Dauphin Island, AL – Workers on a barrier island on Alabama's coast are building a sand wall along its beach to protect against oil from the Gulf of Mexico spill.
Officials in Dauphin Island hope BP PLC pays for the berm, which was being constructed Tuesday. But right now, their main concern is protecting the western end of the island, which has been slammed repeatedly by hurricanes.
Dauphin Island is so flat that a high tide or thunderstorm can send water over roads and under homes. The Gulf spill has created nightmares of black oil coating roads and pricey beachfront homes on the island.
Previous berms on Dauphin Island were washed away by storms. The new mound could help keep oil off roads and out of sewers, but it wouldn't help many homes that are close to the water.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)