The Golden Ray Incident: How Public Health Responded to a Maritime Disaster off Georgia’s Coast
Abstract
When the Golden Ray vessel capsized in the St. Simons Sound, it was filled with enough oil, vehicles, and debris to be a major environmental and health threat to the surrounding area. The vessel could not be moved intact, so a decision was made to cut the enormous cargo carrier into smaller pieces for removal, which took more than two years.
Each cut threatened to spill more pollution into the sound, which is a busy area for commercial and recreational fishing, boating, and swimming. The local public health agency became involved in the emergency response, assisting with environmental health concerns and communications.
Public health worked with the Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division, and the Environmental Protection Division to develop a plan for water safety monitoring. The water in the area surrounding the vessel was tested routinely for the presence of oil and other pollutants that could harm the health of people who swim in the area or who eat seafood from the affected waters.
Public health also served in the Joint Information Center, helping develop public messaging about the potential health impacts of pollution and debris in the water. In addition to press releases, the public health agency also developed a web page dedicated to the health impacts of the incident and assisted with language for signage on the beach.
The incident revealed the strengths of some existing partnerships, but also gaps. Initially there was confusion about which agency would be responsible for certain aspects of the water monitoring program and the public communication. Ultimately it was determined that several agencies shared that responsibility, and partnerships were formed to safeguard the health of the public and present unified messaging to the community.
Keywords
Emergency Preparedness and Response, Environmental Health and Protection, Communications, Multi-Agency Cooperation, Partnerships, Stakeholder Engagement
The Golden Ray Incident: How Public Health Responded to a Maritime Disaster off Georgia’s Coast
When the Golden Ray vessel capsized in the St. Simons Sound, it was filled with enough oil, vehicles, and debris to be a major environmental and health threat to the surrounding area. The vessel could not be moved intact, so a decision was made to cut the enormous cargo carrier into smaller pieces for removal, which took more than two years.
Each cut threatened to spill more pollution into the sound, which is a busy area for commercial and recreational fishing, boating, and swimming. The local public health agency became involved in the emergency response, assisting with environmental health concerns and communications.
Public health worked with the Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division, and the Environmental Protection Division to develop a plan for water safety monitoring. The water in the area surrounding the vessel was tested routinely for the presence of oil and other pollutants that could harm the health of people who swim in the area or who eat seafood from the affected waters.
Public health also served in the Joint Information Center, helping develop public messaging about the potential health impacts of pollution and debris in the water. In addition to press releases, the public health agency also developed a web page dedicated to the health impacts of the incident and assisted with language for signage on the beach.
The incident revealed the strengths of some existing partnerships, but also gaps. Initially there was confusion about which agency would be responsible for certain aspects of the water monitoring program and the public communication. Ultimately it was determined that several agencies shared that responsibility, and partnerships were formed to safeguard the health of the public and present unified messaging to the community.
