Is it safe to vacation along the Gulf Coast?

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last month has many travelers wondering whether it’s safe to vacation along the coast. We called the Deepwater Horizon Response team to find out.

As of today, there are two areas of “confirmed impact” along the Gulf Coast, Dauphin Island, off Alabama, and Chandeleur Islands, off Louisiana, according to David Mosley, Petty Officer with US Coast Guard. Mosley is attached to the area command formed to respond to the oil spill.

While it’s not known where the spill will move in the next two weeks, Mosley says the response team is constantly testing air, water and soil around the Gulf, closing fishing areas, and trying to minimize impact by constantly dropping dispersants and skimming. BP, meanwhile, is working on figuring out how to stop the leak itself.

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