What more do you think that President Bush should do to conserve fuel?
Hurricanes Rita and Katrina
Here's the EPA's Response Activity for Monday, September 26, 2005 relating to hurricanes Rita and Katrina:
Katrina-specific Response – On 9/26, EPA operations resumed on a limited scale in New Orleans. Flood water and sediment sampling continued.
Rita-specific Response
Personnel – EPA has deployed three EPA response personnel and four contractors to the Regional Response Coordination Center in Austin, TX. The pre-deployment team is co-located with other federal and state personnel. An EPA Incident Management Team consisting of 18 EPA personnel is staged in Dallas, TX and will deploy to Northwest Houston on 9/26. Additional response and contract personnel are standing by and will be brought to the scene once an initial needs assessment is complete.
Chemical and Petroleum – The Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and EPA contacted chemical and refinery industry along the hurricane's path prior to the storm concerning their plans to secure and shut-down their plants. The Risk Management Program (RMP) under the Clean Air Act requires facilities to develop an emergency plan and coordinate their activities with local officials. Additional measures are being taken for any necessary response actions at chemical and petroleum facilities. EPA is mapping the facilities and sites impacted by Hurricane Rita. These maps will be used to conduct a Rapid Needs Assessment. EPA and EPA contractor staff are part of a 35 person Rapid Needs Assessment Team that includes Federal, state, and local members. EPA will focus on oil and hazardous material facilities and possible spill impact. EPA has also listed these facilities in the Agency's Rapid Assessment Integrated Database (RAID) which prioritizes targets for the reconnaissance phase of the response. Chemical products stored at the larger facilities to assist responders are also being identified.
Superfund and Hazardous Waste Sites – EPA is mapping Superfund hazardous waste sites impacted by Hurricane Rita. Ten EPA/state teams are preparing to travel to all National Priorities List sties in areas affected by Hurricane Rita. Sites will be inspected in priority order, with all sites inspected within seven to ten days.
Overall Hurricane Response
Public Outreach – EPA has translated several documents, including press releases, news briefs, public safety advisories, and water safety information, into Spanish and Vietnamese to assist individuals in the affected areas. Additionally, FEMA requested EPA, and other federal agencies, provide a recorded message of information for broadcast over XM radio and TV to the evacuee shelters. EPA senior personnel are doing the interviews.
Air Monitoring – On 9/23, EPA in coordination with LDEQ released results of air screening samples collected from multiple locations across New Orleans on 9/11 and 13-19. The screening samples show particle pollution at levels considered moderate or "code yellow" under the coarse particle AQI on September 13, 14, 18 and 19. At these levels, unusually sensitive people should consider not engaging in vigorous exercise. More information is available at: http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=particle.cover These initial results represent the beginning of extensive sampling efforts and do not represent all air conditions throughout the area. As this is a dynamic situation, general conclusions should not be made regarding air quality based on results from this snapshot of data.
EPA is conducting air sampling via several assets. The ASPECT airplane flew over Port Arthur, Orange and Beaumont areas on 9/24 where a number of heavy industrial petrochemical facilities are located. Preliminary analysis of the screening data from these flights is expected this week. EPA's ASPECT aircraft has done 15 flights to date. EPA's two TAGA buses are being used to collect screening level air data in multiple locations throughout New Orleans. Data from air samples taken 9/12-9/18 is posted.
Hurricane-Related Fuel Waivers - In the continued effort to minimize potential fuel supply disruptions on 9/22 EPA expanded the waiver to allow conventional gasoline (CG) to be sold and distributed in the Houston-Galveston reformulated gasoline (RFG) covered area to cover the Dallas-Fort Worth RFG area through midnight on September 30. The State of Texas is preparing a request for a 30-day waiver for each of the phased-in implementation dates for the Texas Low Emission Diesel Program. The new dates, based on the request, would be October 30 for producers and importers, December 15 for terminals and distributors, and January 30, 2006 for retail. In a related action, EPA granted a third waiver to extend the 9/9 waiver to allow regulated parties to distribute and sell CG in the Richmond, Virginia RFG covered area through midnight on 9/30. Retail outlets and wholesale purchaser-consumers will be allowed to continue selling or dispensing this fuel after 9/30, until their supplies are depleted. More information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/katrina/waiver/index.html.
Public Information – On 9/19, EPA posted on its Web site an extensive list of questions and answers regarding flood water, drinking water, wastewater, human health, air issues, sediment, oil spills and superfund sites, asbestos, debris, and fuel waivers. http://www.epa.gov/katrina/faqs.htm Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals publicized its boil notice for water systems affected by Hurricane Rita system affected by Hurricane Rita in a news release on 9/23/05. EPA assisted by distribution the news release in both Louisiana and East Texas.
Please see the following message for the remaining stories.
Sediment Sampling – On 9/22, EPA posted analytical results of sediment sampling from New Orleans. On 9/16 based on the initial results of this data, EPA recommended avoiding all contact with the sediment, where possible, due to the presence of E. coli and fuel oils. In the event contact occurs, EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly advise the use of soap and water, if available, to clean the exposed areas, and removal of contaminated clothing.
EPA-CDC Report – EPA and CDC formed a joint task force to advise local and state officials of the potential health and environmental risks associated with returning to the City of New Orleans. The initial Environmental Health Needs & Habitability Assessment issued 9/17 identifies a number of barriers to be overcome and critical decisions to be made prior to re-inhabiting New Orleans. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/katrina/reports/envneeds_hab_assessment.html
Debris Assessment and Collection – Collection activities are resuming following Rita for household hazardous wastes (HHW) and orphan containers in the hurricane affected area. In addition, EPA personnel will continue to offer technical assistance in the disposal of hazardous waste and other debris left behind by the storm. As of 9/22, EPA has collected over 37,550 HHW/orphan containers throughout the affected region. Four collection sites have been put into place for collection of these wastes in MS and AL and one collection site has been located in St. Tammany Parish, LA. The draft Debris Removal Plan is in final review. The plan will enable Federal agencies and the State of Louisiana to comprehensively manage funding for large scale and complex debris.
Superfund Sites – There are 16 NPL sites in the hurricane Katrina affected area of LA, 6 in AL and 3 in MS. 16 of the sites in LA have had initial assessments. Initial Rapid Assessments have been made on the 9 sites in AL and MS. EPA is still in the assessment phase, and will continue to monitor all the impacted NPL sites. Teams are ready to go to sample all affected NPL sites (both Katrina and Rita). On 9/25, a team collected one surface water sample from the People’s Canal at the Agriculture Street site.
Drinking Water Assessment – In the LA affected area, there are a total of 683 drinking water facilities that served approximately 2.8 million people. As of 9/25, EPA has determined that 548 of these facilities are operational, 17 are operating on a boil water notice and 118 are either inoperable or their status is unknown. In the MS affected area, there are a total of 1,368 drinking water facilities that served approximately 3.2 million people. EPA has determined that 1,228 of these facilities are operational, 100 are operating on a boil water notice and 40 are either inoperable or their status is unknown. In the AL affected area, there are a total of 72 drinking water facilities that served approximately 960,682 people. EPA has determined that all 72 of these facilities are operational. It should be noted that operational facilities may still be in need of repair or reconstruction. EPA's Water program is preparing to assess all drinking water plants after Hurricane Rita passes through.
Wastewater – In the LA affected area, there are a total of 122 Public Owned Treatment Works (POTW). As of 9/22, EPA has determined that 87 of these facilities are operational and 35 facilities are either not operating or their status is unknown. In the MS affected area, there are a total of 118 POTW. EPA has determined that 114 of these facilities are operational and 4 facilities are either not operating or their status is unknown. In the AL affected area, only 1 facility is not operating with 7 others having operational difficulties. It should be noted that operational facilities may still be in need of repair or reconstruction. EPA issued an emergency Administrative Order to the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans to temporarily allow discharges from the East Bank Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Mississippi as a result of Katrina. This effort was coordinated with LDEQ. EPA has developed a set of questions and answers that will assist in responding to inquiries. Discussions among agencies represented at the Joint Field Office are ongoing to determine when to stop pumping water out of New Orleans into Lake Pontchatrain. EPA personnel are reviewing historic water quality and current conditions obtained from environmental sampling. EPA’s Water program is preparing to assess all wastewater treatment plans.
Here's the part of FEMA's National Situation Update for Monday, September 26, 2005 relating to hurricane Rita:
The petrochemical plants in the Texas Gulf Coast area appeared to suffer relatively minor damages. An additional benefit is the fact that oil and gasoline futures traded lower on Sunday which will likely mean lower prices at the pump in the near future.
Meanwhile in Louisiana, state and local officials again performed the difficult task of assessing the devastated communities near the coastal areas where Rita made landfall. Fortunately the majority of the residents in New Orleans and the coastal areas had evacuated to safer ground. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will begin repairs as soon as possible to the Industrial Canal levee that has flooded the Ninth Ward in New Orleans. USACE managers believe that they may be able to pump the area dry in as little as one week after the levee is fixed. The Mayor of New Orleans repeated his vow to let residents of the city in the higher elevations return to their homes perhaps as early as Monday or Tuesday.
Several emergency coordinators credited the stockpiling of supplies, early evacuations, and the presence of significant military assets for saving lives. R. David Paulison, Acting Director of FEMA, credited early evacuations as the key to saving lives during Hurricane Rita. He indicated that there are still good supplies of the stockpiled commodities, such as ice, water, and food that are available to local and state officials. U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard search and rescue teams were at work in Texas and Louisiana shortly after Rita moved through. So far, emergency response teams have transported or rescued more than 2,700 residents and medical teams have treated nearly 1,300 patients. (News Sources)
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita stories
Gas tax hike backers find scant support
Some people are asking for an increase in federal gasoline tax, to persuade people to use more fuel-efficient cars, reducing dependency on foreign oil. The proceeds would go towards better public transport and tax breaks to convert to hybrid or biofuel vehicles. There is little interest in Congress or on the part of the public.
Bush: Gov't May Tap Petroleum Reserve, Bush urges gas conservation
President Bush may tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve again if the Hurricane Rita aftermath, and urged people not to travel unnecessarily. He said that he would be flying back for a 7th visit to the Gulf Coast to visit Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas - both homes of oil refineries. 16 refineries were still shut, but most production was expected to resume fairly quickly.
He is likely to name a tsar to oversee reconstruction of the Gulf Coast.
LA governor asks for $32 billion for repairs
Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco asked for $31.7 billion for repairs to the State's infrastructure, including roads and levees and pumps. She wants to raise all levees from Morgan City to the Texas border.
Hurricanes Spawn Debate on Military Role, Bush Vows to Act on National Rescue Plan, Military Launches Hurricane Rescue Effort
With much of the National Guard and its equipment in Iraq, the military has made a much larger role than usual within the USA in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and there have been armed mercenaries in New Orleans. The Bush administration and Congress are considering in what circumstances this is appropriate, so that the military can plan for it and react more quickly and in a more organised fashion.
Navy and Air Force teams retrieved people by air after Rita as local emergency workers rescued them in small boats.
Hurricane Exposes Evacuation Plan Flaws
The 14-hour lines of traffic out of Houston as Hurricane Katrina approached show that it is difficult to evacuate such a large metropolitan area. If there had been radiation or some other danger there could have been many casualties. Plans need to be improved, and allowances made for the fact that many would be left behind in a more sudden emergency.
A Chronology of Rita and Its Aftermath
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush declares a state of emergency on Sunday, Sept. 18. A mandatory evacuation is issued for the Keys Monday, Sept. 19. Rita passes the keys as a category 2 storm on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Rita becomes a category 5 storm on Wednesday, Sept. 21 and evacuation begins in Texas and Louisiana. On Thursday, Sept. 22 weakens to a category 4 storm and is declared a national emergency. Traffic out of Houston formed 100-mile long slow lines. Russia takes over the international space station. Rita weakens to a category 3 on Friday, Sept. 23 and strikes near Sabine Pass, on the Texas-Louisiana line early on Saturday, Sept. 24. Evacuees begin returning on Sunday, Sept. 25.
Rita's Death Toll Climbs With 5 More Dead, 4 Injured by Tornadoes Spawned by Rita, Rita's toll, damage less than feared, Rita Landfall Spot Reduces Loss of Life
Hurricane Rita's death toll is now 7, with a group of 5 apparently overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning. The toll was much lower than that of Hurricane Katrina because of the mass evacuation, there was no bowl to fill up as in New Orleans, and the storm sureg was 15 feet compared to Katrina's 30 feet. Search and rescue is continuing, flood waters are going down and evacuees are returning.
Four people at Mississippi State University's campus were injured by one of 14 tornadoes spawned in Hurricane Rita's wake. Buildings and mobile homes were damaged by several tornadoes. Rita moved faster than expected, reducing local flooding.
Rita weakened and changed direction enough that the worst damage occurred in relatively sparsely populated areas.
Two Sisters Recount the Horror of Bus Fire, Probe Begins Into Deadly Texas Bus Blast
Two elderly sisters from New Orleans survived Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita and the fatal bus fire during evacuation for Houston. They are now in Dallas. Federal investigators are looking for evidence of the cause of the blaze, which some thing started in the brakes.
Houston Residents Return After Rita Exodus
Residents returned to Houston by land and air. Businesses reopened once enough staff had returned. Lights came on. The staggered re-entry plan seemed to be helping, though many did not wait their turn.
On the bayou, 'no kind of nothing' after Rita
Much of Terrebonne Parish is still underwater and there is a roadblock to prevent residents returning, but those with boats simply went home via the bayou. Dogs have survived but belongings have not. They don't have insurance.
Mail Still Comes to Battered Biloxi, Miss.
The Postal Service is doing its best to deliver mail, even if the houses are no longer there. Carriers know they have lost customers to the storm, but don't know where others are. They are running out of places to store undeliverable mail.
Two Swimmers Die As Rita Makes Surf Deadly
Many swimmers ignored warnings to stay out of the water which had been made roguh by Hurricane Rita at Pensacola Beach, and several had to be rescued and two died. Even lifeguards got into difficulties.
Other stories
Typhoon Damrey Slams Into Southern China, Biggest typhoon in 30 years batters China island
Typhoon Damrey struck the resort island of Hainan in south China on Monday. At least 2 people died. Flights were cancelled. Most homes were without power. Crops were damaged. It was the strongest storm for decades. It was headed for Vietnam.
Hurricane Jeanne Recalled Year Later
Sunday was the anniversary of Hurricane Jeanne devastating Florida. more than a thousand are still living in trailers, and counties are waiting for millions of dollars from FEMA. Roughly the same area had been hit by hurricane Frances three weeks earlier.
Two Teens Ride Horses to School in Utah
Two high school teens rode the 15 miles to school and back last week in reaction to rising gas prices, but the school has now told the girls that having the horses on the school premises was against the rules.
U.N. Warns of Lack of Bird Flu Funding
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. said that just $20 million of the $150 million needed has been pledged for bird flu work. It is needed for vaccination of poultry and processing of virus samples, particularly in Vietnam and Indonesia. Whilst stockpiling antiviral drugs made sense, helping poorer countries to contain the virus at source was necessary.
3 Hungary Officials Get Bird Flu Vaccine, Hungary says could make 50 mln bird flu vaccines
Hungary has begun vaccinating human guinea pigs with its home-grown bird flu vaccine. Hungary says that it could make 50 million bird flu vaccines and export most of them.
Indonesia Bird Flu Death Toll Rises to 6
A 6th person has died of bird flu in Indonesia. 34 suspected cases are under observation. The disease does not appear to be spreading from human to human. Enough Tamiflu has been donated to treat 40,000 people and it should be arriving in the next few days.
Iran fears wintering wildfowl will bring bird flu
Iran fears that migrating birds will bring bird flu to the country and have already begun testing and taking other precautions. None of the 2,700 samples tested so far have proved positive.
Report: Mysterious Disease Is Flu Strain
A mysterious disease sweeping greyhound racetracks in the USA has been found to be a version of equine flu that has jumped species. It has not infected any humans and is different to human and bird flu.
Singapore Battles Dengue Fever Outbreak
Singapore hs had about 11,000 cases of dengue fever this year. 11 have died. A lawmaker who is also a general practitioner suggests that all patients with the disease should be compulsorily quarantined so that mosquitoes cannot bite them and pass on the disease. It is not passed person-to-person.
Decision to Remove Causeway Sparks Debate
There is disagreement between the Douglas administration, locals and scientists about whether the old Missisquoi Bay causeway over Lake Champlain should be renewed as it is a preferred habitat for the spiny soft shell turtle.
Scientists Conduct Wind Energy Projects
Georgia is researching the possibility of harnessing wind power both on the North Georgia mountains and offshore.
Powerful Earthquake Rocks Northern Peru
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit northern Peru about 445 miles north of the capital Lima late Sunday. The phone service and power were cut throughout much of the region. At least one person died.
Genetically modified vines worry French winemakers
Local wine growers are concerned that there are genetically modified vines being grown in their midst. Considerable precautions have been taken to prevent any escape of any part of the plants from their compound. The researchers are trying to find a rootstock that is resistant to the damaging "court-noue" virus.
China tiger trade would doom species, WWF says
Tigers would become extinct if Chinese trade in tiger parts were resumed, according to the Worldwide Fund for Nature. China banned the trade in 1993 but is considering allowing it on farmed animals,
Solar-power cars set off across Australian outback
Twenty-two solar cars crossed the start line of the eighth World Solar Challenge. Japan's Sky Ace Tiga car took poll position with the fastest qualifying time. The race covers 3,000 km (1,860 miles) from Darwin in the North to Adelaide in the south.
Reindeer Injures Old Couple in Finland
A reindeer attacked and injured an elderly couple in Finnish Lapland. The couple were airlifted to hospital.
Index of topics in this series.
[Views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of CompuServe, Netscape, any government, agency, or news organization. External Websites are "At Your Own Risk," and no endorsement is expressed or implied.]
