Apalachicola Mayor Open Letter to Businesses Affected by BP Oil Spill

August 5, 2010

To: Apalachicola Business Owners

 

From: Van W. Johnson, Sr.,

Mayor, City of Apalachicola

 

Subject: Apalachicola Business Recovery Plan For BP Deepwater Horizon Claims

 

As a follow up to our town information meeting at City Hall on July 13, 201, I want to report to you the results from your input and questions of the BP representative.  In the two days following the information session we confirmed that business claims of the type we discussed ($5000 advancement in the same nature as those distributed initially to fishermen and seafood related businesses) are eligible to be received at the BP Claims Office in Apalachicola (192 14th Street) (Apalachicola Recreational and community Service Complex) and that office is prepared for your claims to be submitted as soon as possible.

We have also explained to BP as we pointed out in the Town information session that these are necessary to be processed and paid immediately just to help these businesses to overcome the detrimental  economic impact to our tourism and water related economy caused by the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster.  As we understand you do not have to have your complete claim for damages determined in order to apply for and receive this “hold over” money even though it will later be considered a set off to any losses to which you are subsequently entitled based on your entire claim when one is submitted.

I note that BP announced yesterday that a change has been made in their claims processing procedure to expedite these type of  business claims to “ focus on getting money  the business with cash flow problems, “ by creating an “Immediate action claims team to get money out faster to businesses”.  We need you here in Apalachicola and value your location in and support of our City.  We urge you to contact the Local BP Office immedialty about this advance and other parts of your claim against BP.


Sincerely,
Van W. Johnson, Sr.
Mayor, City of Apalachicola

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