Coast Guard teams have been dispatched to help determine the extent of the damage from the spill, which is situated roughly two miles off the Louisiana coast. Officials say the source remains unclear.
Hurricane Laura has been described as one of the most powerful storms to hit the Gulf Coast in decades. We take a look at other infamous storms to strike the region.
Record flooding on the Mississippi River sent too much fresh water into the Gulf of Mexico, killing oysters and crippling other seafood harvests that depend on saltwater to survive.
The storm surge started pushing water into areas around Lake Pontchartrain Friday, as Barry slowly moved toward shore. Some inland areas could see 3 feet to as much as 6 feet of water.
A hurricane warning — meaning hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours — is in effect from the Alabama-Florida border eastward to the Suwannee River.
When Gordon makes landfall, a storm surge of 3-5 feet is possible for all of coastal Mississippi and from eastern Louisiana to Dauphin Island, Ala., forecasters say.
The president said he waited to visit until he could do so "without causing disruption." He will sidestep Houston and instead visit the Corpus Christi area, where Harvey made landfall on Friday.
The storm is expected to hit Florida before crossing overland toward the Carolinas. If it follows predictions, it will be the first hurricane in 11 years to make landfall in Florida.
Earth's changing climate has made the quest to understand wave behavior more important than ever, scientists say. Rising seas, storm surge and dune and reef erosion all shape Florida's Gulf Coast.
Mosquitoes infected with Zika haven't turned up along the U.S. Gulf Coast yet, but could thrive in the region's sultry summer weather. Pregnant women and their doctors are already taking precautions.
When summer brings heat, humidity and mosquitoes, cities along the Gulf Coast may become gateways for Zika into the U.S. Impoverished areas are likely to bear the brunt, health officials say.
Most people think of New Orleans on Mardi Gras. But the pre-Lenten celebration has roots in another Gulf Coast city. Mobile, Ala., proudly bills itself as the "mother of mystics."
TransCanada's lawsuit claims President Obama exceeded his authority when he rejected the pipeline in November. It is also filing a $15 billion suit under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
NPR
Hurricane Katrina: 10 Years Of Recovery And Reflection
Media coverage after the storm focused on New Orleans, but the damage was just as bad, and sometimes worse, in Mississippi. Ten years on, slow recovery in places like East Biloxi has left many behind.
Officials hope an ambitious plan to divert the Mississippi River will revitalize the wetlands that are a natural buffer against storms and floods. Opponents say the changes will upset local habitats.
Meteorologists say this year's hurricane season will be quieter than usual. But if a Category 3 or higher hit the U.S., it would be the first time since 2005, one of the worst years on record.
The 2010 explosion at the Deepwater Horizon rig set off an environmental and economic catastrophe. Towns and ecosystems along the Gulf Coast are still struggling to rebound from the spill's impact.
