State Chasing Skimmers

The state is pursuing more skimmers to cleanse the Gulf of oil as the slicks hover miles off Panhandle shores, Gov. Charlie Crist and emergency responders told reporters Monday morning.

In the meantime, the state has 480,000 feet of boom in place, 170,000 feet staged andhas extended its state of emergency for 26 counties. Joe Boudrow, a deputy commander in the U.S. Coast Guard, has arrived in the state and is starting his first full week to guide efforts.

Florida has 20 offshore skimmers, but it needs more to eliminate oil before it reaches the coast, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Sole said. He said the state needs 100 skimmers. BP has ordered 20 more offshore skimmers, 64 near-shore skimmers and 50 quiet-water skimmers, Sole said. He said he expects two skimmers to arrive soon.

Last week, Okaloosa County voted to do whatever it needs to protect the East Bay from the oil without getting state approval. Crist said that locals should move forward with whatever they needed to do to protect their shores, and the state would coordinate its response.

I encourage everybody to lean forward, Crist said.