Officials in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach are the latest agencies to declare a state of emergency to unlock more funding for the oil spill cleanup process.

OC Oil Spill

Latest Figures
  • Authorities now estimate a spill size range between 25,000 gallons to a maximum of 131,000 gallons
  • 5,544 gallons of oily water retrieved
  • Approximately 172,500 pounds of oily debris has been recovered from shorelines
  • 14,060 feet of boom laid to try to curb oil spread
  • More than 900 people on the ground in cleanup effort

Latest Oil Spill Map

Contacts
  • General questions: 714-374-1702
  • Do not approach affected wildlife, call in a report: 877-823-6926
  • Assist with animals: 714-374-5587
  • Help with cleanups: 714-374-1702
  • File a claim: 866-985-8366

The first emergency declarations came Monday night from Gov. Gavin Newsom and Huntington Beach and then the Orange County Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning. 

“It increases our opportunities to get additional funding to help mitigate the impacts of the spill,” said Newport Beach Mayor Brad Avery in a phone interview Wednesday on why the city declared an emergency.

Avery also said the declaration will make it easier to bring in contractors to help take care of the damages on the beaches. While Newport announced its state of emergency it also mentioned Laguna Beach’s recent declaration.

Laguna Beach Councilman George Weiss said in a phone interview Wednesday that the city authorized their emergency declaration at their council meeting on Tuesday night.

“We’ve authorized the spending of up to $500,000 for mitigation of the spill in Laguna Beach and so we hope to get that money back,” he said.

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Cleanup crews have been deployed in Newport Beach and are working on removing tar and oil from the beaches, according to a tweet from the city.

Newport Beach officials announced Monday morning they were shutting down the city harbor to prevent any contamination from the oil spill. Vessels can continue to move in the harbor, but cannot enter or exit.

The city is asking residents to avoid contact with ocean water and oiled areas of the beach. 

Newport Beach City Manager Grace Leung signed the emergency declaration and the city council is expected to ratify the emergency declaration at their next meeting on Oct. 12.

Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC Reporting Fellow. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.

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