100 Days of Crude

HOUSTON - It's been 100 days since an explosion unleashed a gusher of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

The oil has temporarily stopped leaking, but life near the coast may never be the same.

Throughout the past 100 days we've talked to several Houstonians who say the damage line stretches far inland.

We're revisiting a few of their stories and taking a look ahead.

BP is fresh off a change in command, and the worst of the spill appears over. Still, there are thousands of lives that remain in limbo.

A hundred days ago local oil company owner Billy Brown was ready to expand. He owns Blueline Manufacturing in Houston and Blackhawk Specialty Tools in Louisiana. For him, a ban on deep-water drilling has been the disaster after the spill.

"We are the forgotten over here, and the focus is on south Louisiana and Mississippi. But without a doubt Houston has been hit hard by this thing," said Brown.

In Montgomery at the Allamon Tool Company, lay offs hit hard.

Jerry Allamon worries 18 of his 32 guys won't be back at work anytime soon.

"It's unique my own government is putting me out of business," he said.

This week Allamon says he began shipping tools overseas, exactly what lawmakers feared would happen. Brown says he's forced to do the same.

"Trying to move to international markets, doing that as we speak, which means a lot of jobs are being shipped overseas," said Brown.

At the Alligator Creole Cafe in Houston's Third Ward, Linda Smith blames BP for her troubles.

"You know what BP should have done is put a dagger in my heart and just finish with me. That's what they should do because that's what they're doing now," said Smith.

A hundred days ago Smith was selling $13,000 worth of shrimp and fish a month, but because of the spill and eroding customer confidence she's barely managing $400.

"I mean I'm trying to get the money out to these people. I'm not holding it up. I'm a fiduciary for the people in the Gulf to try and get the money out," said Kenneth Feinberg, "Special Master."

BP has set aside $20 billion to compensate victims, but Smith worries a business like hers all the way in Houston is where BP will draw the line.

The government has begun a criminal probe into the three companies being blamed for the explosion and spill. Relief wells expected to finally kill are expected to be ready in at least the next few weeks.