San Francisco Oil Spill - How to Help

See a large version of the oil spill map, showing the point of collision and the affected areas. Closed beaches are listed below the map.

Check the About San Francisco home page for additional and current information pertaining to the San Francisco oil spill.

Next Beach Cleanup Training Sessions

Wednesday, November 14 - 6p to 10p
Disaster Service Worker Volunteer Certification
County Fair Building
Golden Gate Park (9th & Lincoln)

Volunteers need these trainings in order to be qualified at oil spill beach cleanups. I'll be updating this information throughout the week as the cleanup efforts continue.

Oil Spill Fundraiser

Baykeeper has posted notice of an oil spill fundraiser on November 16 at:

Doc's Clock
2575 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
6p to 2a - Proceeds from select beer sales and donations accepted

Help With Oiled Birds & Wildlife

Today's bird recovery count from OWCN: 774 live, 587 dead.

Check the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) website regularly. They will continue to post calls for volunteers. As of Tuesday, November 13, OWCN has enough volunteers for current needs. Check back for updates.

If you see oiled birds or mammals, call the OWCN hotline: (877) 823-6926.
You may also try a local hotline set up by IBRRC: Dial 311 in San Francisco or (415) 701-2311 outside of San Francisco.

If the line is busy, don't give up. Keep trying. Do not try to rescue the animals yourself. You may caused added injury to the animal, and the oil is a hazardous substance that should be handled only by HAZMAT-trained workers and volunteers.

To report oil sightings, call (985) 781-0804.

Our local International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) in Cordelia is housing and cleaning the rescued birds. Please consider making a donation or money or necessary items to IBRRC or to OWCN -- to help with the massive efforts to rescue and rehabilitate the oiled animals.

Save the Bay is asking people to document what they see -- in writing and in photographs. Photos can be sent to photos@savesfbay.org. You can also donate to the Bay Emergency Response Fund which enables rapid response in a crisis situation.

Sign up with Baykeeper to get updates on the oil spill, future training and volunteer opportunities. You can also make a donation to help Baykeeper respond to this crisis. Baykeeper is also accepting office volunteers to help process volunteer inquiries.

Surfrider Foundation is posting regular updates on volunteering and grassroots beach cleanups at Ocean Beach.

Salons Can Donate - Hair Mats for Oil Spills

Matter of Trust provides hair mats -- made of donated human hair -- which help sop up oil effectively. If you work in or own a hair salon, see if you might be able to help in this way.

A YouTube video about the Ocean Beach cleanup features some of the volunteers using these hair mats. A 2000 issue of Best Friends Magazine (pdf) features an article on hair mats (page 20 of the pdf).

Look For Oiled Animals - Keep Dogs Off Beaches

For your part, keep a look out for oiled birds and mammals, but do not jeopardize their well-being by getting so close as to scare them back into the water. Call the hotline (877-823-6926) if you find an oiled animal.

And please -- keep your dogs off the beach as the rescue and remediation goes on. There have been many reports of people bringing their dogs to areas like Ocean Beach. Not only is the spilled bunker oil hazardous to your pets, dogs frighten the already stressed and oiled birds back into the water where they cannot be helped or rescued and will most like perish.

A group of us were at a volunteer station on Saturday and -- although hard to believe -- many people seemed to be unaware of the spill, its magnitude, and the potential for injured and oiled animals. Be sure to spread the word and help the rescue efforts proceed as quickly as possible.

^{Map © Hugh Grew}