Press Release

New Orleans - Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu continues to monitor closely the emergency situation brought on by the uncontrolled flow of oil in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, the result of the explosion on the Deep Water Horizon platform on Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

Today, Mayor-elect Landrieu joined other officials and emergency management officers at the briefing at the Command Center in Robert, Louisiana. Joining in the briefing were Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, and Lisa Jackson, Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, members of the Louisiana federal delegation, Governor Bobby Jindal, the leadership of the United States Coast Guard, representatives of NOAA, representatives from BP, and other federal and state officials. Joining in the briefing by telephone were Governor Charlie Crist, Florida, and Governor Robert Riley, Alabama.

"As this situation becomes clearer, there are obvious environmental and health concerns, especially as it relates to Lake Pontchartrain, our coast, and our air quality. But, there is also an economic component of the utmost importance including the impact on our fisheries and Port traffic,” Landrieu stated after attending the briefing. “I will personally continue to monitor the situation and make sure that New Orleanians' short and long term concerns are being addressed."

Mayor-elect Landrieu also participated in a flyover of the spill with federal, state and local officials to see first-hand the extent of the flow and its proximity to the Louisiana coastline.

Recognizing that this is a national disaster that requires a national response, the Mayor-elect will remain in communication with the Department of Homeland Security, Department of the Interior, the EPA, the Coast Guard as well as local and state officials, including Billy Nungesser, President of Plaquemines Parish, and Craig Taffaro, President of St. Bernard Parish, whose parishes are on the front line.

He also remains in contact with Lt. Col. Jerry Sneed, Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, City of New Orleans, to ensure that the city is ready to handle the emergency and to offer assistance and resources to neighboring parishes. The Mayor-elect also continues to monitor air and water quality, and is in contact with Kevin Davis, President of St. Tammany Parish, to ensure that every effort is made to protect the Lake Pontchartrain Basin and the Chef Pass.

Mayor-elect is especially mindful of the fact that Louisiana is the top producer of seafood, home to a high concentration of recreational fishing, and hundreds of wildlife and is deeply concerned about the ecological and human implications that will result from this emergency situation. His concerns are especially with the shrimpers, oystermen and fisherman whose livelihoods depend on the Gulf waters and marshes of Louisiana, all those who live and work in the affected areas, and those who lost their lives in the explosion.

“Many New Orleanians are asking how they can be of help in this emergency,” Landrieu said. Among the opportunities, BP and the federal government have established an official hotline for volunteers at 1-866-448-5816. You can also find information on getting involved at  Volunteer Louisiana, the official state website for local volunteering.

If you have a boat in Louisiana and want to help with the oil spill response, BP is asking volunteers to contact Vince Mitchell at vince.mitchell@lamor.com or 425-745-8017.

Advanced Industrial Services is hiring 500 people to help with oil spill clean-up. The link to download the job application is and to learn more information is http://www.ideavillage.org/ApplicationPDF.pdf.  Please fill out the application and bring to JOB1 Business and Career Solutions, 2330 Canal Street. They will be accepting applications on Saturday 5/1/2010 from 9:30am to 3pm and Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.