National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Slim Chance Oil Will Reach Eastern Seaboard

The chance of oil reaching mid-eastern Florida is between 1% to 20%, said NOAA said, and the chance of it reaching the Carolinas is "increasingly unlikely." There's other good news — the relief wells are being completed a week ahead of schedule, with the original completion date predicted for mid-August. Additionally, a huge skimmer that sucks in oil and water and spits out only water has finally reached the Gulf. There are high hopes for this ship to make a serious impact.

Let's not forget about the 81% to 100% chance of oil affecting beaches from the Mississippi River Delta to the western Florida Panhandle, the newly-impacted Chandeleur Sound area, and the ongoing rehabilitation and re-location of coastal wildlife. But there are glimmers of hope amidst a disaster of epic proportions.