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Crist declares state of emergency for Manatee, Sarasota

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist expanded a declared state of emergency May 3 to include Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The governor issued the order as the Sunshine State prepared for currents to possibly bring a massive oil slick closer to its shores.

Oil, seeping from a well about 50 miles off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico, already has been reported on that state’s shores.

Gulf currents are expected to carry the oil spill closer to Florida.

Crist, in his executive order, said, the oil leaking from the Deepwater Horizon well poses a threat to the state with “a major disaster.”

“As the oil continues to spill from the well and all efforts to stop the discharge have failed and may not exceed for an extended period of time … Florida counties could be affected,” the governor stated.