not already trained, the best thing to do is wait until things calm down a bit and get training when the normal schedule resumes. In the meantime you can get training in general wildlife handling by volunteering at your local wildlife rehab centers, especially those that involve raptors or other large birds.

As I said before, even if you can go to the gulf in person, you can be just as (if not more) helpful in other ways. You are only limited by your creativity and your imagination. Just a few ideas:

1. If you have a coworker who is trained and would like to go help, get a group of your coworkers to volunteer to cover shifts
2. Sponsor a volunteer with gift certificates for travel accommodations, gas, food etc.
3. Volunteer at your local wildlife rehab center so that you can help free up a trained rehabilitator go with confidence that their charges at home will still be looked after. For wildlife enthusiasts this is a win/win/win. The rehabber gets to go, you get some animal husbandry training under your belt, and the critters get the care they need.
4. Monetary donations. Due most likely to a slumping economy and donor fatigue from all the other disasters going on this year, donations to relief organizations have been extremely low. Finding an organization that can use your financial help is probably the biggest thing you can do to help the people ravaged by this event.  Food banks in the area are swamped with new clients and so many jobs have been lost in one fell swoop.  Some places have seen a 25% increase in requests for assistance in just one month.

Better yet, rather than run around like chickens with our heads cut off after a disaster has occurred, why not just be ready? Never underestimate the value of training ahead of time. If your area is prone to devastating storms, how about training to be a Red Cross shelter volunteer? If flooding is a problem in your hometown and you have a boat, what about training to assist in rescue efforts? Concerned about animals suffering in the wake of disaster? Might be a good idea to contact your local Humane Society and learn more about their volunteer programs.

Bottom line is, everyone can help in some way in any situation. Our only limitations are that of our imagination and creativity.