Any Intel on ship - barge crash in New Orleans appreciated

Fiance tells me the spill has made the water unsafe and it is expected that Jindal will issue a state of Emergency tomorrow. I am away in Penn and am understandably concerned for her. Two ships passing in the night collide or something more - please chime in if you know.

Are we to expect some police action here, evacs, nat guard - or is the state just allocating funds for the drinking water. This is expected to have great impact on Plaquemines Parrish and that is where the Diamond Site FEMA trailer park is located.

Please provide any additional intel you may be privy to. Thank you.

Ship-barge crash closes Mississippi at New Orleans

By CAIN BURDEAU – 23 hours ago

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A stretch of the Mississippi River at New Orleans could be closed for days as crews clean a 12-mile oil slick caused Wednesday when a tanker and barge collided, officials said.

Heavy, almost tar-like fuel oil spilled from the barge, forming the slick and closing about 47 miles of the river, the Coast Guard said.

The barge "was T-boned and split in half," Coast Guard spokeswoman Lt. Cdr. Cheri Ben-Iesau said.

It held more than 419,000 gallons of fuel oil in three tanks. Investigators don't know whether all three tanks broke but "are assuming the worst-case discharge of all 9,980 barrels," said Capt. Lincoln Stroh, Coast Guard captain of the port of New Orleans.

ap.google.com...

[edit on 24-7-2008 by KMFNWO]