Oil spill could reach North Carolina

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Day 54 of the Gulf Oil Spill brings more news about the severity of the situation. New numbers potentially double original estimates of the amount of oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico.

But locally, there is a danger that the crude could snake its way around Florida and up the coast toward North Carolina.

At Old Dominion University's Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography, there is a computer simulation of oil leaving the Gulf of Mexico that flows right off the coasts of Virginia and North Carolina.

Professor Larry Atkinson with ODU's Center has made some predictions based on the simulation.

"Statistically there will be tar balls off Cape Hatteras. The chances they will get into Virginia Beach are really really low," he said.

There is no panic in Virginia Beach, but Emergency Management is keeping an open eye.

"There are existing plans. The Coast Guard has an area contingency plan," said Mark Marchbank, who is Virginia Beach's deputy coordinator of Emergency Management.

Atkinson says there is no chance any of the thick red and black "gunk" traveling from the Gulf will reach North Carolina or Virginia. What we can expect to see are tar balls, which are clumps of oil residuals that become like floating pieces of asphalt.

Virginia Beach is preparing for that.

"Again, we do not perceive this as a risk. If it does develop, it'll be looked on as a clean up operation. There are certain OSHA standards to apply in terms of that. We have specialized teams in terms of hazmat. We have contractors in the region who deal with hazmat, and they would assess the situation, and take the appropriate protective action," said Marchbank.

Atkinson said that it takes about 45 days to go from Key West to Cape Hatteras.