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FEMA Katrina Situation Update
It is wonderful that refugees from New Orleans are being welcomed in other states and are benefiting from food, water, showers and shelter. Keeping them there, however, will increase their sense of helplessness and uselessness and does nothing to help rebuild their communities. While some will take their skills and families elsewhere to restart their lives, others will become dependent on the state or charity.
Work should be beginning now to build a temporary city for them to return to and start rebuilding their communities. Every single one of them should be offered training in construction skills starting as soon as possible so that they can help rebuild their own city as soon as the flood waters have receded. The rebuilding should not be left to outsiders.
Many will not have jobs to return to. Others will choose not to return. Every one of them should be offered training in those skills needed to take up the jobs that will be available when New Orleans and the other damaged areas are rebuilt, including the skills needed to start new businesses.
America must choose now, before morale has sunk too low. Does it want a thriving new city with people full of life, or a city and a people that are empty, that have lost their spirit? Please give them hope for the future.
Here's the part of FEMA's National Situation Update for Friday, September 2, 2005 relating to hurricane Katrina:
The state of Texas agreed Thursday to take in three times more refugees from Hurricane Katrina than officials initially expected, bringing the total number of evacuees to nearly 75,000. Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced that 50,000 more refugees would relocate to Texas, with plans to house 25,000 each in San Antonio and Dallas. Those people would join 23,000 others who are already being sent from New Orleans to the Astrodome in Houston.
Late Thursday, however, after accepting more than 12,000 Hurricane Katrina refugees, officials said the Astrodome was full and began sending buses to other area shelters and as far away as Huntsville, about an hour north of Houston. Perry declared an emergency disaster for the state, freeing up money to provide services for hurricane victims.
The hurricane "has created emergency conditions in Texas that will require all available resources of both federal and state governments to overcome," Perry said. "We will do all we can as a state and a people to help our neighbors to the east who have lost so much."
A shelter is being created in San Antonio in a huge warehouse at KellyUSA, a city-owned complex that once was home to an Air Force base. In Dallas, the refugees will go to Reunion Arena, the former home of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. "Whatever we are called upon to do ... we intend to welcome these people with open arms and to try to give them some dignity which these circumstances have taken away from them," San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger said.
The governor asked the state Department of Housing and Community Affairs to set aside all vacant low-income housing units for refugees. So far 7,000 units have been reserved for hurricane victims. Texas will also open its schools and hospitals to some of the hurricane's most desperate refugees. The state Health and Human Services Department planned to extend office hours to help people with Medicaid, food stamps and prescription benefits.
"We're getting calls across the country from people who want to help," Perry said. "It's going to be the largest influx of refugees in American history." The American Red Cross has opened about 20 shelters in other Texas cities. Texas is a relatively close drive for New Orleans evacuees, many of whom escaped the city on Interstate 10 and Interstate 20 before Katrina struck. Tens of thousands of survivors continued to fill hotel rooms across the state days after the storm. Some hurricane survivors planned to start over in Texas. Many are poor. Some lived on the streets of New Orleans. Others lost homes or their jobs when the hurricane flooded their city.
"I'm not going back. I'm going to rebuild in Dallas," said Thomas Washington, 46, who arrived in a caravan of cars carrying 26 people. The group left New Orleans on Sunday and stayed first in motels. They eventually turned to the evacuee shelter at Reunion Arena in downtown Dallas. Washington, who worked as a security officer at a Naval facility, said his home near Lake Pontchartrain is gone. "All I have is a pair of jeans and a shirt," he said.
Perry, who agreed to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco's request Wednesday to take in the evacuees, said Texas naturally wants to help its neighbor. "I think we all understand it's by the grace of God that this terrible tragedy didn't come ashore a few hundred miles west," Perry said. (Media Sources)
Coordinated major airlift of evacuees to begin 8:00 a.m. CDT, September 2, 2005.
Evacuees will depart New Orleans Superdome by bus, and be flown at a rate of 4-5 planes per hour from New Orleans Airport to Lackland Air Force Base, TX for reception and housing at Kelly AFB.
Simultaneous bus evacuation continues: 12,000 evacuees to be housed at Houston Astrodome (12,000 evacuees capacity per Fire Marshall); and 10,000 evacuees to be housed at Dallas, TX, Reunion Center.
As of 9 p.m. EDT, September 1, 2005, 10,000 people have been evacuated from the Superdome (1,500 special needs, 8,500 general population)
American Red Cross/FEMA Family Assistance Planning completed. The 1-800 call-in number for family members to call to locate relatives will be functional Friday, September 2, 2005. The ARC website (www.familylinks.icrc.org) was activated September 1, 2005.
Tulane Medical Center evacuated; hospital evacuations still ongoing at Memorial (45 patients), Methodist (400 people) and Kindred (number unknown), 194 patients moved by MedEvac from New Orleans International Airport for evaluation and transport to Houston, TX.
43 National Disaster Medical System Teams with 1,196 personnel deployed.
National Guard has a total of 27,000 troops arriving over the next 5 days. More than 70 Federal Protective Services Officers and 100 Border Protection Officers assisting operations in Louisiana.
28 Urban Search and Rescue Teams staged in Louisiana and Mississippi – operations have ceased in New Orleans until National Guard can assist teams with security.
Planning to move 4 million MREs daily for the next three days.
76,000 people being sheltered.
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13 assessment teams for hazardous materials have been deployed.
Coordinating with Amtrak on 1,500-passenger train for evacuation.
Developed and now implementing a National Communications Response Plan in partnership with industry.
Coordinating a strategic National Priority Plan for provision of fuel to responders.
Coordinating with Union Pacific for use of 60-75 tank cars for fuel movement.
Public Safety in New Orleans Critical needs:
High-water vehicles Additional portable radios because no power to charge current ones
Rescue operations have never been suspended except for NDMS and FEMA (ERT-A) employees in the Superdome area. They will return once get go ahead from LTG Honore that area is secure.
Currently have lost connectivity and visibility of operations at Superdome so they cannot determine if security issues have been resolved.
Commodity distribution continued - deliveries made to Superdome and throughout state. 2,000 law enforcement officials should arrive today.
Search and rescue continues, although team members have expressed concern about safety.
Working with ESF #13 to get appropriate Federal armed agents to support.
JOC established at LA State Police headquarters.
Temporary jail facility being established, need plastic handcuffs and shackles.
FBI Special Agent in Charge providing air support and special weapons teams.
Public Safety in Mississippi Isolated incidents, but nothing widespread. Important to have a strong showing of National Guard forces to deter unrest. 10,000 National Guard troops are being assigned to the area; 4,000-5,000 are there now.
Housing FEMA is leading housing plan
Looking to secure cruise ships for housing support; have identified 3 ships with 6,500. Need approval to move them close to New Orleans. 1600 dorm rooms identified 400 hotel room identified 45,000 mobile homes and trailers identified – need to find site to place them
Logistics Searching alternate sources for meals 2 million MREs are going into the affected area
MS EOC Critical issues:
No communications on the coast, push-to-talk with counties will be available later today (have asked ESF #2 for help) Health issues on the coast – looking at declaring a public health emergency Attempting to get trucks to Chevron to refuel Issue of releasing fuel to local governments Shortages of MREs and getting food to shelters
Search and rescue – 11 teams there now, 19 will eventually be there.
NGOs and faith-based organizations are arriving, but still having problems providing meals.
8 refrigerator trucks have arrived and have requested additional body bags from FL.
Expect to have 100,000 people in shelters across the state.
Electricity is improving
AL EOC Critical issues
Steady flow of commodities Vouchers from ARC for workers Movement of fuel
232,000 without power.
15 shelters are open and housing 1670 people.
20 distribution sites in 6 counties (1.9 million pounds of ice distributed; 460,000 MREs distributed).
7 fueling stations for first responders.
8 mobile kitchens are in place and 7 more to arrive.
LA EOC
Additional 7,500 National Guard coming into State, working on how to best integrate them into the response.
TX EOC Critical needs:
Buses, drivers, and security. Locations to shelter additional folks from LA (have spoke to mayor of San Antonio and worked out plan).
81 shelters available for 44,258 people; 44 are open and housing 9,346 people.
Have deployed all TX search and rescue assets to LA.
Have 10 helos available plus 2 fixed wing air ambulances; 60 ambulances; 1 blimp; EMS personnel, nurses, and doctors.
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Major Developments in Hurricane Katrina
Models predicted New Orleans disaster, experts say
President George W. Bush said on Thursday, "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees," but experts say that precisely this event had been modelled, predicted and planned for well in advance. In particular, more than 40 federal, state, local and volunteer organizations practiced in July 2004 for a scenario remarkably similar to what happened with hurricane Katrina called code-named "Hurricane Pam." In 2002, The New Orleans Times Picayune published a five-part series in 2002 on "The Big One" - massive flooding due to levees giving way. Many people are therefore baffled why the emergency preparation was so poor. Large cuts in federal spending must bear part of the blame. Making FEMA a subsidiary of the Department of Homeland Security is also blamed, as the focus switched to terrorist scenarios, so that maintenance of the levees would have been given less importance.
New Orleans Mayor Fumes Over Slow Response, Katrina Response Angers Black Lawmakers, Bush Tours Katrina Damage Amid Criticism, Katrina response unacceptable-Bush, Two Bush Presidents Respond to Hurricanes, Ala. Gov. Thanks Bush for Katrina Help, Storm disaster fuels doubts over US terror plans, Questions Raised About Katrina Readiness, World stunned as US struggles with Katrina, Budget cuts delayed New Orleans flood control work, FEMA Head: Lawlessness Not Anticipated, White House Backpedals on Flood Control, Senate passes $10.5 bln emergency hurricane aid
Mayor Ray Nagin was vocal in his condemnation of the administration's response. Black members of Congress are also angry at the slow response. President Bush, heavily criticized as he visited the area devastated by hurricane Katrina, admitted that the government response had been unacceptable. President George H.W. Bush was criticized for his response to Hurricane Andrew in Florida in 1992. Gov. Bob Riley of Alabama has thanked President Bush for the response by FEMA there.
People are asking the question, if this is how well the USA deals with a hurricane, how will it be able to deal with a terrorist attack?
The world has watched events in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina with sympathy, shock and disbelief. The pictures of looters contrasted with the pictures of everyone helping everyone else after last year's tsunami. The hurricane itself or the lack of resources was blamed by some on the war in Iraq. It has opened many eyes to the racism and poverty that still exists in the USA.
Improvements to New Orleans's levees, floodgates and pumping stations planned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been delayed by the Bush administration's funding cuts. The latest plans would have not been completed in time for Katrina anyway, but older projects were running well behind schedule.
Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that the anarchy shown in New Orleans was not anticipated. He blamed emergency assistance delivery problems on "the total lack of communications, the inability to hear and have good intelligence on the ground about what was actually occurring there."
The White House said that budget cuts did not cause the disaster.
The Senate has approved President George W. Bush's request for $10.5 billion in emergency disaster relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Annan urges help for generous US, NATO offers help to hurricane-hit U.S, Australia, Japan, Germany Offer Relief, Spain prepared to release gasoline to US
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has urged the world to show the same generosity to the USA as the USA has shown to others. But Bush President has said that America can take care of itself and America has been slow to ask for or accept help.
NATO, of which the United States is the biggest member, has also offered to help in any way it is asked to.
Nearly 40 countries had pledged help by Friday, from Australia, Austria, the Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.
Spain expected to receive a formal request from the USA on Friday for the release of gasoline stocks, and was ready to grant it.
Misery Grows for Those Left in New Orleans, New Orleans Hospitals Getting Some Help, Emergency convoy arrives in New Orleans, National Guardsmen Reach New Orleans, New Orleans chaos goes on as blast rattles city, Depot Explodes Over Lawless New Orleans, Storm Refugees Snarl Superdome Evacuations, Rev. Jackson to Help Evacuate New Orleans, Senate 'Hotlines' Aid to Gulf Coast States
Those still left in the Superdome endured knee-deep trash and blacked-out bathrooms and backed-up toilets.
Evacuations of some New Orleans hospitals resumed Friday. Many people had to leave pets behind as they were evacuated. Whilst there were some attempts to care for them, some dogs are believed to have escaped.
An emergency military convoy arrived with aid supplies in New Orleans on Thursday. The vast convoy arrived four days after Hurricane Katrina struck. More MREs and water are being sent, 800 25,000-pound sand bags to plug the levees, and more helicopters, troops and trucks.
A huge blast from a chemical plant sent acrid smoke billowing over the outskirts of New Orleans. Fear and helplessness, including among some police, was common.
People fainted in line for buses to take them away from the Superdome, children cried, particularly when separated from pets, and at the back of the queue people jammed the barriers.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson and state Sen. Cleo Fields are in New Orleans without their security guards to help with morale and evacuation efforts.
Congress came back from a vacation early to sanction $10.5 billion to cover Hurricane Katrina costs. The last time it came back early was for Terry Schiavo.
Emergency Morgue Units Sent for Relief, Airlines' Voluntary Relief Effort Begins, Another Navy Hospital Ship Heads to Gulf, Tourists Realize They're Afterthought, La. Katrina Victims Wonder What's Next, Range of Medicines Needed for Storm Relief, Ham Radio Operators Aiding Katrina Effort, Katrina Felt Across Entertainment World, Miss. Hospital Offers Hope to Survivors, Vignettes From the Aftermath of Katrina, Katrina Rescuers Improvise Communications, Kin of Sept. 11 Dead Pray for Storm Victims, Web Site Helps Hurricane Victims
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing four mobile morgues for hurricane Katrina victims. One is already at work in Louisiana.
Four commercial aircraft were arriving per hour with supplies and taking evacuees out. A second Navy hospital ship, the USNS Mercy, will be sent to the Gulf Coast Wednesday.
Tourists were bumped off their buses and turned out of their hotels, and are feeling ignored.
Katrina's victims in Louisiana have nothing to do but wait - for rescue from their homes, for transport out of town, for food, for water, for a shower, for the opportunity to phone, for news of loved ones.
Truckloads of medical materials and 10 temporary hospitals were expected to be in Louisiana and Mississippi by Friday night.
Arkansas ham radio operators have been monitoring transmissions of people calling for help and helped them communicate with aid workers, helping to make up for the loss of cell phone towers and utility lines.
Many celebrities have relatives or other ties to New Orleans. Fats Domino's rescue has already been reported.
Hancock Medical Center in Mississippi road out Katrina although its ground floor was swamped, and by following its contingency plan and through the dedication of its staff was able to continue treating patients. Some patients have had to be sent on to other hospitals for treatment, and the hospital is running short of medicines.
After communications were knocked out by Katrina, New Orleans had to take turns on a single walkie talkie channel, and the Mississippi National Guard used runners. Sheriff, Sid Hebert of Iberia Parish lent a portable command centre to an ambulance company handling medical evacuations. Thousands of satellite-based wireless phones poured in later.
The owner of the web site Katrina.com has converted it to a one-stop shop for all things related to helping out in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.
Storm Victims Find Astrodome Full, Phones, Computers Coming to Astrodome, New Orleans Mail Goes to Houston, Texas Agrees to Take 50,000 More Refugees
23,000 people were sent from the Superdome to the Astrodome, but it closed its doors once 11,325 had arrived, saying that it was full. Later arrivals had to wait around while alternative accommodation was found, and were split from their families, adding to their woes.
Houston's Astrodome is setting up connections to the outside world for refugees.
New Orleans mail has been diverted to the Astrodome at Houston. Refugees further afield can fill in change of address cards.
Texas has agreed to take 50,000 more refugees from Katrina, bringing the total to nearly 75,000. One third are in or around the Astrodome in Houston, one third will go to San Antonio, and one third to Dallas.
New Orleans Levee Fix Expected to End Soon, Draining New Orleans Could Take a Month, Oreck Expects Gulf Plant to Restart in Days, Katrina Leaves Thousands Without Jobs, Baton Rouge Swells in Katrina's Wake, Airline Giving Tickets to Katrina Victims
Military helicopters have continued to drop sandbags and it is hoped that the breaches in the levees that are allowing water into New Orleans will soon be plugged. About 250 concrete road barriers will be dropped into the area. Lake Pontchartrain dropped about 2 1/2 feet over the two days.
At best, the floodwaters in New Orleans could be pumped out at a rate of a foot a day, but in real life it will probably take weeks. Making breaches in levees to release water has to be balanced against the additional vulnerability that would cause to future storms, with much of the hurricane season still to come. Much of New Orleans is below sea level anyway so pumping is the only option for those areas. All the pumps need to be dried out and examined and repaired or replaced, and electricity restored.
Oreck Corp., the New Orleans-based maker of vacuum cleaners, is temporarily relocating it's HQ to Dallas and its call centre to Denver. Its Long Beach factory and inventory have escaped major damage so it has resumed processing orders and is trucking in temporary housing for staff.
Many people from New Orleans will not be able to return to their jobs for many months. Many others will not have jobs to return to. Some will choose to go elsewhere. Around 1 million people on the Gulf Coast are out of work thanks to hurricane Katrina. Temporary clean-up work is being funded for people in Mississippi and Alabama. Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems is trying to make sure that workers from its Pascagoula, Miss. HQ and New Orleans and Gulfport, Miss. operations are paid.
Refugees and rescuers have poured into Baton Rouge. Some are likely to stay, adding to the city's existing congestion problems.
Continental Airlines is donating 1,000 tickets for victims of Hurricane Katrina who want to relocate. They have also given 1 million frequent flier miles to both the American Red Cross and AmeriCares. Other airlines have also offered help.
History Shows New Orleans Will Rise Again
Just as Chicago, San Francisco and Galveston rose up again from their great fire, earthquake and hurricane respectively, New Orleans can be expected to be rebuilt.
Railroads in Limbo After Hurricane Katrina
New Orleans' port and shipping terminals are closed, and the railroads are waiting to see whether corn, soybeans and wheat can be sent bay barge down the Mississippi and through the port, or whether the railroads will need to take the strain to alternative destinations. More than half of U.S. grain exports normally go through New Orleans, mostly in September and October. It is not known if the rail system could cope.
Rig, Platform Damage Reports Trickle In, Oil drops as Europe plans U.S. oil aid, Bush to Release Crude From Reserve Stocks, Thousands Complain to Feds on Gas Gouging, Poll: Public Wants Gas Prices a Priority, Europe Motorists Bemoan Soaring Gas Prices
News is beginning to come in of how well Gulf of Mexico oil platforms and drilling rigs fared, but some will need more detailed examination. Approximately 30 are lsot, and 28 others were damaged or displaced. Eight of the lost platforms produced 7,158 barrels of oil and 12.1 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. The Ocean Warwick was blown 60 miles and ended up near Dauphin Island off the coast of Alabama. Pipeline damage had yet to be assessed.
Europe is prepared to tap one million barrels a day of gasoline from emergency stockpiles to help out the USA, and oil prices fell to around $2 a barrel. The Bush administration is also to release oil from reserves.
The U.S. Energy Department received more than 5,000 calls to its price gouging hotline Thursday. Prices rose up to nearly $1 a gallon per gallon overnight, particularly in areas where most gas stations had run out of stocks. This was far more than could be justified by Katrina disruption. The average price was $3.19.
According to an AP-Ipsos poll, Americans want resident Bush and Congress to make gasoline prices their top domestic priority.
Motorists in Europe, where many regularly pay more than twice as much for fuel as Americans, also felt the pinch.
Forecast: Hurricane Season Far From Over
Storms are to be expected for the next two months, with a 43% chance an intense hurricane will hit the U.S. coast in September and a 15% chance in October.
Katrina Reignites Global Warming Debate
A debate is raging as to whether global warming is adding strength to hurricanes such as Katrina. Some believe that hurricane seasons vary naturally. The warmth of the oceans beneath them affects the strength of hurricanes. More evidence is needed.
Hawaiians Awake to New Wholesale Gas Cap
Thursday was the first day of a new cap on wholesale gas prices in Hawaii. Prices varied at the pump, but were not much different to normal.
Troubles Plague Planned 3-Nation Gas Line
There has been a plan for a decade for a 1,800-mile pipeline to carry natural gas from through Pakistan into India. It would provide revenue for Iran, fees for Pakistan, and fuel for India's growing economy. It is still bogged down, however.
U.N.: Iran Has Gas for Uranium Enrichment
A U.N. report says that Iran has produced tons of the gas used in uranium enrichment recently.
Fuji Heavy to develop electric car with TEPCO
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., which makes Subaru cars, is to work with Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) to develop 10 electric cars.
Lava Bench Collapses in Hawaii
A 12-acre bench of hardened lava fell into the ocean on Hawaii last week, but Kilauea Volcano is already rebuilding it. Nobody was hurt by the fall, which was predicted.
CDC Recommends Flu Shot Priority Rankings
The CDC wants the first batch of this year's flu shots to go to those at risk, in case there is any problem with shortages this year.
Report: Better Tracking Needed for Illness
Federal health officials are requesting better access to airline passenger lists so they can more quickly trace people who may have come into contact with infectious diseases such as Lassa fever.
Clever Whale Uses Fish to Catch Seagulls
A young killer whale at Marineland has invented a new trick, using regurgitated fish to attract gulls so it can catch them. Other killer whales have copied the idea.
Cambodian tiger hunter gets 7 years in jail
Cambodian's most wanted wildlife hunter was sentenced to seven years in jail. He had tracked and killed more than 600 animals, including tigers and elephants, since 2001
Did human remains from India cause BSE? - study
One researcher believes that the outbreak of mad cow disease in Britain may have been due to animal feed from India having been contaminated with the remains of humans infected with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Animal bones and other tissues in the feed may have been contaminated by the remains of bodies washed ashore after being floated downriver in Indian funerals. More than 150 people have died of vCJD in the UK. Other researchers believe that more research is required.
Index of topics in this series.
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Here's the EPA's Response Activity for Friday, September 2, 2005 relating to hurricane Katrina:
EPA today began collecting and analyzing flood water samples in Louisiana for biological and chemical contaminants. EPA estimates 684 drinking water systems have been affected by the hurricane: 72 in Alabama,, 434 in Louisiana and 178 in Mississippi. Systems running on generators will need additional fuel to stay operational. EPA’s mobile laboratory is in Baton Rouge providing technical analysis to help drinking water systems restore service.
EPA’s environmental surveillance aircraft, ASPECT, is being used to assess spills and chemical releases. The ASPECT plane was deployed today to assess a chemical fire in New Orleans. The plane flew 4 passes over the facility at 3000' altitude. Results show that although the smoke plume from the fire was very large and very visible, very little chemical contamination was detected in the plume. Very low levels (less than 10 ppm) of ethylene, methanol, chlorinated methane (Freon 22), and possibly isoprene were detected. These chemicals were detected only directly over the fire and have not been detected downwind..
The Army Corps of Engineers has requested EPA provide 50 personnel to perform environmental assessments of construction sites for temporary housing efforts. EPA personnel continue to oversee and 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. 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.
With 69 EPA watercraft available for rescue efforts, approximately 500 rescues have been made by EPA. Boat operations have been discontinued, however, until the Federal Emergency Management Agency deems it safe to resume them.
EPA emergency response personnel are working in partnership with the FEMA to continue to help assess the damage and prepare for cleanup in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. EPA is responsible for cleanup of hazardous material including oil and gasoline in the area. EPA's national and regional Emergency Operations Centers are activated 24 hours a day
Beginning today, EPA expects to deploy an incident management team to Baton Rouge to integrate with Louisiana officials and manage EPA’s mission. EPA has mobilized 12 environmental emergency response teams to provide assistance with overall search and recovery efforts and conduct initial assessments of environmental impacts, including potential impacts from chemical facilities, oil refineries, and water treatment plants.
