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Hurricane Katrina. August 29, 2005. Louisiana Superdome. I-10 Twin Span Slidell, La. 9 th Ward. NINTH WARD & MURPHY OIL AREA. St Bernard Parish. Plaquemines Parish. Chalmette: Interior of flooded house. Chalmette: Debris from “gutting”.
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Hurricane Katrina August 29, 2005
I-10 Twin Span Slidell, La
RECONNAISSANCEEarly reconnaissance was vital for informationDaily flyovers provided access to inaccessible areas
How we worked togetherAir and Ground Reconnaissance was imperative since electronic communication was very difficult. • Unified command center was set up at the DEQ building • Communication was at best spotty and at worst impossible • No cell towers, no electricity Information came from: • EPA ASPECT Aircraft • Helicopter Mounted HAWK Camera • DOE Airborne Radiation Detectors • High Resolution Aerial Photography • Satellite Imagery • Visual reports from Emergency Responders– in boats • Technical and monitoring staff worked double duty 3
ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENT:Air Quality-New Orleans Area was done by the EPA TAGA van - self-contained mobile laboratory capable of continuous,real-time sampling and analysis 32
ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENT was also done with: • Portable particulate matter (PM) monitors to be used during burning operations • 9 monitors were deployed throughout the Greater New Orleans area • 4 monitors already in place at Kenner, New Orleans, Marrero and City Park locations • The City Park monitor was out of service but was put into service quickly • Hourly data was sent via satellite to EPA’s database at: airnowtech.org • Results were directed through the unified command center with EPA, DEQ and the Coast Guard as incident commanders • Sometimes, getting information out of the Unified Command was difficult 31
THREE BASIC KINDS OF COMMUNICATION • Internal Communication • External Communication • Outreach Communication
INTERNAL COMMUNICATION • Unified Command at DEQ • Internal briefings – twice daily, 7 days a week • Situation Meetings with Unified command • Flyovers • Emergency responders • Emergency response teams formed with designated speakers to talk with the media • Situation Reports issued daily by EPA and DEQ • Updated daily reports • Use of website to post latest information
EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION • After the storm there was no electricity, no internet, no cell towers or phones, no TV, displaced newspapers and displaced public so communication required creative thinking • Satellite phones – we only had three, CB Radios were spotty but personal contact worked best • Eyewitness account from flyovers and from emergency responders were key • WWL 8.70 AM radio – New Orleans station was a lifeline for evacuees -used radio to get information out to parishes • Used website to post Emergency Declaration, press releases, emergency information, updates, sampling information and results, floodwater analyses for those who could access the internet • Attended meetings at the Joint Information Center – JIC - to keep updated and manned a desk at the Emergency Operations Center • Participated in Press Conferences to inform the public and sent press releases, media advisories and fact sheets
OUTREACH COMMUNICATION • Emergency response people and field personnel were first outreach. They took trailers, food, water, MRE’s and health kits inaccessible areas. • Communications staff worked with interagency personnel to find effective ways to communicate with the public • How to reach displaced residents with information was a first priority and biggest challenge • EPA instituted the CIC program to reach people within the affected area and develop a communications plan. • Just keeping up with international calls, regional and local issues was a challenge • Compiled lists of callers and issues
An area rich in hunting tradition, many of the old duck camps were generations old and can never be reclaimed.
Home in Big Burns…removed from foundation on Little Chenier over a mile away.
Some homes floated 4 miles from their original construction site.
Lessons Learned • Assessment, technical, emergency response and communication must work together to gather and provide information. • Emergency response and communication after Gustav and Ike was better – but they were smaller storms • ER now has a plan to effectively deploy personnel, know where they are and what they are doing – with or without communication • ER now has 700 MHz and 800 MHz CB Bands – should be better and a few more satellite phones. • Crisis communication plan needs to be in place prior to a catastrophic event • Keep a log with name, number, cell phone number and email address of every media contact and inquiry – proves invaluable • Alternative means of communication are necessary and should be explored- Made a list of all AM radio stations in state
