State Governors Declare Day of Prayer for Oil Disaster

The governors of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas have declared June 27 as a day of prayer for the Gulf oil spill disaster.

The proclamations come a week after the Louisiana Senate passed a resolution urging people to pray in addressing what President Obama has said is the worst environmental disaster in American history.

"Louisianians all across the world are united in hope for an end to this catastrophic event and pray for the recovery of our coastline, the rehabilitation of our fish and wildlife and the restoration of our extraordinary coastal areas that are unlike any other place in the world," said Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal in his proclamation.

"Throughout our history, Alabamians have humbly turned to God to ask for His blessings and to hold us steady during times of struggle," Alabama Governor Bob Riley wrote.

"This is certainly one of those times," he added.

Texas Governor Rick Perry said that it seems "right and fitting that the people of Texas should join with their fellow Gulf Coast residents and others across the country and around the world to thank God, seek his wisdom for ourselves and our leaders, and ask him for his merciful intervention and healing in this time of crisis."

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour urged his state's citizens to pray because "prayer allows us the opportunity to reflect and seek guidance, strength, comfort and inspiration from Almighty God."

Governor Barbour's proclamation came as crude oil from the leak hit his state's shores for the first time on Sunday.

Some 90 million gallons of oil have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico since BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded 67 days ago.

Thousands of volunteers, BP officials and the White House have been working to clean up and contain the spill, although some estimated that it could take until August for the oil to stop gushing.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Alex entered the Gulf Coast on Sunday leaving many worried that clean-up efforts could be delayed or that conditions could worsen.

Forecasters are currently predicting that Alex will miss the oil affected areas but have not ruled out the possibility of the storm changing its course.

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