Paraphrase of The impact of the disaster on the local population was immense. One primary concern was the economic impact that the disaster had on the citizens who relied on the economic zone to earn a livelihood (p.472). The federal government began by cordoning off large areas of fishing grounds from the public over concerns that the fish could be unfit for human consumption. This dealt a significant blow to hundreds of businesses and led to the loss of a source of income for hundreds of families. According to the textbook, 36% of the gulf waters were closed, leading to loss of business both in terms of tourism and maritime activities. In the early stages of the disaster, public health officials raised concerns over the impact of the disaster on public health as humans became exposed to the oil. Workers involved in the cleanup exercise reportedly developed complications, which led to a public uproar over the safety of the employees through labor unions and such. The main question was whether or not the company could adequately deal with the situation