Local Officials Angry Over BP's Slow Response

(CBS)  The tourist hotspot of Panama City Beach in northwestern Florida expected oil to reach its famous beaches within 72 hours, which would mark a new easternmost point for the oil washing ashore.

Oil sheen sits just off shore, more tar rolls in daily and local leaders all say the same thing, reports CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella. They're not getting the tools they need to stop it.

Special Section: Disaster in the Gulf

"We just got this boom out," says Orange Beach, Ala., mayor Tony Kennon. "It's not adequate. I'm not happy that we don't have an oceangoing skimmer here."

When a senior BP official showed up in Kennon's town to talk about the quick response Saturday, he was furious.

"It's really aggravating for someone to walk in here who's never been in our town and put on a pretty rosy picture when it's just not the case," said Kennon Saturday.

On Kennon's beach, tar balls sat for six hours Saturday before a clean-up crew arrived.

Out-of-work fishermen who want to help can't get through to BP.

"You make phone call after phone call," says fisherman John Passwater. "Sometimes you get through, sometimes you get voice mail that's full."

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley says protection plans fall far short.

"We have no protection in the bay," says Riley. "We have no protection at Dauphin Island. We have essentially the coast line here being under-protected."

Gov. Riley reached out the White House Monday to ask for more resources.

[sjc_1]

Put a sock in it idiot, no one cares to read your drivel.

[cleantheDCcesspool]

"hope" "change".

"We have no protection in the bay," says Riley. "We have no protection at Dauphin Island. We have essentially the coast line here being under-protected."

What did you expect from someone who has never done anything but agitate?