Hundreds of offshore drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico as well as pipelines and refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast may be affected by Tropical Storm Karen as it heads towards an expected Saturday landfall by which time it may have turned into Hurricane Karen.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had recalled some of its workers after they were furloughed Tuesday in the government shutdown.
"At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States, including in the Gulf Coast, that are available to state and local partners,” FEMA said in a statement.
The Gulf of Mexico provides 19 percent of crude oil and 6 percent of natural gas in the U.S.; the Gulf Coast accounts for about 44 percent of U.S. refining capacity.
In 2008 Hurricanes Ike and Gustav had disrupted more than 20 percent of U.S. refinery capacity. A total of 60 platforms were destroyed as a result of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, according to the Minerals Management Service which, is now called the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
Louisiana declared a statewide state of emergency and in Florida 18 counties have been declared as a state of emergency.
The Coast Guard told International Business Times that it is currently organizing and preparing for the hurricane passes and its aftermath.
Tropical Storm Karen May Hamper Oil And Gas Operations In The Gulf Of Mexico And Gulf Coast
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