Contested Uncertainty and the BP
Catastrophe: Lessons from the
Valdez Disaster*
Dr. J. Steven Picou
Professor of Sociology
University of South Alabama
Presentation given to the Little Lagoon Preservation Society, Jan. 18, 2011.
Background
Over the last two decades:
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Dr. Picou has studied the economic, social and
psychological impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
He has conducted random surveys of commercial
fishing communities and Alaska Native villages in the
years 1989-1992, 1995-1997, 2000, 2006, and 2009.
This research was funded primarily by the National
Science Foundation.
He is still researching community recovery in Alaska
and will be interviewing fishermen in 2012.
Conducting NSF Funded BP Impact Research.
The Exxon Valdez
Aground on Bligh
Reef
Overview of the EVOS
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On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground on a
well-marked reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
The supertanker leaked 11 million gallons of oil into
one of the most pristine ecosystems on the planet.
The amount of oil spilled has been recently debated,
with some documents suggesting that 24 to 36 million
gallons were actually released.
Nonetheless, long term ecological impacts still exist as
oil remains and fisheries, marine mammals and other
species are being effected.
Exxon Valdez
Oil Spill
Clean-up
Community Impacts Documented
in Alaska
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The specific impacts include:
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Chronic patterns of community disruption, resulting
in the emergence of corrosive communities;
Resource-loss, Depression, Helplessness, Anxiety,
Suicides;
Psychological stress, including symptoms of PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD);
Breakdown of social relationships resulting in
inadequate coping skills, further exacerbating chronic
patterns of psychological stress.
Unfolding ecological impacts.
Community Impacts Documented
in Alaska
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These dramatic long-term impacts of
technological disasters have been attributed to
three primary factors for victims.
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Concerns about government and corporate failure,
resulting in loss of institutional trust;
Severe mental and physical health problems;
Continued reminders of the technological disaster
and resulting toxic contamination are generated by
toxic tort litigation and devastating “income loss
spirals”.
Economic Loss Spirals
 $155 million losses to PWS Fishery, 1989-1990
(Cohen, 1997).
 1989: Gain of $39,382 per fisher.
 1990-1994: Losses of $50,000 per year for 75%
of Cordova fishers.
 2009: 40% of fishers report continuing economic
losses.
 Permit devaluations averaged $250,000.
Chronic Impacts of the EVOS:
Recent Impacts
EVOS caused serious financial problems
Intrusive thoughts over the last week
Sleep problems
Strong feelings about litigation
Feeling sad over last week
Could not get going
Felt lonely
2006 2009 Change
80% 72%
-8
56% 63%
+7
14% 24%
+10
60% 57%
-3
32% 44%
+12
47% 47%
nc
29%
31%
+2
Chronic Impacts of EVOS, 2009
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Community has become more fragmented
Local economy has gotten worse
Litigation caused unpleasant memories
Supreme Court Decision unfair
Money received allows recovery
Friends drink too much because of EVOS
47%
81%
76%
92%
14%
40%
Traditional Natural & Technological
Disaster Stage Models*
Natural Disasters
Warning
Warning
Threat
Threat
Impact
Impact
?
Rescue
?
Inventory
?
Remedy
?
Recovery
?
Rehabilitation
Rescue
Inventory
Remedy
Recovery
Rehabilitation
*S.R
Technological Disasters
Couch, 1996. “Environmental Contamination, Community transformation and The Centrulia Mine Fire” in J.K.Mitchell (ed.) The Long Road to Recovery. Tokyo. UN
Press
Corrosive Community
The dysfunctional effects of technological disasters on
impacted communities characterized by the breakdown of
social relationships, the fragmentation of community
groups, family conflict and the use of self-isolation as a
primary coping strategy. The lack of sympathetic
behavior from non-victims, combined with declining
support capabilities of local mental health programs,
results in a pattern of continuing deterioration of
community culture and organization.
.
Therapeutic Community*
The socially integrative effects disasters have on an
impacted community in the aftermath of disaster
characterized by an outpouring of altruistic feelings and
behavior. The therapeutic community includes the
generally sympathetic behavior on the part of non-victims
which helps compensate for the sorrow and stress many
community members are experiencing with an unexpected
abundance of personal warmth and direct help.4
*Freudenberg,
W.R. and T.R. Jones. 1991. “Attitudes and Stress in the Presence of Technological Disaster: A Test of the Supreme Court Hypothesis” Social Forces
69(4) 1143-1168.
The Corrosive Social Cycle of Disasters*
Social
Structure
Prolonged
Recovery
Intergroup
Relations
Culture
Prolonged
Recovery
Interpersonal
values and norms
*Picou, J.S. and B.K. Marshall. 2007. “Katrina as Paradigm Shift” In D. Brunsama, D. Overfelt and J.S. Picou. The Sociology of Katrina. Rowman-Littlefield
Publishers.
The Therapeutic Cycle*
*Chamlee-Wright,
Emily. 2006. After the Storm: Social Capital Regrouping in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina. Global Prosperity Initiative. Arlington, VA: Mercatus
Center, George Mason University.
April 21, 2010:
Deepwater
Horizon
In a Wednesday, May 19, 2010 photo, Plaquemines Parish President Billy
Nungesser and La. Gov. Bobby Jindal tour through the Roseau Grasses that mark
the coastline of Southeast Louisiana at Pass a Loutre at the mouth of the
Mississippi River where oil has washed ashore. (AP Photo/The Times-Picayune,
Ted Jackson)
West of the Pensacola Beach Gulf
Fishing Pier the beaches along the
1000 block of Fort Pickens Road
are covered with oil Wednesday
afternoon, 6/23/2010.
(Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com)
The state's emergency
management site posted this
photo of a tar mat about 75 yards
long and 12 feet wide, spotted
today in the Ono Island channel
in the Perdido Bay area. (Florida
Department of Emergency
Management)
Families Awaiting
Word, April 22, 2010
http://photos.al.com/mobile-press-register/2010/04/waiting_for_word_1.html
http://photos.al.com/mobile-press-register/2010/04/emotional_news.html
THE IMPACTS OF THE BP
SPILL
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Regional
Community
Family
Individual
Economic
Social Capital
Stability
Mental & Physical
Health
CONTESTED IMPACTS
OF THE BP SPILL
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185 million gallons?
2 million gallons of dispersants?
Agonizing claims process?
Community, family and mental health
impacts?
Seafood safety?
Present Sociological Impacts:
Formation of Corrosive Communities
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Anger expressed at public meetings
Marginalization of groups due to the VOO
Program/overt conflict
Increase in police calls over 100%
Increase in calls to local mental health agencies
Increase in DUI arrests
Increase in domestic violence
Increase health concerns
Documentation of Economic
Impacts
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Severe and serious for identified seasonal
high-risk groups
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Commercial fisher, charter boat operators,
shrimpers, oyster harvesters, restaurant
owners, real estate employees, souvenir shop
owners, etc., etc.
Restaurants down 50-75%
Hotels, condos, cottages down 50-75%
Fishing/shrimping grounds closed
Economic Impacts, (cont.)
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Estimates of losses for Gulf Coast
communities = 10 billion dollars or more
Loss of tax revenues for communities
BP claims process confusing and slow
Hundreds of communities and millions of
people are being impacted
Present Mental Health
Impacts
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Severe depression documented across the
Gulf Coast up 25%
Problems especially acute for minority
communities, e.g., Vietnamese,
Cambodian’s and African-American
Crying and anxiety documented
Helplessness and fear for losing vessels, homes
and businesses
Suicide of boat captain on 65th day/Navarre
resident, June 17
QUOTES
“It’s not like Katrina, where we can say in a
year or two or maybe three we will get our
lives back together. Right now…It’s if we are
never going to get our lives back together.”
St. Bernard Parish Resident USA
Today, June 18.
QUOTES (CONT.)
“I just cry all the time. I can’t stop. My
husband now works on the clean-up because
he cannot shrimp. We have not talked to
each other in a month. I do not think our
marriage will survive the spill.”
Venice, LA resident,
June 22
LITIGATION
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Over 350 lawsuits filed
Complex and long term litigation will result
Escrow account is a legal strategy
Waiver to litigate necessary for claimants
Contested “science” will emerge
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
SURVEY
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26.6% may move
70.2% avoided beach
25.8% income decreased
40.0% feel they were exposed to
oil/dispersants
32.6% children have physical health
problems
NSF SURVEY
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PTSD higher in South Mobile County than
Alaska
Economic and Health Concerns Predict
PTSD
Research Documents Serious Mental Health
Problems from BP Spill
SUMMARY
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Community, social and psychological impacts
are serious and will be long-term (2-10 years)
Outreach mitigation strategies have begun
These include peer listener training, refocus
of post-Katrina volunteer/faith-based
organizations, and project rebound.
CONCLUSIONS
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Over 400 peer listeners have been trained
Listeners are helpers trained in
communication, observation and resource
facilitation
Listeners support distressed victims and have
referral skills
Start therapeutic cycle
Long-term challenge for coastal communities.
References
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www.masgc.org
www.stevenpicou.com