Oil Spill Booms BREAKING DOWN Due To Bad Weather, Governor Says

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama Gov. Bob Riley says most of the inflatable booms deployed to catch the oil spill are breaking down, forcing crews to rework their contingency plan.

Riley said Sunday that 80 percent of the thousands of feet of booms the Coast Guard and other crews have laid down off the Alabama coast over the past three days have broken down in the bad weather. He says the other Gulf Coast states are experiencing similar problems.

Riley says luckily the winds are keeping the oil slick off the coastline for now. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration doesn't predict oil hitting the region from Mississippi to Florida within the next 72 hours.

The Alabama National Guard has been activated to help build barriers on the beaches.

Comments

[MyrtleJune]

07:22 PM on 05/03/2010

Hey! WHERE'S THE NEW SAFER TECHNOLOGY!?!?!?!?!?!?

Booms? That's the same thing that never worked before....... sheeeesh.

[JPMP]

03:12 PM on 05/03/2010

Let me guess, these booms were made by Halliburton, right?

[dream9]

02:54 PM on 05/03/2010

No-bid booms.
Better luck next time, suckers.
- Halli Burton

[AguynamedWayne]

02:49 PM on 05/03/2010

Obama's Katrina. And the screwups keep on coming......

[Aerundel]

03:09 PM on 05/03/2010

Plenty of lead time from weather satellites and crappy fed response =/= no lead time and false reports from BP about the spill being contained/containable. Just because it's in the same location doesn't make it the next Katrina.

[Beegood]

04:55 PM on 05/03/2010

Such as....?

Keep up the wishful thinking, ain't no one gonna top Bush's disaster presidency.

[chuck prebys]

02:20 PM on 05/03/2010

This does not surprise me atall.
I have deployed those booms before.
They are not made to handle seas higher than a foot or 2.....
The gulf regularly has 3-4 foot seas......5-6 when the SW winds are blowing steady for a day or 2

[cecebo]

02:12 PM on 05/03/2010

This is so depressing knowing that Exxon didn't cover much of their mess after taking it all the way to the Supreme Court. Equally depressing to see that most people still believe in offshore drilling, according to the polls.

[Sneakers1]

03:07 PM on 05/03/2010

CNN had a poll this morning - I think it was 61% believe vs. 39% against - I'm w/you - unbelievable.

[Beegood]

04:56 PM on 05/03/2010

Never underestimate the short-sightedness of the American people. We just haven't the attention span.

[LHoney]

01:56 PM on 05/03/2010

Forwarding a brilliant post by prcurios: When the Exxon Valdez went aground. I Invented a method to Solidify Oil, Making it easier to remove from the Aquatic environment. I no longer hold the Patent on this so I am not out to profit .I want to share my information with whom ever will read this and have the Authority to do something with it.It is Nontoxic, Biodegradable ,Environmentally safe and can be recycled.States have an abundance of what is needed in their Commodities.Shortly after I let Exxon know of my method they were using Oleophilic Fertilizer in the clean up. They said The Butter in it would enhance the microbes to eat the Oil Yes Butter Real Butter( not margarine ) try it your self pour oil in a pan of cold water simulating the oil spill surrounded by Booms melt a stick of butter pour it over the oil .Refrigerate to cool. The gulf waters are cold enough to do this The Butter mingles with and captures the Oil like turkey jell. When you remove the solid mass you will find the water to be clear .Existing Heater tanks and heater hoses can be used to disperse the melted Butter , Letting the cool temp of the water solidify the mix. Using existing conveyor belts Off to Recycling not Land Fields. If solids should reach shore it could be removed easier and do less damage

[12Purple]

01:51 PM on 05/03/2010

I wonder where the booms were manufactured. Anyone know?

[directfitz]

01:26 PM on 05/03/2010

Cap my @ss. They broke it they own it. Even BO's flight to LA should be billed with interest.

[Go Nateive]

12:11 PM on 05/03/2010

I'm a restoration ecologist from Tampa, Florida. I'm really upset about the BP oil Spill. Please check out my petition and pass it on. BP must be held FULLY accountable.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/bp-justice

[chrisincalif]

01:58 PM on 05/03/2010

Signed.

[chuck prebys]

02:24 PM on 05/03/2010

Signed

[lightist]

11:56 AM on 05/03/2010

Something and someone is behind this human origin disaster. All it's people in 'positions of responsibility' are liable for full-term jail sentences. How else do we set standards for excellence in the workplace?

[ronnierayjenkins]

11:19 AM on 05/03/2010

Drill Baby Drill to Kill Baby Kill, it's how they get their thrills, just sit back and take your pills.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_H6e6shloU

[satanlite]

11:11 AM on 05/03/2010

The "booms" are nothing but a childish idea anyway and don't work well. Never have, but the oil companies kind of keep that information on the hush. It's part of their game that goes "we can fix any mess we make. Really. We can. We're like gods."

[Riana Lynn]

11:08 AM on 05/03/2010

We are losing so much biodiversity and we still have people driving escalades

[mavsguy842]

01:46 PM on 05/03/2010

Driving an escalade isn't bad if it's somewhat full. I drive a ~20mpg car, most of the time by myself. An escalade with 3 people in it is doing better than me.

[BannedFromCommenting]

01:54 PM on 05/03/2010

Yes, but reality is, MOST Escalades are NOT with 3 people in it, and you know it. As with MOST SUV Gigantalades! Most I see have a SINGLE driver in it.

[czs5056]

10:48 AM on 05/03/2010

well that sucks