23 years later

Details

Published Date

23 years ago today, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez wrecked upon Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling about 11 million gallons of oil into the water.  The oil, clean-up, and litigation changed countless lives in Alaska.

35 months ago, BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, killing 11 men working on the rig and spilling about 200 million gallons of oil into the water over the next 2 months.  Thousands of people in the Gulf Coast are living with uncertainty and doubts -- is the seafood safe to eat, will the shrimping be good this year, what is going to happen to the dolphins, what effects do the oil and dispersants have on human health, are the rigs safe to work on now, and on and on and on.

1 day ago, students at Alba Middle School in Bayou La Batre, Alabama got at least a few questions answered and began an important conversation. Earlier in the week, I shared with them some of the spill memories and stories that I gathered in Alaska.  Yesterday, these students skyped with Scott Pegau of the Oil Spill Recovery Institute and Kara Johnson of the Prince William Sound Science Center, both in Cordova, Alaska.  Kara and Scott explained a little bit about the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, how the ecosystem has recovered in Alaska, and some of the similarities and differences between the two spills. 

Then students got a chance to ask questions.  Shy at first, the students were especially interested in how oil might affect fish and other sea life... and fishing.  They had some specific questions, like how bottom-feeders such as flounder might be affected in the Gulf, as well as broader questions, like why more oil got on the beaches in Alaska.  They also asked about the dispersants that were used to break oil up and facilitate dispersal into the water column. 

After the students' questions had been answered, they then had a chance to talk about their own experiences with the BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.  They mentioned many family members and friends that were struggling to make a living as fishers, shrimpers, seafood processors, restaurant-owners, and even oil workers. The students lamented over the loss of delicious seafood (almost half of the students are still nervous about the possible health effects of eating the seafood) and some of their favorite activities -- like swimming and fishing for fun and food.  

At the end of the day, though, we talked about what makes Bayou La Batre and their part of the Gulf special.  The students all listed something that was good that day; many of them mentioned things that were recovering after the oil spill.  We heard it from the Alaskan interviews, from Scott and Kara, and from the students themselves -- although it is a slow process, things do get better after an oil spill. 

For me, this was the perfect way to spend the (day before the) 23 year memorial of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill.  I was pretty helpless in 1989; there wasn't much anyone could do, let alone a toddler.  But now, by sharing my own story and the stories of others in Alaska, I believe that some of these kids might be able to heal a little bit faster, help their friends and families a little bit more, and be a little bit stronger as future (and present!) leaders in the recovery.  They are already offering advice to those children that might be affected by an oil spill in the future.  Hopefully no one will ever need to hear it. 

Many people and organizations from Alaska have reached out to folks in the Gulf Coast to help them with clean up and recovery, to share some insight into what life after an oil spill might look like, to offer encouragement.  Children of the Spills is just a small part of something much bigger that is happening through the resiliency and compassion of Alaskans affected by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill.

23 years later, we can help.  And we are.  Which is pretty dang cool!

(The press thought this was pretty dang cool too.  Check it out on the local TV channels: NBC or Fox.  Or read about it in the Mobile Press Register.  We may even make it into a PBS documentary to be released next year.)

If you read any of the articles, I need to clarify something: I am not actually a Native Alaskan.  I am from Alaska, born and raised there, but my parents are from Pennsylvania.  I think, if you go way back on my mom's mom's side, you'll eventually find a Native American ancestor.  Although I would be honored to be Native Alaskan, that is not my heritage to claim.  I don't use this phrase to describe myself, but somehow both Erika and I keep getting referred to as such.  The phrase has a different meaning down here, I think, but I just wanted to make sure that no one thinks I am claiming to be something I am not.