It’s a race against time for people here in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. A massive oil spill looms less than 20 miles from the coastal town of Venice, threatening wildlife and the livelihoods of people who work in the area. More than 700,000 feet of orange boom have been stretched along the Louisiana coastline in anticipation of the inevitable- oil reaching shore. Louisiana has a complex and fragile eco-system, which is already suffering from the effects of coastal erosion. Some worry the oil spill may spell its death knell. Experts increased their estimates and now say 5000, not 1000, barrels of oil are spewing into the water after a drilling rig exploded off shore last week.
There are about 700 shrimpers in Venice. Many have volunteered to help in the effort to shield the coastline with a boom, but so far they haven’t mobilized. Earlier today, our photographers were able to get out near where the spill happened and where the cleanup efforts are underway. They say they noticed the smell long before they got near any oily water. The area near the site of the spill, they say, is black. In video they captured, you can see the wake of the back of the boat. It’s brown.