What do you make of FEMA's Katrina report for the day?
Katrina & Ophelia
Here's the part of FEMA's National Situation Update for Tuesday, September 13, 2005 relating to hurricanes Katrina and Ophelia:
Ophelia is currently nearly stationary. A slow motion toward the northwest and north is expected later today. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts. Ophelia has the potential to regain hurricane strength during the next 24 hours. Tropical Storm force winds extend outward up to 160 miles from the center. Ophelia’s strongest winds are located relatively far from the center (approximately 50-60 miles). These winds will reach the coastline well in advance of the center. Latest minimum central pressure reported was 990 mb (29.23 inches).
A hurricane warning remains in effect from the south Santee River, SC to Cape Lookout, NC. A hurricane watch has been issued from north of Cape Lookout to Oregon Inlet, NC, including Pamlico Sound. A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are now in effect north of Cape Lookout to Oregon Inlet, including the Pamlico Sound, NC.
Storm surge flooding of 4-6 feet above normal tide levels along with large and dangerous battering waves are possible in areas of onshore winds in association with Ophelia. The storm is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6-10 inches over far northeastern SC and eastern NC with possible isolated maximum rainfall amounts of 15 inches over eastern NC. (National Hurricane Center)
Local, State, and Federal officials continue to monitor the progress of Ophelia and continue to maintain a high state of readiness. The Governor of Virginia has declared a State of Emergency and activated the State EOC. The Governor of North Carolina has also declared a State of Emergency and activated 200 National Guard soldiers to report to staging areas. The Governor also ordered a mandatory evacuation of non-residents from Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks. The Governor of North Carolina has requested an Emergency Declaration from the President as a result of anticipated damages from Ophelia. FEMA has deployed a Medical Needs Assessment Team (MNAT), 3 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs), and one Strike Team to Ft. Gillem, GA. A Management Support Team (MST) has been deployed to Charlotte, NC.
FEMA Region IV has staffed two Emergency Response Teams-Advance Elements (ERT-As) for deployment to South Carolina and North Carolina. Additionally State Liaison Officers are located at the State EOCs in SC, GA, and NC. Region IV is planning for the staffing of two RNA teams for the Atlantic area. (FEMA HQ, FEMA Region III and IV)
South: Hurricane Ophelia brought heavy rain and gusty winds to the Carolinas Coast on Monday. The forecast is for additional rain accompanied by 50 mph winds on Tuesday. Ophelia is expected to bring heavy rainfall (2-5 inches) and up to 8 inches in some areas. Windy weather is expected to cause heavy surf and rip currents on the Mid-Atlantic coastal areas. There may be some isolated rainfall in parts of Texas and Oklahoma on Tuesday. The remaining areas of the South will experience dry weather with hot temperatures in the 80s-90s. ...
The following two states received Emergency Declarations that were declared by the President on September 12, 2005 for Hurricane Katrina Evacuations. FEMA is authorized to provide Public Assistance Category B (emergency protective measures), including direct Federal assistance, at 100 percent Federal funding:
FEMA-3240-EM for the Commonwealth of Virginia, assistance for all 95 counties and 40 independent cities in the Commonwealth. FEMA-3241-EM for the State of Arizona, assistance for all 15 counties in the state. (FEMA HQ)
FEMA-3240-EM for the Commonwealth of Virginia, assistance for all 95 counties and 40 independent cities in the Commonwealth.
FEMA-3241-EM for the State of Arizona, assistance for all 15 counties in the state. (FEMA HQ)
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Katrina stories
Major Developments in Katrina's Aftermath
Bush: 'I take responsibility'
President George W. Bush said, "Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government, and to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility."
Lawmakers ask Bush to save Gulf Coast naval bases
Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott (Republican) and Texas Rep. Solomon Ortiz (Democrat) have asked President George W. Bush to demand that the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) reverse the decision to close two Gulf Coast naval bases; the Pascagoula Naval Station in Mississippi and the Ingleside Naval Station at Corpus Christi, Texas. They argued that the closures would mean there would be no surface ships in the Gulf of Mexico, which would delay hurricane aid.
Senate OKs Flood Insurance Borrowing Bill
Congress and Senate have increased the borrowing authority of the National Flood Insurance Program. It will no doubt need substantial assistance.
Lawmakers Look at Katrina Tax Incentives
Tax changes proposed Monday would allow Hurricane Katrina victims tap their retirement accounts without penalty and assist businesses and encourage the donations of cash, food and school books.
Michael Brown's FEMA Tenure, US disaster chief quits, Embattled Brown Resigns As FEMA Chief
Michael Brown joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency from the International Arabian Horse Association in February 2001. President George W. Bush nominates him as deputy director in 2001 and he was promoted to the top job in January 2003. Hurricane Katrina struck on Monday 29 August. On Friday 2 September President Bush praised him, saying, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." A week later he was recalled by his boss, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. 3 days later he resigned and was replaced by R. David Paulison.
Natural Gas Shortages Worry Bush Officials
Senior Bush administration officials are concerned about possible shortages of natural gas for the next few months because of hurricane damage.
Two E.Asian gasoline lots head for US
At least 60,000 tons of gasoline from East Asia will be sold to and sent to the USA.
FEMA Convoy Gets Ice to Cities Not in Need
About 200 tractor-trailer trucks with ice and water for victims of Hurricane Katrina spent a week being sent to cities that did not need its cargo before ending up at a storage depot in Memphis.
Volunteers Try to Reunite Kids, Relatives, Communities Help Their Own After Katrina, Medical teams search for epidemics after Katrina, Investigators to Monitor Katrina Contracts
Children and relatives are still being reunited after they were sent to different shelters in different states. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has set up a web site and reunited more than 100 families. There were 48 unaccompanied children in Texas, some because their relatives are not well enough to look after them. Agency workers appealed for anyone who has taken a child in to register them in case relatives are looking for them.
A variety of communities are helping their own, including Indian tribes, gays, blacks, Greek-Americans, the deaf, Vietnamese and Mexicans.
Many hurricane victims are having stomach upsets or skin infections, but there is no sign of a serious epidemic so far and only 5 have died.
30 Homeland Security Department investigators and auditors will be following the money poured into the Gulf Coast in federal government aid to monitor its use.
New Orleans Airport, Waterfront to Reopen, Bodies raise new questions on storm aid, New Orleans medics treat snakebites, bellyaches, Hopes for recovery in New Orleans, Refugees Mixed on Returning to New Orleans
New Orleans airport reopened to commercial traffic on Tuesday, and the port to cargo ships. Autopsies were to be carried out on at least 44 patients found dead at the flooded-out Memorial Medical Center. Heat, thirst and lack of electricity to power equipment likely accounted for some of the deaths, and some may have already been in the morgue before Katrina struck. The coroner thought that the evacuation of the city was successful, unless large numbers of the dead were still underwater in the lowest parts of the city.
A tented hospital on the grounds of the West Jefferson Medical Center, just outside New Orleans proper, is seeing many patients with stomach ache, accidental injuries or snake bite. The tap water is not safe. Still, there is less disease than feared.
The flood water is gradually receding, some electricity has been restored and some cleaning up is under way.
Some can't wait to return home because of strong ties and the unique atmosphere. Others are considering relocating because they don't think there will be work for them or because of health issues or uncertainty.
Body Recovery Nears End in Mississippi
The hunt for bodies in Mississippi is nearing an end in Mississippi and attention is turning to temporary housing for families left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. 1,250 trailers or mobile homes were at a central staging area, 135 were ready for occupancy and 20 were already occupied in Biloxi. Gov. Haley Barbour said the state needed more.
Houses and Livelihoods Gone at Tip of La.
With fishing, oyster-catching and shrimping destroyed for now, considerable damage and flooding, the community on the peninsula of Plaquemines Parish on the Mississippi will struggle to recover.
Some 435,000 still without power after Katrina
About 344,000 (31%) of the homes and businesses in Louisiana were still without power after 15 days, and about 91,000 customers in Mississippi. That's a total of about 435,000 (less than 10%) out of the original more than 4.5 million. Power has been restored to much of the oil infrastructure, but there is damage to be fixed before some of it can resume operation. The Waterford nuclear power station in Louisiana has been given permission to restart, but is undergoing non-hurricane-related maintenance.
Historian Plans Book on Hurricane Katrina
Historian and best-selling author Douglas Brinkley is planning "an analysis and narrative of the ongoing crisis in New Orleans in historical context".
Reported Katrina Deaths, State by State
Alabama 2, Florida 14, Georgia 2, Louisiana 279, Mississippi 218, total 515.
Other stories
Ophelia Prompts Evacuations on Outer Banks
Parts of the Outer Banks chain of island were ordered evacuated Tuesday as Tropical Storm Ophelia slowly approached.
L.A.: Report of Gator Capture Is Hoax
A report that alligator wrangler Jay Young had caught a 7-foot-long alligator named "Reggie" from a Los Angeles lake was a hoax.
Restaurants Chains Switch to Red Onions
More and more restaurant chains are switching from yellow onions to red ones, as customers prefer the colour.
Judge Blocks Sequoia Forest Logging
A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction barring further logging in Giant Sequoia National Monument under the Bush administration "Saddle Project".
Point May Be Oldest Idaho Human Artifact
A 11,000-years-old carved obsidian spear point found in Idaho may be the oldest evidence of human presence in the state.
S.D. Scientists Document Land-Use Changes
Scientists are matching three decades of satellite images with ground observations to document changing landscapes in South Dakota and elsewhere.
Alaska Scientists: Volcano Harmed Salmon
The absence of fish in King Salmon River this season was due to an overflow of volcanic ash, rocks, water and ice from Mount Chiginagak which made the water acidic enough to kill fish in the area and to make the smell of the stream unrecognisable to returning fish.
Survey: More Sea Squirts on Georges Bank
Sea squirts, an invasive species, have spread over 88 square miles of the ocean floor on Georges Bank off the Massachusetts coast(considerably up from last year), but are thinner than last year. Scientists do not know how to stop it.
Bald Eagle Tests Positive for Mercury
A sick bald eagle in southwestern Indiana is suffering from mercury poisoning. State wildlife officials do not know if the mercury came from fish in Indiana waterways, since the birds travel widely. Indiana ranks fourth nationally in mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The bird was discovered in June, was treated, and has since been released.
Group: Hippos Face Extinction in Congo
There are only 887 hippos are left in Congo, as people are killing them, and they could soon become extinct.
Scientists Study How to Clean Salty Water
Scientists from Sandia National Laboratories are looking for better ways to clean salty water to make drinking water. This would enable New Mexico to use its brackish groundwater.
Children bear brunt of Indian encephalitis outbreak
Japanese encephalitis is caused by a virus spread by mosquitoes. An outbreak in India and neighbouring Nepal has killed hundreds, mostly poor children. Vaccination drives had been neglected.
Rich-poor divide hobbles Asia's bird flu plans
Health officials are concerned that poor villagers in Asia may not seek medical help which they cannot afford when they go down with flu, which may turn out to be avian flu and the start of the pandemic that is feared. Some countries are better prepared than others.
Drugs plug gap as world awaits bird flu vaccine
Current global manufacturing capacity of regular flu vaccines is around 300 million doses a year. If there were to be an avian flu pandemic, scientists would know how to make a vaccine, but would not be able to produce nearly enough to vaccinate the whole world, and it would take 4 to 6 months to switch production. Perhaps 75 million doses would be available within a year and it would involve abandoning ordinary seasonal flu vaccine production. Seasonal flu generally kills 250,000 to 500,000 people a year. In the meantime antiviral drugs would have to be used to reduce the severity of the illness. Better ways of making vaccines are not likely in the next 5 years.
Index of topics in this series.
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Here's the EPA's Response Activity for Tuesday, September 13, 2005 relating to hurricane Katrina:
EPA emergency response personnel are working in partnership with FEMA to help assess the damage and prepare for cleanup from Katrina. In emergency situations such as this, under the NRP, EPA serves as the primary agency for coordinating the federal response to releases of oil and hazardous materials. Our national and regional Emergency Operations Centers are activated 24 hours a day.
Superfund Sites -- On 9/13, EPA and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) plan to send teams to conduct in-depth reconnaissance at the four accessible National Priorities List sites which are Madisonville Creosote Works, Delatte Metals, Southern Ship, and Bayou Bonfouca. EPA will do over-flight assessment of the fifth site (Agriculture Street) since it is still underwater. It is unknown when the water will be pumped from the Agriculture Street site.
Flood Water Analysis -- On 9/12 an additional 4 water samples were collected in East Orleans Parish, and 14 water samples were collected from 11 outfall locations in New Orleans. In addition, 25 sediment samples were collected from 21 locations in Orleans and St. Bernard Parish. On 9/9-9/11, EPA, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, posted data from New Orleans flood water samples of chemical and biological analysis which was validated through a quality assurance process to ensure scientific accuracy. The results show the public and emergency responders should avoid contact with the standing water and are publicly available at the EPA website - http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/index.html. Daily sampling is ongoing and EPA, in coordination with federal, state and local agencies, will release data as it becomes available.
Public Advisories – On 9/6, EPA and HHS issued an advisory cautioning the public and all responders about the possible hazards of flood waters due to potentially elevated levels of contamination associated with raw sewage and other hazardous materials. On 9/4, EPA issued an advisory to the public urging caution when disposing of household hazardous waste and asbestos-containing debris from storm-damaged homes and other buildings.
Recovery – EPA discontinued search and rescue operations in LA on 9/9 to focus on environmental response activities. Approximately, 793 rescues were made by EPA in LA.
Drinking Water Assessment – EPA continues assessment of damage to local drinking systems and providing technical assistance to help restore service in AL, MS, and LA. Many systems were disabled or impaired by loss of electrical power, and some are now operating under boiled water notices. The total number of systems that remain affected is 1 in AL, 391 in MS, and 517 in LA. EPA has two mobile laboratories in MS and two in LA.
Wastewater Treatment Facilities – EPA continues to assess wastewater treatment facilities in LA and MS. EPA estimates the number of wastewater treatment facilities affected is now 114 in LA and 9 in MS. No problems reported for wastewater systems in AL.
Air Surveillance - EPA’s environmental surveillance aircraft (ASPECT) continues to be used to assess spills and chemical releases. Current plans are being developed for using this aircraft to conduct radiological surveys, if necessary.
Air Monitoring – Initial air screening is being performed by the EPA Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) buses. Two TAGA buses were deployed to New Orleans, LA.
Incident Management Team – On 9/6, EPA personnel staffing of a second full Incident Management Team (IMT) began mobilization to LA. On 9/2 EPA deployed a 17 person IMT to Baton Rouge to integrate with LA officials and manage EPA’s field operations.
Peer Support & Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISM) – EPA has deployed CISM team members to Baton Rouge, LA and Jackson, MS, to consult with all EPA staff conducting field operations in areas impacted by the hurricane.
Fuel Waivers – On 9/9, EPA extended a limited waiver from the reformulated gasoline (RFG) requirement for gasoline sold in the Richmond, VA, metropolitan area through 9/23. In consultation with DOE, we are closely monitoring gasoline supplies as we consider requests for waivers in other areas. On 9/9, EPA extended Georgia’s request to waive its state sulfur requirement through 10/5 which required clean burning gasoline to be sold in the 45-county area of Atlanta. On 8/31, to alleviate possible fuel shortages across the country and to help meet emergency demand, EPA granted a nationwide fuel waiver that allows refiners, importers, distributors, carriers and retail outlets to supply gasoline and diesel fuels that do not meet standards for emissions. The temporary waiver is in effect through 9/15.
Hazardous Waste Disposal – EPA teams continue collection of household hazardous wastes and orphan containers. In addition, EPA personnel continue to offer technical assistance in the disposal of hazardous waste and other debris left behind by the storm. Teams are working closely with the Coast Guard to conduct assessments of potential oil spills and chemical releases caused by the hurricane.
Technical Expertise –EPA will be providing environmental guidelines for residences and commercial buildings. EPA has practical and scientific expertise in the environmental health hazards caused by flood waters, especially the effects of molds and mildew, and in the disposal of household hazardous waste and asbestos-containing materials from storm-damaged buildings.
