Not even BP could have anticipated how costly its 2010 oil spill and its mishandled response would be.

100506-N-6070S-819 Gulf of Mexico (May 6, 2010) — Dark clouds of smoke and fire emerge as oil burns during a controlled fire in the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Coast Guard working in partnership with BP PLC, local residents, and other federal agencies conducted the “in situ burn” to aid in preventing the spread of oil following the April 20 explosion on Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stumberg/Released)

In this article, The Washington Post reports the number is astronomical:
BP’s Big Bill For The Worlds Largest Oil Spill Now Reaches 61.6 Billion,The Washington Post

My PR Strategist column and accompanying video in August of 2010 pointed out how companies should prepare for and respond to a crisis:
Learning From BP’s Tony Hayward’s Miscues, the Strategist

The time for any company to prepare for a crisis is now. Failure to do so could be damaging and expensive, maybe even to the tune of $61-billion.
For advice on what steps to take to prepare for crisis now, check out other articles and videos on my website or send me an email. It’s free.