[link to cbs4.com]

May 21, 2010 8:59 am US/Eastern
Gov. Signs Declaration Of Emergency For S. Florida

UNDATED (CBS4) ―

Governor Charlie Crist has signed an executive order extending the declaration of a State Emergency to Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties, because of the Deepwater Horizons oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Even though there is no proof yet that the spill has washed up on the shores of the Florida Keys, and much less the east coast of Florida, scientists did confirm that a small amount did make it to the loop current, which can carry it over to the Keys.

The declaration of a State of Emergency is meant mostly to free up federal money to cover clean-up and other emergency costs in the event the spill does reach our shores. The governor also included Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties in his declaration.