About the Oil Spill
On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon Oil Well exploded in the Gulf of Mexico creating the worst accidental marine oil spill in history. It was three months before the well was permanently sealed, but not before 206 million gallons spilled into the Gulf disrupting the "delicate social, economic and psychological balances in communities across the region." The fishing community and the local tourism industry have been devastated. The fear of not being able to make ends meet due to the drop in income from the effects of the spill plagues about one quarter of the total households in the Gulf Coast region. At least one third of the children along the most impacted areas in Louisiana and Mississippi have experienced physical or emotional problems because of this disaster.
Visit Restore the Gulf, the official federal portal for the Deepwater BP oil spill response and recovery, for more information on the response, current operations, news and updates, how to file a claim and obtain other assistance, and links to federal, state and local partners.
