Mississippi governor declares state of emergency

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has joined the governors of Louisiana, Alabama and Florida in declaring a state of emergency for the coastal areas of the state.  From WLOX:

Governor Haley Barbour issued a State of Emergency for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Friday in response to the oil spill moving toward the state's coastline. He also ordered the Mississippi National Guard to aid local officials with emergency response.

"I have issued a State of Emergency to help local governments and state agencies work together more efficiently as they respond to this massive oil spill," Governor Barbour said. "The Departments of Environmental Quality and Marine Resources continue to work with BP and the federal government to monitor our coastline."

Barbour was in Gulfport Friday night to update the media on the state's response to the growing area of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Just before the news conference, the governor flew over the Gulf and said he had a hard time spotting oil close to Mississippi's shoreline. He said most of what's headed in right now is an oily sheen.

Barbour said he is hopeful that the problem facing Mississippi is manageable, and stressed repeatedly that the "responsible parties" are complying with everything they've been asked to do to help in the oil containment and cleanup.