WASHINGTON – National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen today announced the deployment of 19 additional Economic Assessment and Evaluation Teams to communities affected by the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. These interagency teams will work with communities in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas to help them orient to their economic situation, develop action steps, and will offer guidance geared towards spearheading post-event economic recovery efforts.

The deployment of these teams is an initiative of the National Incident Command’s “Economic Solutions Team.” These teams include federal agency representatives, who are part of this interagency working group. They are working in partnership with experienced economic development and disaster recovery specialists, who are providing vital capacity and technical assistance for this initiative. The International Economic Development Council, is the lead.

Mike Barnes of the Mike Barnes Group, Blanco, TX, was part of the International Economic Development Council’s team. The Mike Barnes Group has provided economic development services to Southeast Texas post hurricanes since 2005. Barnes was with the IEDC Team that evaluated Escambia County, FL that will chronicle its findings and develop a report for the Escambia County economic development effort. Barnes was in Escambia County from August 15-18 working with the local, state, and federal officials in developing a post disaster economic development strategy.