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Louisiana’s Coastal areas are home to more than 50% of the state’s population and are of enormous economic importance to the state. The waters off this now fragile coastline are some of the most fertile waters in the world and the marsh and prairie-eco regions of this disaster laden coast are a vital component to the local food chain. These marshes are the largest wetland system in the continental states and this spill and the contamination of this fertile and beautiful land from not only the oil in the water but also from the chemicals used to disperse this toxic spill could prove devastating to the wildlife that make their homes and nesting areas here as well as the entire economy of the state of Louisiana. Workers and business owners from virtually every local industry, including commercial and charter fishing,seafood processing, tourism, restaurant, hotel and travel, eco-tourism,banking, home building and oil production,have been negatively impacted by the oil spill. Despite BP's PR bulletins there is no end in sight. The well continues to spill oil into the Gulf of Mexico at the alarming rate of 35000 to 60000barrels per day, making this potentially the largest environmental disaster this country has ever faced. The oil spill caused by the Deepwater Horizon explosion is having a devastating effect on the economy of Louisiana and of the people who rely upon the coastal areas for their livelihood.
Louisiana’s more than 10,000 square miles of coastal wetlands is a vital food source for shrimp, oysters and fish. Louisiana supplies 30% of the nation’s seafood, a 4 billion dollar per year industry. As oil continues to come ashore, fisheries are being closed to prevent contaminated seafood from entering the marketplace. Many local fishermen are concerned that the entire commercial fishing industry may face collapse or irreversible damage due to the environmental impact of the oil spill. Thousands of workers in the commercial fishing industry, from commercial fishermen to seafood processors are feeling the economic hardship of the oil spill. Governor Bobby Jindal was quoted as saying “I want to be very clear on this point -- this is not just about our coast. It is fundamentally about our way of life in Louisiana.” and has asked the federal government for a declaration of “commercial fisheries failure” seeking federal aid to assist Louisiana’s vital commercial and recreational fishing industry. But it isn’t just the commercial fishing industry that is feeling the pain and economic hardship. Charter fishermen, restaurant owners and workers, tour companies, hotel workers, and shop owners are being affected as travelers find alternative destinations in order to avoid areas affected by the oil spill. Home building has essentially stopped and banks are receiving fewer new deposits every week. And the moratorium President Obama has placed on offshore drilling has left thousands more out of work indefinitely.
The cleanup effort is underway in Louisiana but is progressing very slowly. There are only enough containment booms to cover one tenth or less of the coastline and protect the shore and wildlife from the approaching oil slick. The booms being used are working sparingly at best. Many of the boom are not containing the oil especially close to the shores where the waves and winds blow the oil over the booms and blow the booms themselves with the oil it was supposed to contain right into the marshlands. Storms like Tropical Storm Alex and others also impact this cleanup effort and the lives and economy of everyone living in or around the coast.
If you live in the coastal areas of Louisiana and are suffering a financial hardship or property damage as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, you most likely have a legitimate claim to compensation from one or more of the responsible parties. Contacting an experienced attorney with knowledge of environmental law, maritime law and personal injury and disaster litigation can help you take the necessary steps to ensure your claim is properly submitted so you can receive the compensation to which you are entitled.