Hurricane Katrina: Addressing Impacts on Water Systems and Ambient Waters -- State/EPA

Response

J. Scott Gordon

Water Division Deputy Director

U. S. EPA, Region 4

Hurricane Katrina

IMPACT August 29, 2005

The Devastation

Stone County, MS

Jordan River, MS

Pascagoula, MS August 29

Biloxi, MS

The corner of U.S. 90 and Courthouse Road in Gulfport

Apartment complexes on Beach Front Road in Ocean Springs reduced to rubble.

A souvenir shop near the corner of U.S. 90 and Rodenburg Avenue in Biloxi, that used to sport a giant shark head at the entrance was reduced to rubble.

Copa Casino in Gulfport

Jordan River, MS PWS

Diamond Head, MS Treatment Plant

The Marine Life Aquarium in Gulfport had the roof torn off the facility.

The Isle of Capri Casino and Resort on U.S. 90 in Biloxi suffered heavy damage.

The Ocean Springs Yacht Club, right, was washed away along with the U.S. 90 Ocean Springs bridge.

St. Thomas Catholic Church in Long Beach

Church in Gulfport

Gulfport

SSO overflow in Biloxi

Waveland, MS

National Response Plan

National Response Plan

National Response Plan Signed agreement among departments and agencies that:• Integrates capabilities of Federal departments and

agencies for coordinated response to a disaster.• Supports implementation of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster

Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 93-288, as amended).

• Supports Federal government’s role to provide response, recovery and mitigation assistance to support State and local government disaster efforts.

• Supports Federal assistance provided under individual department and agency statutory authorities.

Emergency Support Functions

• EPA is Primary Agency/Coordinator for ESF #10• EPA is Support Agency for ESFs:

#3 - Public Works and Engineering#4 - Firefighting#5 - Emergency Management#8 - Public Health and Medical#11 - Agriculture and Natural Resources#12 - Energy#13 - Public Safety and Security#14 - Long-Term Community Recovery#15 - External Affairs

ESF #10Oil and Hazardous Materials Response

• Primary Agency– Environmental Protection Agency

• Support Agencies– USDA, DOC, DOD, DOE, DHHS, DHS, DOI, DOJ, DOL, DOS, DOT, GSA,

and NRC

• Purpose/Mission– Provide support in response to actual or potential discharge and/or release

of oil or hazardous materials following an Incident of National Significance

• Concept of Operations– Coordinate efforts to identify and prioritize requests for oil and hazardous

materials response assistance

ESF #10 Roles in Response

• Incorporates Existing Local, State, and Federal System for Hazardous Materials Response. (National Response System)

• Mission Assignments– Collect household hazardous waste– Assist public utilities (Drinking Water and Waste Water)– Survey for HazMat or oil in disaster areas– Collect and dispose of orphaned containers– Assistance in debris-burn and hazmat waste disposal

ESF #3PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING

• Primary Agency– Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

• Support Agencies– USDA, DOC, DOE, DHHS, DOI, DOL, DOT, DVA, EPA, FEMA, GSA,

and TVA

• Purpose/Mission– Provide public works and engineering support to assist State(s) in

lifesaving, life protecting, and recovery activities following a disaster

• Concept of Operations– Coordinates emergency removal of debris, constructs access

roads, Assist with Drinking and Waste Water System Evaluations.

Direct Federal Assistance

DFA is providing goods and services to the affected State and local jurisdiction when they lack the capability to perform or contract for eligible emergency work.

EXAMPLES FOR DFA:

Debris Removal

Potable Water and Ice

Urban Search and Rescue

Hazardous Materials Assessments & Removals

EPA R4 Budget for Katrina

• $56,910,000 has been approved by FEMA to provide assistance to MS and AL.

• No Cost Sharing required from the States.

• More than $3,750,000 were given in mission assignments to assist MS with their Drinking and Waste Water Systems needs. (Lift Station Work and DW and WWT evaluations)

EPA Region 4 Field Operations

• Agencies working with EPA: USCG Sector Mobile, USCG Gulf Strike Team, USFWS, DOI, ASTDR, ADEM, MDEQ, FDEP, FL FWC.

EPA Implemented ICS in the Field

• NRP requires the use of Incident Command System.

• ICS allows for the effective management of large amount of resources.

• EPA Region 4 Emergency Response and Removal Branch has deployed an Incident Management Team for Hurricane Katrina.

Katrina Incident Command Structure

Operation Organizational Structure

The Recovery

EPA Assistance Teams

EPA team in Gulfport

EPA employee monitors storage bladder in Waveland, MS

EPA employee monitors water in Waveland, MS

Somewhere in Mississippi

Next Phase

• Sampling the Gulf of Mexico

• Completion of Public Assistance