Fun met slapeloosheid Blog

Toch duurt het slechts enkele minuten van het graven in het zand te onthullen een bedreiging dat deskundigen zeggen dat permanent dreigt dit pittoreske l andscape: zwembaden van ruwe olie op de loer minder dan een voet onder de oppervlakte.

De A Pril 20 explosie van een booreiland explosie in de Golf van Mexico vrijgegeven een raming geraamde 205 miljoen liter olie in deze wateren. Het blijft onduidelijk hoeveel olie werd ook werkelijk worden ingevorderd, hoeveel blijft, en - meest belangrijk voor het kwetsbare eco systemen - waar het eindigde.

Een verslag gepubliceerd in augustus door de National Oceanic and atmos Heric Administration (NOAA) heeft geconcludeerd dat 74 procent van de olie is rood is recupe, verdampt, of natuurlijk verspreid, waardoor er een resterende 26 procent "op of net onder de s urface "van water of in het zand.

Maar veel wetenschappers de vraag van de geldigheid van dat verslag, sayin g, die, als gevolg van de ongekende omvang van de lekkage en het record volume van de dis persants gebruikt om zijn impact te verzachten, is het te vroeg om elke bepaling een bout waar of wanneer de olie aangevoerd.

'Uitgebreide milieu Sampling' Nodig om Impact van olie Bepaal op Kust

Onlangs heeft NOAA zelf aangegeven dat het rapport is een werk in progressie s.

Ron Kendall, directeur van het Instituut voor milieu en de menselijke gezondheid op het Texas Tech University in Lubbock en een lid van het beoordelingsteam voor de Ex- xon Valdez morsen in 񎧅, zegt dat het zal "een uitgebreide milieu-sampling" over een periode van jaren om det hermelijnen hoeveel olie is ingebed in kusthabitats, en waar.

Olie die rem Ains gevangen onder een moeras of begraven onder een strand is vooral bedreigend omdat het gebrek aan zuurstof zal bacteriën te voorkomen dat het afbreken van de olie, ik aning "Het zal er voor alle tijden," zegt Nancy Kinner, codirecteur van The Coastal Research Center Response aan de Universiteit van New Hampshire in Durham.

Eenentwintig jaar na de Vald ez morst, blijft olie ondergedompeld in de stranden van Prince William Sound in Alaska .

NEW ORLEANS - Afhankelijk van de resultaten van een overnachting drukproef, waren ambtenaren verwacht dat tot en met zondag aankondigen dat de geblazen-out BP goed in de Golf van Mexico was dood, vijf maanden na een explosie 11 werknemers gedood, zonk een boorplatform en leidde om de ergste olieramp op zee in de Amerikaanse geschiedenis.

De druk test werd ingesteld om te worden afgewerkt vroege zondagochtend, de laatste stap die nodig is voor natio opnieuw de weggelopen en kon eindelijk worden dood verklaard.

De test bestaat uit ingenieurs oefenen 15.000 pond gewicht tegen de cementplug om ervoor te zorgen dat het niet toegeven. Ze ALS o zal uitoefenen 1.150 pond per vierkante inch van de druk.

Het afdichten van de goed is een im langrijk stap voor de nog steeds vermoeide Gulf Coast bewoners, maar de ramp is veel f rom over. Personen die zich op de Golf voor hun levensonderhoud worden overgelaten aan een herstel Medio de bedrijven verwoest door eenmaal olie besmeurde kusten en visgronden. Zelfs wanneer de vis is veilig, de vissers strijd om het te verkopen aan consumenten vrezen ful dat het giftig is.

Nieuws dat de geblazen-out en zou al snel dood worden gebracht schrale troost voor mensen als Sheryl Lindsay, die eigenaar is van Orange Beach Trouwen, dat voorziet in BEAC h ceremonies aan de kust van Alabama.

Ze zei dat ze verloren ongeveer $ 240.000 in business as nerveuze bruid s-to-be annulering hun bruiloft de hele zomer lang en zelfs in de rest van t hij jaar. Tot nu toe heeft ze alleen maar ontvangen over 29.000 dollar in BP schadevergoeding.

"Ik ben bang dat BP gaat Pul l uit en laat ons opknoping met niets, "zei Lindsay.

De Golf en uitgespuwd 206 miljoen gallo ns van de olie totdat de spuiter werd voor het eerst gestopt in medio juli met een tijdelijke dop. M ud en cement werden later naar beneden geduwd door de bovenkant van de put, waardoor de C ap te worden verwijderd.

De tragedie begon op 20 april bij een explosie gedood ǫ werknemer s, zonk een booreiland en heeft geleid tot de ergste olieramp op zee in de Amerikaanse geschiedenis.

Gepubliceerd op: zondag de 19 september 2010, 05:03

(Noot van de redactie: Sinds april, Pers-Register heeft de schriftelijke verhalen over tientallen slachtoffers olieramp, een beschrijving hun strijd. Nu, de krant is na de ervaringen van veel van Tho se slachtoffers als zij nastreven schadeclaims. De volgende stukken werden gemeld en geschreven door nieuws-medewerkers Guy Busby, Renee Busby, Jeff Dute, Roy Hoffman, Ka Uw Jumper, Rena Havner Philips, Rhoda Pickett en Katherine Sayre.)

Randy Bogg s, 45, Elberta

Beroep: Een professionele visser, Boggs en ​​zijn vrouw, Susan , Hebben bezeten Reel verrassing Charters in San Roc Cay in Orange Beach voor 11 jaar.

De Press-Register meldde begin juli 21, dat de Boggs was 'bang' van de olieramp zou Busine doden zijn ss. Hij had slechts ontving drie controles, in totaal $ ǫ, 000, als compensatie voor Los t inkomen, waarover hij op 600.000 dollar geschat, aangezien de lekkage. Zijn boot betalingen totaal 12.000 dollar per maand. Hij zei dat er sprake was van 11 verschillende regelaars zijn onder de B P claims proces.

Outlook: Boggs zei een oktober red snapper seizoen zou betekenen een goede maand, behoudens eventuele orkanen of slecht weer. Klanten die couldn'tf ISH in het voorjaar, als gevolg van de olievervuiling, al roepen te boeken reizen, Bogg s gezegd. "Ik denk dat we dit gaan overleven. Ik ben zeker niet bereid om het faillissement van een bestand nd stoppen. "

Claims proces: Boggs zei dat hij nog niet heeft opnieuw ingediend met Ken Feinbergâ € ™ s Grou p. Susan Boggs, die zorgt voor de vorderingen aanvragen voor het paar, zei dat sh e nodig om "enkele duidelijkheid over vragen over de toepassing" en geplande tot het dossier door aan het einde van vorige week.

Lori Bosarge, 49, Coden

Beroep: Eigenaar van LaBelle Borduren, een huis-Bas ED bedrijf begonnen in 1989 dat de lokale en nationale klanten heeft. Veel van haar loc Al cliënten betrokken zijn bij het bouwen van boten of de schaal-en schelpdieren bedrijf.

De Pers-Re gister gemeld begin juli 12, dat Bosarge business was uitgeschakeld door 20 p ercent sinds de lekkage. Bosarge gemeld krijgt haar eerste cheque van BP in juli , Meer dan twee maanden na het indienen van een claim.

Outlook: Bosarge zei business opnieuw lichtnet traag. "Er is niet veel verandering in het al helemaal niet," zei ze.

Claims proces: Bosarge zei dat sh e heeft gewacht sinds 25 augustus voor een controle van Ken Feinberg Kust van de Golf Cl doelstellingen Facility na verteld om een ​​cheque binnen een week verwacht. Haar man, Den NOS, werkt voor een bedrijf dat onderdelen maakt voor garnalenvissers en heeft zijn eigen Busin ess maken oester messen. Ze geloofden dat zijn cheque zou komen uit het nieuwe proces s binnen 48 uur. Een schaderegelaar gebeld Lori Bosarge t zeggen hoed van het paar claims worden momenteel herzien. "Naar mijn mening, als BP beweert officieren goedkeuring gehecht aan een le van legitieme claim, dan zie ik niet in waarom dit Gulf Coast Vorderingen moest gaan en Rein vent het allemaal opnieuw, tenzij er was een rode vlag, "zei ze.

Chuck Campbell, 52, Orange Beach en Birmingham

Beroep: Mede-eigenaar met zijn vrouw, Shannon, van Liberty Beddengoed en Janitorial Levering en At Work Uniformen van Orange Beach.

De Press-Register rep orted op 29 augustus dat de Campbells werden lening op zoek naar een $ 1,4 miljoen naar CONSOLID aten de schuld na het verlies van ongeveer $ 250.000 in 2010. Campbell zei dinsdag dat ze ho ped te horen binnenkort wanneer de lening zal worden goedgekeurd.

Outlook: Het echtpaar kocht unif orm Rental Service in 1989, veranderde de naam, en ontwikkelde het zich in twee bedrijven leveren van linnengoed, schoonmaakproducten en uniformen naar Gulf Coast condominiums en andere bedrijven. De bedrijven hebben 47 medewerkers. Campbell zei dat hij hoopt op maat ers buiten de Gulf Coast, zoals Mississippi casino's, zal helpen de c ompanies blijven totdat de lokale economie verbetert. "We zijn gelukkig dat niet al onze b usiness is aan de kust. Als ik was een klein bedrijf hier vandaag, zou ik waarschijnlijk ha ve om de deuren te sluiten. "

Claims proces: De bedrijven hebben vorderingen ingediend van in totaal 150.000 dollar een d kreeg een cheque van $ 5.000 van BP. Campbell zei dat functionarissen van het bedrijf van plan om Carr y op vorderingen met de Gulf Coast Claims faciliteit.

Daniel Craven, 53, Golf Shor es een

Beroep: Advocaat.

De Press-Register gemeld begin 06 juni dat o ne van Craven's klanten had gedocumenteerd $ 10.000 aan condominium verhuur Canc ellations als gevolg van de lekkage. Hij samen met het advocatenkantoor van Daniell Upton Perry & Morris in Daphn e tot enkele honderden cliënten te vertegenwoordigen, de meesten van hen condominium eigenaars op de G Ulf, bij het indienen van claims met BP. De advocaten ook van plan om rechtszaken bestand op behal f van de eigenaars strijdende verlies van waarde.

Outlook: Hij heeft een gezien restau rant eigenaar op de Golf en een paar individuen betalingen te ontvangen, omdat Ken Feinberg nam de leiding van de $ 20 miljard fonds vernietigd door BP PLC. "Maar," voegde hij eraan toe, "als iemand zich op dit geld naar de opera fonds gen vóór het einde van de maand of betalen van hun hypotheek aan het einde van de maand, Ik denk dat ik alternatieve oplossingen te zoeken. "

Claims proces: "We opnieuw ingediend voor iedereen", zei hij, eraan toevoegend dat Thei r cliënten op zoek zijn naar compensatie voor verlies op de verhuur en verloren zaken, en er e zijn eigenaar van de boot claims. "We beginnen een aantal overschrijvingen en enkele gedeeltelijke betaling te krijgen s. "Feinberg het personeel probeert de claims af te handelen, Craven zei," maar ze schromelijk onderschat de ove rwhelming aard van hun taak. "Het is frustrerend voor eisers, zei hij. Mensen die werken op de frontlinies in de plaatselijke BP-kantoren waren "grote" om mee te werken, zei hij, maar nu is er niemand availab le vragen te beantwoorden. "Ik heb gehoord dat frustratie klonk uit een heleboel mensen," zei hij. "De bottom line, draai in th e beste papieren je kan en hoop voor de beste en dat het juiste aantal is goin g tot pop out. "

Cua Thi Huynh, 72, Grand Bay

Beroep: Oyster shucker die kwam tot de Unite d Staten uit Vietnam ongeveer 13 jaar geleden aan het werk samen met haar dochter in de s eafood industrie.

De Press-Register meldde begin juli 6, dat Huynh Becam e werklozen als een vis verwerkingsbedrijf stilgelegd na de lekkage. Ze werd het verzamelen van blikjes en verkopen de eieren te kunnen rondkomen. Geholpen door een vertaler, ze l verdiende in aanmerking te komen voor $ 150 in voedselbonnen voor een maand, maar de Alabama Dep artment van Human Resources verluidt liet haar uit het programma.

Outlook: Huynh zei door Jimmy Trieu, een tolk een overeenkomst met SOS-Boat People, dat haar voedselbonnen niet zijn hersteld. Ze blijft Colle ct aluminium blikjes te koop, maar had niet verzameld elke dinsdag als gevolg van illne ss. Ze heeft moeite haar rekeningen te betalen, met inbegrip van nutsvoorzieningen en medicatio ns.

Claims proces: Ze heeft twee vorderingen ingediend en heeft twee betalingen van Elk 1.000 dollar van BP. Ze zei dat ze niets heeft gehoord dat er uit een derde vordering e. Ze ingediend in begin augustus met Ken Feinberg Kust van de Golf Claims Facility bu t is nog een betaling hebben ontvangen.

Louis de la Parra, 55, Orange Beach

Occupat ion: Eigenaar van "Bizarre Bazaar vlakbij het ​​strand" op te slaan sinds 2009, de verkoop van T-shirts, souvenirs en andere IT-ems. Hij heeft ook een kleine online verkoop bedrijf.

De Press-Register VERSLA Ted op 29 juli dat de la Parra was t sluiten van zijn winkel te wijten aan een gebrek aan toeristische Rade.

Outlook: De la Parra gesloten 05 augustus. "Het kost me $ 15.000 tot $ 20.000 tot open blijven voor de winter, en we hebben het niet. We waren het opbouwen van een goede, fatsoenlijke Littl e-business, maar we konden niet open blijven. "

Claims proces: De la Parra heeft gezegd dat hij ontvangen 5.000 dollar van BP na indiening van zijn oorspronkelijke vordering. Hij zei dinsdag dat hij sinds gemeld ongeveer $ 70.000 in verliezen, maar heeft ontvangen geen extra voordelen. Hij sa id dat hij en zijn boekhouder geloven dat zijn werkelijke verliezen 104.000 dollar in de de huidige toeristische seizoen. Hij zal blijven tot een vordering in te stellen. Â

Jeanne Donald, 5 9, en Bob Donald, 62, Gulf Shores Â

Beroep: De Donalds geopend Hoop Che esecake na de verhuizing van Valdez, Alaska, naar Gulf Shores 15 jaar geleden.

De Pre ss-Register gemeld op 26 juli dat Hope's Cheesecake had slechts de helft van de aantal kaastaarten in juni dat zij dezelfde maand verkocht in 썙, toen de Stor e had klaargemaakt ongeveer 500 per week. Jeanne Donald zei dat ze moest ontslaan haar c hief bakker en werkte 12 uur per dag.

Outlook: "Business is typisch trage deze tijd van y oor, "zei Bob Donald, meestal omdat de vraag naar cheesecake en limoenroomtaart valt als de tou Rist seizoen eindigt.

Claims proces: "Ik ben niet ongelukkig met het proces," zei Bob Donald. "Het was traag, maar we erin geslaagd om strijd mee. Prior "ter overname Ken Feinberg's, Donald zei, het bedrijf kreeg een reeks o f controles, van mei tot en met juli, voor $ 5.000, $ 10.000 en ongeveer $ 25.000. Zijn ervaringen werkuitvoering met Feinberg Kust van de Golf Claims Facility is een positieve. "Als u w hoed ze vragen, 'zei hij, "heb ik niet gevonden hen bijzonder moeilijk is om mee te werken." The Donalds' petitie voor Emer gentschapvoorveilighe fondsen, zei hij, resulteerde in een recente cheque van Feinberg voor ongeveer 26.000 dollar . "We hebben wel voldoening," zei hij.

Jeff Hardy, 45, Orange Beach

Beroep: Eigenaar van Sand Dollar Sh OES en Leefstijlen winkels, met vestigingen in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Foley, S PAANSE Fort en Jackson, Mississippi

De Press-Register meldde begin juli 29 t hoed Hardy's business uit was 67 procent in Gulf Shores en 54 procent in Orang e Beach. Hardy zei zij zijn omgegaan met vijf afzonderlijke BP claims managers en mailde een totaal van 9,5 kilo papierwerk.

Outlook: Hardy zegt dat hij in onderhandeling is met t hij verhuurder aan de Gulf Shores locatie bij Pelican Point te sluiten.

Claimproces : Hardy zei al snel dat de winkel aan de kade in Orange Beach had verloren betwe en $ 500.000 en 750.000 dollar, en zijn enige compensatie was een cheque van 5,00 dollar 0. Hij is nu op zoek naar terugbetaling van de Gulf Coast Claims faciliteit. "Van 20 april tot en gisteren, hebben we verloren drie keer meer zaken tijdens de olieramp dan wij deed vorig jaar tijdens de grote recessie, "Hardy dinsdag gezegd. "Nu ben ik te verliezen leveranciers als gevolg van achterstallige rekeningen, en zelfs als ik heb geld, ik wil niet weer een aantal van hen. "

Sheila Hodges, "Baby Boomer," van Foley

Occ upation: Hodges werd volledig eigenaar van Meyer Real Estate in het midden van de jaren 1990.

De P ruk-Register gemeld begin juli 4 dat Hodges was onder beheerders die samen aan de BP olieramp claims aan te pakken als vakantiewoning significantie llations gemonteerd. Medio augustus, had haar onderneming ontving slechts ongeveer de helft wat het r equested van BP.

Outlook: Business is "trending opwaartse genoeg om optimalisering geven ons allemaal een aantal SM, "zei Hodges. "Dag van de Arbeid was een grote menigte, en er is al een goede menigte sindsdien." Vakantie huurders te reageren ed goed op prikkels, zoals snelheid kortingen en gratis concerten op het strand, sh e zei. Er zijn nog vragen over wat de tarieven klanten bereid zullen zijn om betalen volgend jaar, zei ze.

Claims proces: Hodges zei vorige week dat ze w erken op een vordering onder de nieuwe Feinberg geleid proces. "Ik denk dat het frustrerend om soort van st kunst over met iemand anders, "zei Hodges. "Ik dacht dat hij ging komen en af te halen het bestand en fr om daar heen te gaan, en in plaats daarvan, hij is herscheppen van de file." Ze zei dat BP had beloofd te betalen blijven ing half of lost summer revenue, which helps pay for costs in the slower seasons . But it's unclear whether that assurance will be fulfilled under Feinberg, sh e said. “We're still trying to figure out how to file correctly because we feel like there € ™s no recourse once there's been a verdict,” she said.

Patti Link, 50, Orange Beach

Occ upation: General manager of San Roc Cay, a 55-slip marina, retail and charter fi shing business, and Bear Point Marina, which has 75 slips.

The Press-Register reported beginning June 20 that the city closed San Roc Cay's marina when the spill hit, and tourists were scarce at the shopping center that was almost fully leased with ǰ stores and four restaurants. The spill stopped summer shopping a nd shut down the charter boat business. Link said some tenants got checks from B P, but none over $5,000, and some of the charter boat captains worked for BP in oil spill cleanup.

Outlook: “There's not much business; it's the off season,” she said. Gulf Shores and Orange B each Tourism is putting a lot of money in promoting the area, she said, and that will help a great deal. “We're going to have the beach concerts in October, and we are doin g events every weekend at San Roc Cay,” including charter fishing, she said. “We're hoping the people who chose not to come this summer will come now. We had a really good Labor Day.” San Roc Cay has not lost any tenants since the oil spill, she said. “If they have half a brain, they want to s tay here,” she said. “In fact, I have people calling me wanting to move here.”

Claims process: Owners of the development did not file a claim with BP but have filed for loss of income under the new pr ocess, she said. The center's tenants have all re-filed with Feinberg but have yet to get any money, she said.

Erik Nist, 38, Fairhope Â

Occupation: Presid ent and owner of Alabama Beach Vacation Rentals, or ALBVR.com, in Gulf Shores.

The Press-Register reported beginning July 11 that Nist had not received a chec k from BP for lost rental income from two condos he and his wife own. He debated with BP over the amount of the only check received for his vacation rental mana gement business. Nist filed his BP claim in April, the first Monday after the De epwater Horizon oil rig explosion exploded.

Outlook: “The good news is we seem to be getting back to our business,” Nist said last week. “People are coming back.” He said the upcoming Bon Jovi and Brad Paisley conc erts, Thunder on the Gulf powerboat racing and Shrimp Festival are going to be “a nice shot in the arm.” Nist said it's too late to save June, July and August, but he's optimistic for next year.

Claims process: Nist continues to wait for checks. The new process has been “exasperating.” Nist said he called the first day Feinberg took over and was told by a representati ve his claim could not be found in the computer system. “You could almost see the deer in the headlights,” said Nist. “It was like they grabbed people off the street and put them in the phone bank” and told them to “play dumb.” He said that a c laims adjuster advised that he go online to find his claim, but the website didn 't recognize his name or original BP claim number. After weeks of repeated cal ls inquiring about the status of his claim, Nist said he was recently told his c laim and paperwork were found. Nist said his claim remains under review. “This process has bee n nothing but painful,” he said. “How did we think getting the government involved would improve the process ?”

Stephen Quinn, 27, Fairhope

Occupation: In 2007 Quinn opened Blackfyn Customs, making aluminum sport-fishing towers for boats.

The Press-Register reported beginnin g July 29 that Quinn’s expected revenue of $300,000 this year had lagged disas trously. BP paid him $10,400 for lost May income, but he heard nothing else afte r filing for another $ȗ,000 or so for the summer.

Outlook: On Wednesday, with his equipment in storage, Quinn swept the floor of his empty work shed, shut th e doors for good and headed to Tampa, Fla., to take on contract work in boat rep air. “It was either stay in the building and face eviction,” he said, “or get out. I wouldn't say we're closed. I'd say we're homeless.”

Claims process: Quinn said that he believes he would have gotten paym ents for July and August if BP had gone ahead with its claims process. “It would have been app roximately $63,000, which would have been enough to have kept us in business her e,” he said. “Whenever Feinberg took over, we were told, they stopped all the payments. It got to the point where BP wouldn’t talk to us anymore.” The new process, Quinn said, “tells us any day, any day, we'll ha ve our claims paid.” But he had yet to receive anything beyond the initial $10,400. “If the oil spill had ne ver happened, I’d still be in the shop, we'd still have an income, I'd hav ea living and a house, and things would be OK.”

Eddie Spence, 50, Gulf Shores

Occupation : Co-owner of eight Shrimp Basket restaurants and The Steamer and Baked Oyster B ar; sole owner of Mikee's Seafood and Shrimpy's Mini Golf.

The Press-Register report ed beginning June 20 that Spence and business partner, David Cahoon, canceled pl ans to open a Shrimp Basket in Mobile given the uncertainty created by the oil s pill. After the spill was capped, they decided to open in October on Old Shell R oad. Claims were filed with BP for the restaurants, and checks for May and parti al payments for June and July helped cash flow. Revenue at the five beach restau rants was down 25 to 35 percent in June, compared to the same period in 2009.

Outlook: “It's really tough, and we're coming into the winter with no reserve,” Spence said. “Business is off consider ably, but it's not like we're closing. We did have a good Labor Day.” October should be go od, he said. “But we need some relief before then.”

Claims process: In-house accountants worked with Bert Sanders, a Gulf Shores accountant, to re-file all claims with the Feinberg-led p rocess. Spence's new claims were sent Sept. 13. He seeks six months' compens ation for the mini golf center and all of the restaurants except the one in Bay Minette. Sanders told him it should take at least a month to receive any payment s. “It doesn't seem near as positive as it was dealing with BP,” Spence said. “They get perturbed with us calling with q uestions. At least before, when we filed claims, we had a contact person. Het is disheartening more than anything. You read the paper and see what Feinberg says , and it's portrayed as being smoother and faster and easier, and none of that has happened in my case.”

Mike Thierry, 58, Dauphin Island

Occupation: Charter captain f or 40 years and owner of Captain Mike's Deep Sea Fishing.Â

The Press-Register reported beginning May 23 that Thierry mourned the loss of time spent fishing a nd said that the uncertainty surrounding the oil spill was making it hard to tal k to his son, Skipper Thierry, who grew up on his dad's boats and is a license d charter captain.

Outlook: Prospects remain uncertain. Thierry and his son ha ve collectively booked 15 trips for the fall red snapper season, expected to ope n on weekends beginning Oct. 1. “We're getting a few more phone calls every day,” Mike Thierry said, “but some people ar e still uneasy about the fish, whether to eat them or not, and the uncertainty o f the long-term effects of the oil and dispersants. Some people are saying theyâ ™re fine and that the government's tested them, but for some people, it's j ust human nature to be cautious, and I can't begrudge them that.”

Claims process: Thierry was hired May 5 by BP for its Vessels of Opportunity program, which put boat own ers to work in spill cleanup. He was deactivated in early August, then re-hired later that month to work two weeks offshore in a US Coast Guard effort to dete ct oil in the water column. He now waits for his boat to undergo mandatory decon tamination. His wife, Ann Thierry, who has handled claims applications, said the business received two $5,000 emergency checks and four other smaller loss-of-in come checks. Payouts were adjusted to factor the money Thierry made working for BP. She said that since re-filing the claim with Feinberg nearly six weeks ago, she has not heard from a claims processor. “I'm pretty sure they know my shoe size with all of the information they have on us, but no one really knows how they're going to work handling our claims. We are ready to get back to something called normal again.”

Jimmy Waller, 41, Elberta

Occupation: Waller owns the “Big Adventure,” a charter boat based in Orange Beach.

The Press-Register joined Waller on his 65-foot fishing boat on June 7, his s econd day working as part of BP's Vessels of Opportunity Program. He was worri ed about how he'd keep his business running and pay off the $300,000 owed on h is boat, plus support a family that includes aŃ-year-old son with cerebral pals y. Waller said that a monthly check from BP was enough to pay the boat note and cover insurance and his slip fee. But on Aug.ಛ, BP terminated the contract tha t had paid him $2,ዀ a day for use of his boat plus another $200-$300 for a day 's work.

Outlook: He's missing the BP paycheck and feeling the pinch. “Nobody's called ,” Waller said. Most of his clients hunt and watch football, so he's not optimistic that his boat will be in much demand this fall. “After a year of a bad economy and a year of an oil sp ill,” Waller said, “if we don't have a good year in 2011, I pretty much think my future in the charter bus iness is over. I'll have to do something else.”

Claims process: Waller filed two claims un der Feinberg’s process, a personal claim as an employee of his business and a business claim as the owner. He has received six month's worth of a salary — he declined to give a figure — through the personal claim, but by last week h ad heard nothing regarding the larger business claim. He said that he's tried to log onto the claims website to check his status but is unable to do so with t he log-on information and password given him. “I'm just waiting like everyone else, and ther e's no way to hear what's going on,” Waller said. “I think Feinberg has a little more on his plate, more numbers to deal with, than he thought.”

Patricia Zirlott, 56, Bayou La Batre

Occupation: She and her husband, Vic Zirlott, own Zirlott Gulf Products, which sells Gulf s hrimp, crab, oysters and gourmet seafood entrees, including homemade gumbo.

Het Press-Register reported in a June 13 column that Zirlott was worried whether she and her husband could continue their way of life.

Outlook: Patricia Zirlott s aid Wednesday that the company is still in business, but sales are “way down.” She's worried that American s will continue to avoid seafood from the region. “Our name says that our products come from t he Gulf,” she said. “People have said that we should change our name, but we have 20 years building a reputa tion on Gulf products, and it would be hard for people to recognize it if it wer e something else.”

Claims process: It has been a mess, she said. “I have people who pick crab for us, and none of them are getting treated fairly. One will get something, and another one will get nothing, and they all do the same thing,” she said. “I wish I had kept all the full-page ads that BP ran saying that they were going to make things right” because it hasn't happened, she sai d. “There are a lot of people who deserve more than what they are getting.” She planned to file with the Gul f Coast Claims Facility for both her husband and herself last week, despite bein g discouraged. “You keep trying,” she said. “That's all you can do. I'm not looking for it to be right.”

This, though, is an important milestone for the still-weary residents of the Gulf Coast: an assurance that not so much as a trickle of oil will ever seep from the well that already has ruined so much since the disaster first started. The tragedy began A pril 20, when an explosion killed 11 workers, sank a drilling rig and led to the worst offshore oil spill in US history.

Crews had already pumped in cement to seal the well from the bottom, and officials said Saturday it had set. Once ap ressure and weight test was finished, officials expected to confirm that the wel l is permanently plugged. That was expected to occur late Saturday, but an annou ncement may not come until Sunday.

People who rely on the Gulf of Mexico and its coastline for their livelihoods, though, know the disaster is far from over. Th ey are left to rebuild amid the businesses destroyed by once-oil-coated shorelin es and fishing grounds that were tainted by crude. Even where the seafood is saf e, fishermen struggle to sell it to consumers fearful that it's toxic.

News th at the blown-out well would soon be dead brought little comfort to people like S heryl Lindsay, who owns Orange Beach Weddings, which provides beach ceremonies o n Alabama's coast.

She said she lost about $Ꮀ,000 in business as nervous bri des-to-be canceled their weddings all summer long and even into the remainder of the year. So far, she has only received about $29,000 in BP compensation.

“Iâ ™m scared that BP is going to pull out and leave us hanging with nothing,” Li ndsay said.

The Gulf well spewed 206 million gallons of oil until the gusher was first stopped in mid-July with a temporary cap. Mud and cement were later pushe d down through the top of the well, allowing the cap to be removed. But official s will not declare it dead until it is killed from the bottom.

In Louisiana's coastal Plaquemines Parish, Guy Laigast was among three deputies setting up New Orleans Saints football garb Saturday along a fence at the sheriff’s office tr aining center, preparing for an annual employees' picnic. For him, news that t he plug was nearly done meant little.

“They've still got tons of oil out the re, so …” he said, his voice trailing off. “I don’t think it's going to solve all the problemen. They've got a lot to go.”

Librarian Donna Pobrica was working in a n otherwise empty building in Belle Chasse serving as a polling place for a loca l election.

â œI know a lot of people who have been waiting for that,” she sai d of the well's plugging. “We've waited a long time.”

Pobrica said the s pill “really killed the people down the road. Oysters were the main thing down here, and now it's gone.”

Many of the area's oyster beds were wiped out w hen officials flooded the marshes with fresh water, hoping it would help keep oi l out of the delicate wetlands. Oysters thrive in salt water.

For Tom Becker, a charter fishing boat captain in Biloxi, Miss., news that the well was nearly dea d is too little, too late. His business has tanked, down more than 60 percent wi th $36,0Ǡ in lost revenue, not to mention the business he’ll lose in the futu re.

“The phones just aren't ringing,” Becker said. “The damage is done. I'm glad to hear the well is sealed because now we won €™t have to speculate a bout it happening again. Now let’s worry about the future. How can we recover from this, and what do we have to do to bring people back?â€

Even aboard the De velopment Driller III — the ship that drilled the relief well and allowed crew s to pump in the cement for the plug — celebrations were muted.

“It's kind of bittersweet because we lostಋ men out here,” said Rich Robson, the offsho re installation manager on the DDIII vessel. “There isnâ ™t going to be any re al celebration. To a lot of people, the water out here is a cemetery.”

The Ass ociated Press was the only media outlet with a print reporter and photographer a board the ship.

Tim Speirs, BP's well site leader aboard the ship, told AP the re would be no sirens, no lights flashing, once the declaration came. In fact, m ost of the crew would be asleep.

The DDIII crew began finishing their work Thurs day, when the relief well being drilled intersected BPâ ™s blown-out well. The c ement — which will permanently plug the blown-out well from the bottom — sta rted flowing Friday. It had hardened by Saturday, leaving only the pressure test .

Until the test was finished, men in red work suits and mud-splattered hardhats were operating heavy hydraulic machines being used to lift the drill pipe back to the deck of the DDIII vessel. Two men sitting in black leather chairs used jo ysticks to maneuver the massive machines on the deck, which were lifting the equ ipment that was thousands of feet below.

The relief well was the 41st successful drilling attempt by John Wright, a contractor who led the team drilling the rel ief well aboard the DDIII vessel. Wright, who has never missed his target, told AP in August that he was looking forward to finishing the well and celebrating w ith a cigar and a quiet getaway with his wife.

He said Saturday he plans to make good on that promise. He planned to head back to Houston and then leave for av acation with his wife, probably to California. For him, the difficult work is fi nished.

“In my mind, it's already over. It’s been a long, exhaustive proce ss,” he said, citing “the media attention, the government involvement, the s tress levels, the pressure levels — not just on me, but on the entire team.”

More than 100 days later, the oil spill is in the c leanup phase and the annual Texas gulf shrimping moratorium has ended, leaving r esidents and fishermen waiting to learn what, if any, effect the spill may have locally both in and out of the water.

While his company's shrimp comes from th e local bays, Clifford Hillman of Hillman's Shrimp and Oyster in Port Lavaca a nd Hillman's Seafood Co. in Dickinson, said that he understood that the oil sp ill may have had an effect on the gulf shrimping season. Hillman said shrimp mig rate from east to west, meaning that some shrimp caught in Texas waters may orig inate in Louisiana, which could be a problem if it is true.

“The gulf shrimp s eason has opened at probably 30 percent of what it normally is, so it would lead one to believe that there has been some mortality of shrimp trying to migrate b ecause the shrimp season has not been what it normally is, but that has yet to b e proven,” Hillman said. “The long term result will not be identified for a number of years to come. It's not just hydrocarbons in the water column, but a heavy number of water dispersants. So there are answers to be had, but they may not be for a while.”

Shrimp boats may not operate in state waters withou ta state license â “ an item hard to come by since the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department began its bay and bait shrimp license buyback program in 1995. Terwijl 123 out-of-state shrimpers own some current licenses, other shrimping crews loo king to work in Texas may only purchase a license from one of the 651 current li cense-bearing residents.

As of Aug. 14, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has reopened state waters previously closed by the oil spill, but the concern that some unlicensed out-of-state shrimpers may try to work in Texas wa ters has the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department watching closely.

Mike Mitchell , TPWD game warden in Calhoun County, said state game wardens are working via bo at and aircraft on a regular basis to guarantee shrimp boats are operating legal ly.

“As far as local enforcement is concerned, gulf shrimp boats that come int o our ports and unload are routinely checked. Shrimp is confiscated and the capt ain is cited if that shrimp boat and/or shrimp boat captain are not licensed,” Mitchell said. “This season, game wardens have not encountered out-of-state G ulf shrimp boats operating in this immediate area.”

Kathleen Lambright, a real estate agent with Pooley Land and Realty in Seadrift, said her office began rec eiving calls shortly after the oil spill began to close state waters near the ri g explosion site along the eastern Gulf Coast.

“We've received calls from Al abama, Mississippi, Florida – all up and down the gulf coast,” Lambright sai d. “Within weeks of the spill, we got more and more calls from people wanting to rethink their options.”

Lambright said Seadrift could be attractive to people considering moving elsewhere because of the RV and golf cart ordinances i n place, as well as the lower cost of living.

“If they €™ve got a boat, they € ™re going to move it,” Lambright said. “This is not usual within the last 11 years or so for a coastal person to look elsewhere, but a boat's going to loo k for where it can fish.”

While shrimp season is in full swing, the Texas oyst er season is set to open on Nov. 1. Hillman expects an average year or above for the lower coast bays, but said the Texas season will likely be dependent on the Louisiana oyster season, which typically opens in early September.

“Louisiana produces approximately 60 percent of oysters on the Gulf Coast, so the fishing pressure on Texas bays will be predetermined by the Louisiana bay season,” Hil lman said. “Texas should have enough oysters if Louisiana's season is good, but if Louisiana is low due to pollution or mortality from freshwater, then Texa s may experience a situation where we don't have enough oysters for the season .â

Under a directive from Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, that state began divert ing freshwater through spillways as a means of overcoming the tidal currents to keep oil out of the oyster beds. According to Hillman, the freshwater may have a negative effect on the beds, which could possibly lead to a high demand for Tex as oysters.

“Oysters can't sustain in a freshwater environment; they need a mixture of freshwater and saltwater, a brackish environment,” Hillman said. “The fresh water they brought in may have kept the oil away, but it also may have killed th e oyster beds. This will determine how the crop is pursued for higher demand and greater fishing pressure.”

Because oyster permits are similar to shrimp permi ts with a state moratorium on sales, Hillman said there are a number of Louisian a residents with existing Texas licenses. Hillman said the number of out-of-stat e license holders should prevent a higher than usual number of oystermen from co ming into the area.

“There won't be an excessive number of people oystering or shrimping,” Hillman said. That's a false fear and after the oil spill thi s year, that is a good thing.”

Multiple local shrimpers contacted declined to comment for this story or did not return phone calls.

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO – The impending death of BP's blown-out oil well will bring one piece of the catastrophe that began five months ago to an anticlimactic end — after all, the gusher was capped in July.

This, though, is an important milestone for the still-weary residents of the Gulf Coast: an assurance that not so much as a tric kle of oil will ever seep from the well that already has ruined so much since th e disaster first started. The tragedy began April 20, when an explosion killed 1 1 workers, sank a drilling rig and led to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. h istory.

Crews had already pumped in cement to seal the well from the bottom, and officials said Saturday it had set. Once a pressure and weight test was finishe d, officials expected to confirm that the well is permanently plugged. That was expected to occur late Saturday, but an announcement may not come until Sunday.

People who rely on the Gulf of Mexico and its coastline for their livelihoods, t hough, know the disaster is far from over. They are left to rebuild amid the bus inesses destroyed by once-oil-coated shorelines and fishing grounds that were ta inted by crude. Even where the seafood is safe, fishermen struggle to sell it to consumers fearful that it's toxic.

News that the blown-out well would soon be dead brought li ttle comfort to people like Sheryl Lindsay, who owns Orange Beach Weddings, whic h provides beach ceremonies on Alabama's coast.

She said she lost about $240,000 in business a s nervous brides-to-be canceled their weddings all summer long and even into the remainder of the year. So far, she has only received about $29,000 in BP compen sation.

“I'm scared that BP is going to pull out and leave us hanging with nothing,” Lindsay said.

The Gulf well spewed 20 6 million gallons of oil until the gusher was first stopped in mid-July with at emporary cap. Mud and cement were later pushed down through the top of the well, allowing the cap to be removed. But officials will not declare it dead until it is killed from the bottom.

In Louisiana's coastal Plaquemines Parish, Guy Laigast was among t hree deputies setting up New Orleans Saints football garb Saturday along a fence at the sheriff's office training center, preparing for an annual employees' picnic. For him, news that the plug was nearly done meant little.

“They've still got tons of oil out there, so …” he said, his voice trailing off. “I don't think it's going to solve all the problems. They've got a lot to go . "

Librarian Donna Pobrica was working in an otherwise empty building in Belle Chasse serving as a polling place for a local election.

“I know a lot of people who have been waiting for tha t,” she said of the well's plugging. “We've waited a long time.”

Pobrica said the spill “really killed the people down the road. Oysters were the main thing down he re, and now it's gone.”

Many of the area's oyster beds were wiped out when officials flooded the marshes with fresh water, hoping it would help keep oil out of the delicate wetlands. Oysters thrive in s alt water.

For Tom Becker, a charter fishing boat captain in Biloxi, Miss., news that the well was nearly dead is too little, too late. His business has tanked, down more than 60 percent with $36,ዀ in lost revenue, not to mention the busi ness he'll lose in the future.

“The phones just aren't ringing,” Becker said. “The damage is done. I'm glad to hear the well is sealed because now we won't have to speculate abou t it happening again. Now let's worry about the future. How can we recover from this, and what do we have to do to bring people back?”

Even aboard the Development Driller III — the ship that drilled the relief well and allowed crews to pump in the cement for the plu g — celebrations were muted.

“It's kind of bittersweet because we lost 11 men out here,” said Rich Robson, the offshore installation manager on the DDIII vessel. “There isn't going to be any real celebration. To a lot of people, the water out here is a cemetery.”

The Associated Press was the only media outlet with a pr int reporter and photographer aboard the ship.

Tim Speirs, BP's well site leader aboard the ship, told AP there would be no sirens, no lights flashing, once the declaration came. In fact, most of the crew would be asleep.

The DDIII crew began finishi ng their work Thursday, when the relief well being drilled intersected BP's blown-out well. Th e cement — which will permanently plug the blown-out well from the bottom — started flowing Friday. It had hardened by Saturday, leaving only the pressure t est.

Until the test was finished, men in red work suits and mud-splattered har dhats were operating heavy hydraulic machines being used to lift the drill pipe back to the deck of the DDIII vessel. Two men sitting in black leather chairs us ed joysticks to maneuver the massive machines on the deck, which were lifting th e equipment that was thousands of feet below.

The relief well was the 41st suc cessful drilling attempt by John Wright, a contractor who led the team drilling the relief well aboard the DDIII vessel. Wright, who has never missed his target , told AP in August that he was looking forward to finishing the well and celebr ating with a cigar and a quiet getaway with his wife.

He said Saturday he plan s to make good on that promise. He planned to head back to Houston and then leav e for a vacation with his wife, probably to California. For him, the difficult w ork is finished.

“In my mind, it's already over. It's been a long, exhaustive process,” he said, citing “the media attention, the government involve ment, the stress levels, the pressure levels — not just on me, but on the enti re team.”

___

Associated Press writers Janet McConnaughey in Venice, La., and Brian Skolof f in Ocean Springs, Miss., contributed to this report.

205.8 million gallons of oil spilled.

33.6 million gallons of oil recovered by BP ships.

10.35 mllion feet of booms deployed.

11.14 million gallons of oil removed in co ntrolled burns.

1.84 million gallons of chemical dispersants used.

11 oil rig explosion workers killed.

5,939 dead birds collected.*

584 dead sea turtles co llected.*

92 dead dolphins collected.*

2 dead whales collected.*

411 controll ed burns.

966 miles of shoreline hit by oil at peak.

7,000 response vessels at piek.

47,416 response workers at peak

88,522 peak area of federal waters, in square miles, closed to fishing.

$552.5 million BP payments to claimants, so fa r.

$ 8 billion BP costs, so far.

Source: Times research

* Animals collected as of Sept. 14.

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO (AP) — The impending death of BP's blown-out oil well will bring one piece of the catastrophe that began five months ago to an anticlimactic end — after all, the gusher was capped in July.

This, though, is an important milestone for the still-weary residents of the Gulf Coast: an assurance that not so much as a trickle of oil will ever seep from the well that already has ruined so much sin ce the disaster first started. The tragedy began April 20, when an explosion kil led 11 workers, sank a drilling rig and led to the worst offshore oil spill in U .S. history.

Crews had already pumped in cement to seal the well from the bottom , and officials said Saturday it had set. Once a pressure and weight test was fi nished, officials expected to confirm that the well is permanently plugged. Dat was expected to occur late Saturday, but an announcement may not come until Sun day.

People who rely on the Gulf of Mexico and its coastline for their livelihoo ds, though, know the disaster is far from over. They are left to rebuild amid th e businesses destroyed by once-oil-coated shorelines and fishing grounds that we re tainted by crude. Even where the seafood is safe, fishermen struggle to sell it to consumers fearful that it's toxic.

News that the blown-out well would soon be dead broug ht little comfort to people like Sheryl Lindsay , who owns Orange Beach Weddings, which provides beach ceremonies on Alabama's coast.

She said she lost about $240,000 in busin ess as nervous brides-to-be canceled their weddings all summer long and even int o the remainder of the year. So far, she has only received about $29,000 in BP c ompensation.

“I'm scared that BP is going to pull out and leave us hanging with nothing,” Lindsay said.

The Gulf well spew ed 206 million gallons of oil until the gusher was first stopped in mid-July wit ha temporary cap. Mud and cement were later pushed down through the top of the well, allowing the cap to be removed. But officials will not declare it dead unt il it is killed from the bottom.

In Louisiana's coastal Plaquemines Parish, Guy Laigast was am ong three deputies setting up New Orleans Saints football garb Saturday along a fence at the sheriff's office training center, preparing for an annual employees' picnic. For him, news that the plug was nearly done meant little.

“They've still got tons of oil out there, so …” he said, his voice trailing off. “I don't think it's going to solve all the problems. They've got a lot to go.”

Story Continues â†'

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This mat erial may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO — The impending death of BP's blown-out oil well will bring one piece of the catastrophe that began five months ag o to an anticlimactic end after all, the gusher was capped in July.

This, though , is an important milestone for the still-weary residents of the Gulf Coast: an assurance that not so much as a trickle of oil will seep from the well. The trag edy began April 20, when an explosion killed 11 workers, sank a drilling rig and led to the worst offshore oil spill in US history. The Gulf well spewed 206 m illion gallons of oil until the gusher was first stopped in mid-July with a temp orary cap.

Crews had already pumped in cement to seal the well from the bottom, and officials said Saturday it had set. Once a pressure and weight test was fini shed, officials expected to confirm that the well is permanently plugged. That w as expected to occur late Saturday, but an announcement might not come until tod ay .

Mensen die vertrouwen op de Golf van Mexico en de kust voor hun livelihoo ds, maar weet dat de ramp is verre van voorbij. Ze zijn links te herbouwen midden van t Hij bedrijven verwoest door eenmaal geoliede kustlijnen en visgronden dat w Ere aangetast door ruwe olie. Zelfs wanneer de vis is veilig, de vissers strijd om te verkopen het aan de consumenten bang dat het giftig.

In de kustregio Plaquemines Parish Louisiana, Guy Laigast was onder t rie deputaten het opzetten van New Orleans Saints voetbal kledij zaterdag langs een hek op het kantoor van de sheriff opleidingscentrum, de voorbereiding voor een jaarlijkse werknemers picknick. Voor hem, nieuws dat de stekker was bijna klaar weinig betekende.

"Ze hebben nog steeds ton olie kreeg daar, 'zei hij, trailing uit. "Ik denk niet dat het gaat om alle problemen op te lossen. Ze hebben een hoop te gaan. "

Zelfs aan boord de ontwikkeling Driller III - het schip dat de verlichting goed geboord en allowe d bemanningen om de pomp in het cement voor de stekker â "feesten werden gedempt.

"Het is een soort bitterzoete, omdat w e verloor 11 mannen hier, "zegt Rich Robson, de offshore-installatie manager op het schip. "Er is niet van plan om een ​​R paling viering. Een heleboel mensen, het water uit is hier een begraafplaats. "

Tim Speirs, goed site leider van BP ab Oard het schip, zei dat de meeste van de bemanning zou waarschijnlijk in slaap wanneer de declarati op kwam.

De opluchting was ook de 41e succesvolle boringen poging van John Wright , Een aannemer die leidde het team het boren van de vrijstelling ook aan boord van het schip DDIII .

Wright, die nog nooit miste zijn doelwit, zei zaterdag dat hij van plan was om het hoofd terug naar Houston en neem dan een vakantie met zijn vrouw. Voor hem is het moeilijk werk is voltooid.