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How Can You Help Gulf County? Volunteer Information Thank you for the outpouring of support from across the state, country and world! Unfortunately, volunteer opportunities connected with the oil spill are limited. We ask volunteers to be patient at this time. The complex nature of oil cleanup, coupled with health and safety concerns, limits the role of volunteers. Volunteers will not engage in any activity directly contacting oil-contaminated materials. However, you can register at www.volunteerflorida.org. This registration database allows organizations involved in the response efforts across the state to choose from a wide variety of volunteers to meet their needs. Please understand, registering does not mean that you will be deployed to volunteer. You will be contacted only if the need arises. Local volunteers will be contacted first. If you would like to register specifically in Gulf County, please click Submit request for more info on volunteering and donations and complete the form shown. You will be directly notified by Gulf County if volunteer opportunities become available. Wildlife Rescue Many are asking questions about how they can help assist with wildlife rescue. But again, the complex nature of oil cleanup, coupled with health and safety concerns, limits the role of volunteers. Volunteers will not engage in any activity directly contacting oil-contaminated materials. This means that you may volunteer at a wildlife facility, but not come into direct contact with oiled wildlife. Other opportunities to volunteer at a wildlife facility might include administrative, clerical, fundraising, technology or expanding the facility to house wildlife. More information is available at : Support Gulf County Agencies: Beyond the beaches, communities are being largely affected by the oil spill. Families are being directly impacted through unemployment and local economic concerns. The health and human service needs, exacerbated by the oil spill, are burgeoning among nonprofits. If you are interested in helping local Gulf County non-profits who day in and day out serve many needs in our community, please visit the websites below for information about how you can help. People Helping People: Please call 850-229-5262 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET United Way of Northwest Florida: http://www.unitedwaynwfl.org/ St. Joseph Bay Humane Society: http://www.sjbhumanesociety.org/ St. Joseph Bay Buffer Preserve: http://www.stjosephbaypreserves.org/ Gulf County Chamber of Commerce: http://www.gulfchamber.org/ Gulf County Senior Citizens: http://www.aaanf.org/leadAgency_Gulf.html Gulf Alliance for Local Arts: http://gulfalliance.org/ The Gulf County Association for Retarded Citizens: http://www.portstjoefl.com/gulfarc/ SaltAir Farmers Market: http://www.saltairmarket.com/ Other Ways to Help: COAST WATCHER! Visiting a Florida beach? Be a Coast Watcher! Coast Watchers are on the lookout for oiled shoreline and wildlife. If oil is found, Coast Watchers must commit to do the following: VOLUNTEER TO CALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS! Invite out-of-town family and friends to visit Florida. Much of Florida’s economy relies on tourism. Many would-be tourists have canceled plans for visiting Florida due to the fear of coming in contact with oil. Economies, especially in the Panhandle, have been hit severely, even though there is little impact from the oil. Letting others know that Florida is open for business increases tourism, thereby alleviating some of the economic impact in these local communities. VISIT FLORIDA provides travel advisories around the state and links to local destinations in order for visitors to get the most up-to-date information. BE A TOURIST! Visit the Panhandle area. Eat Florida seafood. Stay informed. Qualified Community Responders What is a Qualified Community Responder? BP is working in conjunction with the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Florida and their unemployment agencies to identify individuals who want to be trained to be ready to help prevent, respond to and mitigate the impact of oil contamination on the shoreline. BP is building a team of 4,100 Qualified Community Responders (QCRs) to help with clean-up efforts in oil-contaminated areas in Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Gulf Coast. Should oil reach southern shores, the QCRs will receive training and be prepared to jump into action, protecting local beaches. This is a reserve corps of individuals who reside in the county in which they will be working should a need arise. What is a volunteer? A volunteer is an individual who has offered his time and service without any expectation of payment. There are many opportunities for volunteers to help in the oil spill clean-up effort, but volunteers will only be permitted to help in non-contaminated areas. What are the main differences between the volunteer and QCR programs? According to federal regulations governing oil spill response, volunteers are not allowed near oil-contaminated areas, but properly trained QCRs are allowed in oil-contaminated areas. Volunteers are not paid, but QCRs are paid when they are activated for beach cleaning. Volunteers receive 30 to 45 minutes of environmental and safety training, but QCRs must go through 4 to 40 hours of training, depending on the tasks they perform. The volunteer program operates under the direction of each state, but the QCR program operates under the direction of BP. What does a Qualified Community Responder do? Qualified Community Responders will perform shoreline cleanup activities that may include: - carrying or handling materials and supplies;
- raking or shoveling debris;
- with proper training, operating bobcats or power washers to clean rocks and beach areas;
- wiping or washing oil covered items; and
- removing trash and other debris.
Who can become a Qualified Community Responder? To ensure the safety of our workforce, all QCR team members must meet the following basic requirements: 1. Successful completion of: - A drug and alcohol test;
- A background investigation; and
- Training.
2. Ability to: - Stand for long periods of time;
- Walk long distances; and
- Perform repetitive bending and lifting activities.
3. Availability to respond with short notice and work as many as 80 hours within a seven-day period. 4. Photo identification, proof of residency and eligibility to work in the United States is required. How do I apply? Escambia & Santa Rosa Counties
Okaloosa & Walton Counties
Bay, Gulf, Franklin County
Wakulla County - You will be directed to a medical facility for a drug and alcohol screening.
- You will be scheduled for training and your profile will be submitted for a background check.
- This process should be complete within two business days. You will receive payment for your time within two weeks.
Hiring Process When the results of all testing have been received, you will be notified of your status. Successful candidates may be hired, assigned QCR teams based on location, and called to action as needed. Unsuccessful candidates will still be paid for the time that they spent training. However, even if you pass all required tests, there is no guarantee that you will be hired as a QCR. After you have been trained, there is no guarantee that you will have the opportunity to work. The start date, work schedule, and number of QCRs deployed will be determined by the action required in your specific area. Only those QCRs that are specifically called to action will have an opportunity to work and be compensated for their service. Whether or not oil reaches the shore, all QCRs will be paid for their training time. Communications Once trained, you will receive emails and phone messages to keep you informed of the activities in your area. You will also be given a toll-free phone number to call for daily updates. Qualified Community Responder Fact Sheet Qualified Community Responder Frequently Asked Questions
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