Mobile, AL – The latest forecast for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico shows it near the Alabama coast on Wednesday.
The forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows it heading almost directly toward the mouth of Mobile Bay. The possible area of the spill extends to barrier island of Mississippi and Alabama.
Gov. Bob Riley initially planned to protect Mobile Bay with a plan to use oil-blocking booms to create gates for ship traffic to use entering and leaving the bay. But officials with the Alabama State Port Authority said the plan failed because of a shortage of boom and unusually strong currents.
Crews have been trained on the coast to protect sea life and wetlands, but they have had little to do for more than a month since the spill has been at a distance from Alabama's shores.
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