Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is warning the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a long-term event.
Napolitano said Thursday during a visit to Biloxi that she doesn't think the spill will be over shortly. She says she is hopeful the device being deployed to cap the spewing well is successful, but officials are still planning for the worst.
Napolitano says the there is a chance the BP oil spill could turn into an unprecedented environmental disaster. She says BP will pay for the cost of this spill.
Napolitano says the administration has approved the use of 17,500 National Guard troops to assist where needed.
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