Reporter's Notebook: Back in the Gulf
Ismael Estrada
AC360° Producer
After a weekend at home, I packed my bag and headed back to New Orleans with Anderson to report about the oil spill. When I got to the airport yesterday the TSA agent checking my ID and ticket shook his head as he noticed where I was headed. "Those BP guys have no idea what they're doing down there do they?"
I walked toward the gate and grabbed a cup of coffee to keep me awake through my delay. People standing in line at the coffee stand were talking about how this was going to change what we know about the entire Gulf of Mexico.
I boarded my flight and the guy next to me wouldn't stop talking about it the entire trip. He was furious and had 10 ideas on how to get the gushing oil to stop. People behind us started to chime in as well.
When I got to the hotel the person checking me in also brought it up. She said she tried not to think about it all weekend so she could enjoy her family and relax, but said it's all anyone wanted to talk about since BP announced that their "top kill" efforts had failed.
Everyone knows this is a disaster and can't believe it's been so long and it has yet to be stopped. I was personally blown away last week when Anderson and I went to get a closer look at the oil in the marshes. There was oil everywhere. We were literally floating in a pile of brown sludge and I know there is so much more to come.
Anderson, Gary Tuchman, producer Joneil Adriano and I along with so many more CNNers will be here reporting all week on the newest efforts to stop the leak and the efforts to clean up the oil.
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Filed under: Behind The Scenes • Gulf Oil Spill • Ismael Estrada • Reporter's Notebook |
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Thanks to your team for reporting jobs well done.
How can the riser being cut, be allowed? This is wrong. So much more oil is going into the Gulf. This should not be happening. They are going to release more chemicals to break up the oil from cutting the riser.
Why is this being allowed?
Why did you give BP the holiday time?
Thank you all for being in LA showing us what is going on. I really appreciate what you all are doing. Keep up the great job your doing!
Totally agree! It is insane to think just how long this has been going on and it goes on 24 X 7! It needs to stop!
I would like to suggest a possible solution to stopping the oil leak in the gulf. I'm serious in the comments that follow. Please feel free to forward my comments to the government. I think it is posssible that a nuclear device could stop the leak. I think the government should study this possibility for feasibility. Feel free to return contact to me.
Make sure you have those scientist that created the synthetic cell; they can create a skin we can add to the ocean and our beaches to encourage new life in the Gulf of Mexico.
We really appreciate all of you on the scene bringing the latest information.Thank you for your dedication.
Glad you are back in the Gulf Ish - looking forward to 360's reporting this week.