Cuong Nguyen, a fisher and shrimper for 22 years who speaks only Vietnamese, has had his livelihood threatened by the devastating BP oil spill. Faced with a bureaucratic claims process and red tape stretching as long as the Gulf Coast, Nguyen said the prospects of getting money and assistance seemed daunting.

But he and dozens of other fisherman and workers, many of them Vietnamese, braved the heat and lined up at 8 a.m. Monday to attend an informational fair for oil spill victims, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao, R-La.

Rosalind Peychaud, deputy chief of staff for Congressman Cao’s office, said that with the recent closings of Gulf fisheries the congressional office knew it had to act fast to assist the people.

“There’s all kinds of things happening for resources,” she said.

With interpreters stationed around the Alario Center in Westwego, La., the event featured briefings on the oil spill, arrangements for filing reimbursement claims, training for spill cleanup and information booths staffed by local health and social organizations.

BP, whose oil rig exploded in the Gulf last month, sent several representatives to take questions. The company relayed basic information regarding the oil spill and told the audience that the dispersants used to clean the oil were no more toxic than the oil itself.

During the town hall meeting that opened the fair, Larry Thomas, BP ‘s general manager of public and government affairs for the Lower 48 states and the Gulf of Mexico, tried to counter the impression that his company had not aggressively responded to the crisis for Gulf residents.

“People aren’t asking for handouts,” Thomas said. “There are some passionate folks and we understand the issues. There’s this perception that we’re sitting around and not doing things. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Mayor John Shaddinger Jr. of Westwego said he was pleased that Congressman Cao’s office had planned the event so quickly.

“Similar events have been taking place, but not to this magnitude to include Vessels of Opportunity, food stamps and training,” he said. “It’s really, from what I understand, the only one of this type.”

Nguyen, who lived through Hurricane Katrina was now facing a new disaster and needed information fast. He said, through a translator, that the fair had made it convenient to get that. But even with more resources at their disposal, he said his community fears most what no one knows – just how bad things will get.

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