Merle Savage

On March 24, 1989, a stunned nation watched in horror as news unfolded that the Exxon Valdez oil tanker had unleashed over one million barrels of crude oil in the waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska. Little was ever known about what really took place in the lives of the workers who were hired to wash the beaches. They overcame a myriad of obstacles, both natural and political, on a daily basis, to complete a 12-16 hour work day on the beach. This incident will always be regarded as the most devastating and controversial oil spill in history.

Silence in the Sound was written from Merle Savage’s perspective while employed during the historic oil spill cleanup. Her position as General Foreman on the berthing (housing) barges, which included a five-hundred-person derrick barge, enabled her to have working relationships with supervisors, beach crews and exposure to all facets of the entire clean-up operation.

Silence in the Sound combines her unusual personal experiences with a wide gamut of emotions as she finds herself in an environment faced with demanding political and sexual situations. The result is a fascinating real-life adventure story that raises compelling questions which cannot be ignored.