Louisiana prepared for the worst from an oil spill approaching its shores as it rushed to protect its wildlife and fishing industry, the coastal US state's governor said Wednesday.
"We're approaching this situation just as we would do before a hurricane comes ashore," Governor Bobby Jindal said after meeting with agencies battling a massive oil slick spewing from an offshore rig which sank last week following an explosion.
"We must hope for the best and prepare for the worst," Jindal said in a statement.
"That's exactly what we're doing in this situation. We're taking every step to ensure our people and our environment are protected should the oil reach us."
Poor weather conditions stymied efforts to place 16,000 meters (55,000) feet of protective oil containment boom materials at the Pass-A-Loutre wildlife refuge, Jindal said.
State officials are working with their federal partners to get the booms in place and identify other high-priority areas which have a concentration of wildlife and nesting birds.
Hotlines were being set up to coordinate volunteer and response efforts and the state is considering involving commercial fishermen and even prison inmates in the cleanup efforts.
The fisheries department opened a special shrimp season Wednesday evening so that trawlers can harvest the shrimp before the potential impact of the oil spill.
"We continue to monitor the forecast for the oil spill's impact on our coast and every action we are taking is out of an abundance of caution," Jindal said.
"We're doing everything we can to protect the livelihood of our citizens who make their living in the fishing industry and the wildlife that grace our coastal areas."
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