Dr. Mike Walden, North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University, responds:

"Certainly ... if the oil were to reach our beaches, it would be devastating. We have already seen big declines in tourism along the Fulf and Florida coast. I've seen some reports that business is off by 50, 60, 70 percent. And I think we could unfortunately have the same kind of impact here in North Carolina.

"And you have to remember that tourism in North Carolina is a big business. The latest numbers indicate that it accounts for $22 billion in income and over 350,000 jobs. So we will be actively watching where that oil goes.

"Now there is a flip side to this. If the oil stays away from North Carolina beaches and if the oil continues to harm the beaches in the gulf and Florida, North Carolina's beach business could actually see an increase because you could have a situation where someone wants to go to the beach for vacation. Maybe they normally go to the Gulf. They say, 'Well we are not going to go to the Gulf. Well, where can we go where the beaches are free of oil? North Carolina.

"So we could see some rebound, if you will, or some increase in our beach business if the oil stays away. So that is going to be the key. But hopefully -- hopefully -- that all this is cleared up very soon, and our fellow citizens in the Gulf and Florida see their businesses come back."