One of the biggest threats to many people living in coastal communities is an oil spill. Though this one is not a common happening (they are almost always caused by accidents), it can leave a long term dilemma to the people living there.
What more, this can lead to a large scale environmental disaster. Thus, an immediate action is often required in case such an incident happens.
However, as seen with the recent oil spill cases that has happened around the world, this is often not the case in real life. Indeed, it is not uncommon for an oil spill to go unnoticed for days or even weeks before it can get the attention of authorities. By that time, the spill has caused so much damage. Here, the task of immediate response is often left to the ones living near the spill. And though it might seem quite a handful, it is the action coming from these people that can often significantly lessen the damage.
And so, here are some of the things that can be done in case an oil spill does happen in your area. One of the most important things that needs to be done in case a spill occurs is preventing it from spreading out further. Since oil floats on water, this one can be easily done by spreading nets or any sturdy barrier around the area of the
oil spill. However, one must take note that this one is just a temporary solution. Due to the constant motion of currents and waves in the area, the oil is likely to spill over and spread out of the barrier.
Thus, this one needs to be followed up by immediate clean up of the spill. Here, the community will definitely need the assistance of specialized equipment in cleaning the spill. However, wh8ile waiting for the equipment to arrive, it is important for people in the community to conduct their own clean up operations. Thus, for oil spill prone areas, it is essential that a clean up kit be provided to every household. Also, be sure that all safety procedures are followed by the clean up team.
Once the clean up has been completed, then the hard task of rehabilitating not only the community, but also the environment, is up next. This one will often take several years, and will likely take its toll on the community. However, once the people do act, this will definitely happen.