gulf of mexico oil spill florida panhandle

Florida Governor Crist changes positions on drilling

After an aerial view of birds with thick bands of red-orange oil which covers a large area in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Governor Charlie Crist, said: "Not now, not possible, writes the Associated Press (AP). The massive oil spill last week's explosion and the collapse of the platform deepwater Horizon has been a rewarding experience for Crist.

'It is clear that it could be devastating for Florida if something happened. This is the last thing the world I would like to see happen in our beautiful state, "said Crist. Up what you see, I do not know how to understand and appreciate the magnitude of this thing. It's scary, "the AP quoted.

Crist previously opposing drilling on the coast, but there was embossed over the past two years. According to AP, the governor said he would support drilling if it is clean, safe and far enough from the coast. Now, the spill is proof that it is not possible.

"It enormous. It is everywhere. It is absolutely unbelievable in its magnitude, "said Crist, after watching the 80-42 miles-for the mess in the Gulf the back of a C-144. "Clearly we're not far enough and it is 50-60 miles away, is obviously not clean enough after seeing what we saw today, it's horrible, "and certainly not safe enough. It is the opposite of security "Crist, citing the AP.

After returning to Florida, Crist called the Florida National Guard Major General Douglas Burnett Emergency Management Director David Halstead and asked them to work with the Florida Secretary of Environment, Michael and Coast Guard launch a plan to protect the beaches of Florida if the oil is pushed toward the Panhandle, said at The Associated Press.

"It enormous, "Crist said Halstead, AP quoted.

Oystermen in Florida’s panhandle are scrambling ahead of the oil.