Local Time Line

A mile-long sheen is now visible where an offshore petroleum platform exploded and burned Thursday off Louisiana, the Coast Guard said. Gulf of Mexico – Oil spill – Oil platform – Environment – Energy

By 2007, there were approximately 45,000 families living in FEMA trailers.

Donations after the BP oil spill – what some have called the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history – have paled in comparison to responses to other disasters. Oil spill – BP – United States – Environment – Energy

Six teenagers drowned in the Red River in Louisiana after they stepped off a ledge from shallow water into a chasm about 20 feet deep Monday, fire officials said. Louisiana – Red River – United States – Water – History

Adding insult to the Gulf’s injury, an oil platform hit by a tug boat is now spewing oil and natural gas near a Louisiana marsh area, officials said Tuesday.