Link to Reference: Jackie Damico, neworleanscitybusiness.com, 02/27/2006

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Highlights:
- New Orleans Public Schools officials estimate it will take three to five years and approximately $800 million to repair the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.
- Construction work on 24 schools has already been put out to bid and selected. The schools with more damage will be bid on individual timetables,
- Roughly 60,000 students were enrolled in New Orleans Public Schools before Katrina. Estimates predict somewhere between 4,000 and 7,000 students will return this year.

Desks and supplies are strewn through this classroom in Hardin Elementary in the Lower Ninth Ward. Hardin was one of the worst-hit schools in the Orleans Parish School District.
New Orleans Public Schools officials estimate it will take three to five years and approximately $800 million to repair the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

All of the system’s 124 schools sustained damaged to varying degrees in the storm, said Martin McFarland, managing director for Alvarez and Marsal, the New York-based management firm in charge of the school system.

About $25 million in contracts have been awarded to repair the first wave of schools with initial projects focusing on schools that can be quickly brought back into service.

Construction work on 24 schools has already been put out to bid and selected. The schools with more damage will be bid on individual timetables, said McFarland.

About a quarter of the schools, 32 buildings, sustained minimal damage such as blown out windows and mold growth.

“A lot of them were damaged only because power was off and mold started to grow due to the moisture,” McFarland said.

Approximately 20 Orleans Parish schools have reopened. Ben Franklin Elementary, relatively unscathed, was the first non-charter public school in Orleans Parish to reopen Nov. 28.

Roughly 60,000 students were enrolled in New Orleans Public Schools before Katrina. Estimates predict somewhere between 4,000 and 7,000 students will return this year.

A third of the schools, 41 buildings, are classified as badly damaged because they were filled with 4 to 5 feet of floodwater. Another 33 buildings were severely damaged after taking 8 to 10 feet of water. Many of those schools were filled with toxic mud and debris.

The worst damage afflicted the 18 schools in eastern New Orleans, the Ninth Ward and the City Park area. Those buildings are deemed total losses. Many of those buildings are missing walls and roofs.

FEMA has pledged to replace schools deemed “damaged beyond economical repair,” McFarland said.

McFarland says contracts awarded so far have been an even split between local and national companies. New Orleans-area companies working on the projects include NOMAR Construction, Arc Abatement, Crown Roofing and Remediation Experts.

The biggest problem the school system is facing with the rebuilding process is the lack of workers.

“I am shocked at the people who will not bid because they have no subcontractors to get the work done,” McFarland said. “A lot of people are working in Mississippi and Alabama. When they came to Louisiana, they go to Jefferson Parish first. There’s just not enough workers to go around.”

A lot of the schools haven’t begun demolition or removal of damaged drywall and flooring because the system is trying to focus resources where they can have the most effect.

Four months after the storm, crews assessing the damage are still finding dead dogs and other animals inside schools.

“It’s amazing that four months into this these animals are just being discovered,” McFarland said. “I think people in this country don’t know how bad the damage is down here.”

Hardin Elementary in the Lower Ninth Ward was one of the schools hardest hit. Floodwaters floated a car into the middle of one classroom.

Carver High School in eastern New Orleans was especially hard hit. Desks are piled eight high in classrooms filled with massive amounts of growing mold.

The most heavily damaged schools won’t be dealt with yet because there aren’t enough people living near the schools to justify reopening them, McFarland said.

“If they’re repaired depends on if we need them again,” said McFarland.

Contractors interested in bidding on the projects can contact Alvarez and Marsal at www.alvarezandmarsal.com.•

Link to Reference: Environment News Service, Feb 17, 2006

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Highlights:
- Despite public concerns about Bush administration political interference with science, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring prior headquarters approval for all communications by its scientists with the media
- The EPA’s screening of all press interviews is at variance with recent pronouncements of scientific openness by two other federal agencies, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- “Why are scientists at NASA free to answer questions about global warming while their colleagues at EPA are not?” asked PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. “Science does not come in Republican or Democratic flavors; scientists should be able to discuss findings without having to check whether facts comport with management policy.”

WASHINGTON, DC, February 17, 2006 (ENS) - Despite public concerns about Bush administration political interference with science, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring prior headquarters approval for all communications by its scientists with the media, according to an agency email released Thursday by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a national association of government workers in natural resource agencies.

The EPA’s screening of all press interviews is at variance with recent pronouncements of scientific openness by two other federal agencies, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

In a February 9, 2006 email to all staff, Ann Brown the news director for the EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), wrote, “We are asked to remind all employees that EPA's standard media procedure is to refer all media queries regarding ORD to Ann Brown, ORD News Director, prior to agreeing to or conducting any interviews…Support for this policy also will allow reasonable time for appropriate management response.” By contrast, on February 4, 2006, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin sent an all-employee email in which he committed the agency to “open scientific and technical inquiry and dialogue with the public.”

Griffin wrote, “It is not the job of public affairs officers to alter, filter or adjust engineering or scientific material produced by NASA's technical staff.”

On February 10, 2006, NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher told The Washington Post that “I encourage scientists to conduct peer-reviewed research and provide the honest results of those findings,” adding that “My policy…is to have a free and open organization.”

“Why are scientists at NASA free to answer questions about global warming while their colleagues at EPA are not?” asked PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. “Science does not come in Republican or Democratic flavors; scientists should be able to discuss findings without having to check whether facts comport with management policy.”

Scientists often fall outside the coverage of whistleblower protection laws, says Ruch, so scientists who violate agency gag rules may be punished for insubordination.

Legislation that would grant scientists the right to openly discuss their findings is pending before both houses of Congress. California Representative Henry Waxman, a Democrat, introduced HR 839 in the House, and Illinois Senator Richard Durbin, also a Democrat, introduced S 1358 in the Senate.

Link to Reference: NOAA Magazine || NOAA Home Page, Commerce Dept. NOAA News Tue, 24 Jan 2006

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Highlights:
- NOAA announced today that analyses of the second and third round of toxicology survey results from Gulf water, marine species and sediment samples show no elevated toxins of bacteria from recent hurricanes.
- The samples were tested for toxins that might have been released into the marine ecosystem after hurricane flooding, such as PCBs, pesticides, and fire retardants. All samples show the levels of these compounds are well below federal guidelines for safe seafood consumption.
- The survey results are consistent with similar findings recently announced by the FDA, the EPA, and the States of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, which concluded Gulf seafood was deemed safe for human consumption.

Jan. 19, 2006 — NOAA announced today that analyses of the second and third round of toxicology survey results from Gulf water, marine species and sediment samples show no elevated toxins of bacteria from recent hurricanes. Agency scientists have been collecting samples since two weeks after Katrina made landfall. The initial samples contained no elevated toxins or bacteria. The latest analyses also found no cause for concern. (Click NOAA image for larger view of the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in Gulf Port, Miss., as seen from the NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER on Sept. 10, 2005. Click here for high resolution version. Please credit “NOAA.”)

The samples were tested for toxins that might have been released into the marine ecosystem after hurricane flooding, such as PCBs, pesticides, and fire retardants. All samples show the levels of these compounds are well below federal guidelines for safe seafood consumption.

The samples also were tested for potential bacteria such as E. coli, which is associated with human fecal contamination. None of the samples harbored the bacteria, although other vibrio bacteria that normally inhabit the marine environment were found.

Steven Murawski, director of scientific programs at the NOAA Fisheries Service, said that the presence of vibrio bacteria is expected, and the FDA recommends that fish, crab and shrimp be thoroughly cooked prior to consumption.

The survey results are consistent with similar findings recently announced by the FDA, the EPA, and the States of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, which concluded Gulf seafood was deemed safe for human consumption. NOAA continues its sampling program in the Gulf of Mexico to detect potential trends or changes that might occur over time. (Click NOAA image for larger view of the areas where the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster collected samples as of Sept. 12-16, 2005. Click here for high resolution version. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Also, a just completed NOAA survey also shows that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita did not cause a reduction in fish and shrimp populations in offshore areas of the Gulf of Mexico.

NOAA's annual survey of shrimp and bottomfish—completed in November 2005—shows some species, such as the commercially valuable and overfished red snapper, had a higher population in 2005 than in 2004. The survey found that the Atlantic croaker population doubled in 2005.

"Marine life in the Gulf of Mexico is resilient and well-adapted to the natural environment," said Bill Hogarth, director of the NOAA Fisheries Service. "We had some concerns about the possible impacts of the Gulf hurricanes on fish and shrimp populations in the region, particularly in wetlands and nursery areas, but we've found that the fish stocks withstood the country's most devastating natural disaster."

Hogarth noted that there have not been any reported fish die-offs in the Gulf due to the hurricanes. He also said that the reduction in fishing activities in the Gulf of Mexico since the hurricanes could be a contributing factor to the population up tick for some of the shorter-lived species. The agency will continue to monitor potential population changes due to damaged habitats, nursery areas and wetlands.

Overall abundance of shrimp and bottom fish increased by about 30 percent from 2004 levels, with increases in Atlantic croaker, white shrimp and red snapper contributing much of the change. Agency scientists have conducted the survey, known as SEAMAP, every year since 1972. Information from the annual survey is compared to survey results in previous years and the data are used in fish stock assessments. Fish and shellfish populations are designated each year as either overfished or not overfished based on these assessments.

NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving the nation's living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management and enforcement. The NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.

Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners and nearly 60 countries to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA Hurricane Katrina Environmental Impacts

NOAA Fisheries Service

Media Contact:
Susan Buchanan, NOAA Fisheries Service, (301) 713-2370

Link to Reference: Paul Singer, National Journal, 1/9/06

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Highlights:
- When the winds died down and the flood waters receded, the storms left behind a line of debris some 500 miles long.
- By most estimates, the hurricanes created at least 50 million cubic yards of debris in Louisiana and another 40 million in Mississippi. Trucks will still be carting it away next Thanksgiving.
- But, in the end, there's no getting around these facts: Katrina and Rita trashed the Gulf Coast. And trash disposal is expensive and environmentally difficult.

NEW ORLEANS -- When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged the Gulf Coast, they turned dozens of communities into massive trash heaps. When the winds died down and the flood waters receded, the storms left behind a line of debris some 500 miles long.

By year's end, contractors hired by the Army Corps of Engineers and other government agencies had hauled away some 40 million cubic yards of junk in Louisiana and Mississippi. Even so, millions of cubic yards of debris remained, much of it in houses that will have to be gutted or demolished.

By most estimates, the hurricanes created at least 50 million cubic yards of debris in Louisiana and another 40 million in Mississippi. Trucks will still be carting it away next Thanksgiving.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency calculates that in Alabama and Texas, the storms transformed an additional 12 million cubic yards of bathtubs, tree limbs, car fenders, and smoke alarms into trash. Just how much rubbish is that? Well, the average professional football stadium could hold only about 2 million cubic yards of debris.

To the untrained eye, the rubble that used to be New Orleans's lower 9th Ward looks as if it simply needs to be pushed out of the way by bulldozers to allow new construction to begin. But when waste experts eye the rubble here and in other wrecked neighborhoods, they see something else entirely: a dozen kinds of garbage, each of which needs to be collected and disposed of separately.

Thus, several crews must pick over each pile of rubble, so that they can sort, number (yes, really), and lug the various parts of the pile to the places best equipped to receive them.

Nearly every item in the millions of tons of trash that Katrina and Rita created will be assessed for hazardousness before it ends up in a final resting place -- one of the hundreds of landfills around the region, a hazardous-waste disposal facility, or a recycling plant.

Where Dead Refrigerators Go

Down a dirt road on a Louisiana National Guard outpost, past the Slidell Police Canine Training Range and the recreational paintball field, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is operating what looks like a refrigerator graveyard on a former helicopter landing pad. In fact, the site is more like a refrigerator mortuary -- the place where dead appliances are prepped for their final destination in the beyond.

Each day, waste contractors who are scouring the streets of Katrina-ravaged St. Tammany Parish deliver hundreds of refrigerators, ovens, washing machines, and other major appliances. Mortuary overseer Michelle Rogow, an EPA employee from San Francisco, constantly updates a parish map posted on a trailer's wall. Each red dot on the map indicates where a refrigerator or other appliance has been left at a curb.

Each red square signals where hazardous household waste has been sighted. Each pinpointed item is logged into a database and tracked until it is delivered to the helicopter field. Only then is it crossed off the map. Since the first week of October, when the EPA's collection process began, Rogow's site has received more than 47,000 "white goods" and 71,000 containers of hazardous material.

The logistics of getting all of this junk to the mortuary demonstrate the enormousness of the debris management problem. After the storms, many people returned to their houses and dragged most of the contents to the curb. The EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and local waste-management authorities explore every street to assess the waste piles.

The Corps handles debris management for FEMA, and its contractors haul off nonhazardous debris. But if a pile contains a refrigerator or another hazard, the Corps tells the EPA to pick it up.

Items delivered to the helicopter pad are inspected for toxicity as they are unloaded. Refrigerators are emptied of their rotted food, then power-washed with bleach. The Freon or other coolant is drained for recycling, and the ruined appliance is piled on a heap to be crushed into metal bales.

A scrap-metal dealer buys the compacted remains and hauls them away. The state Department of Environmental Quality estimates that Louisiana will recover 1 million pounds of Freon, a fluorocarbon that can damage the ozone layer if it's released into the environment.

Other hazardous materials -- paint, pesticides, solvents, and the like -- are separated, sampled, and placed in safe containers. They are then transferred to a licensed hazardous-waste disposal site. Televisions and computer monitors are pulled out for collection and recycling. The EPA estimates that the typical TV contains 4 pounds of lead, which can cause brain damage if it leaches into drinking water.

"We are literally managing individual pieces of people's stuff," Rogow said.

Chuck Brown, state assistant secretary of environmental quality, said that Louisiana may ultimately retrieve and dismantle 1 million appliances, each of which will be tracked individually, sorted by several contractors, and emptied largely by hand. The EPA is running half a dozen hazardous-waste and appliance mortuaries around the state, at a cost of about $2 million a day.

The Waste Doctors

On a blustery December morning, a small EPA crew gathered in the parking lot of an unremarkable office park in eastern New Orleans. The cluster of low, black-glass buildings had been battered by the storm and then gutted by looters and contractors. Now, piles of debris sat on the pavement. The debris contractor hired by the Army Corps of Engineers could not haul the trash away until the EPA found and removed anything dangerous.

Most of the office-park mess was no different from countless other rubble piles around town -- furniture, books, magazines, sodden chunks of drywall, sections of carpet. But because these office suites housed medical professionals, the waste also included hazardous medical debris. The EPA crew in white hazard suits and yellow boots picked through the junk with handheld grabbers, retrieving bottles of toxic chemicals, biological waste, needles, and several canisters of compressed oxygen, which explode if they're crushed.

As the workers finished picking over a section of the pile, a small backhoe spread out the remains so that the workers could see any hazardous materials they had missed. The property owners "probably hired people to gut the office, and they did not distinguish between drywall and blood products," said Brad Stimple, EPA's on-scene coordinator for this operation.

Stimple said that EPA crews have visited dozens of small commercial locations like this one. Typically, one site yields enough hazards to fill two dozen special cardboard boxes, each the size of a nightstand.

But like all other government-led cleanup crews, Stimple's is allowed to sort through only what property owners have dragged out to the curb. Officials throughout the region stress that, except in extraordinary circumstances, they are not authorized to remove anything from private property without the owner's permission.

For instance, one medical lab in the office park that Stimple's crew was scouring that December day had been torn apart by the storm and apparently looted, but had not yet been emptied by the owner. The hurricane had wrenched the door from its hinges.

Inside the lab, vials of who-knows-what were strewn everywhere. A poster ominously warned of "blood-borne pathogens." Yet Stimple and his crew had no authority to enter. As renters and property owners return home and begin to clean up, they dump new piles of debris at the curb. At some point, the feds will declare their job done and local officials will be left to cope with whatever garbage is left. Even now, some officials wonder which trash is FEMA's responsibility.

Marnie Winter, director of environmental affairs for Jefferson Parish, just west of New Orleans, said, "FEMA will not authorize pickup of new-construction debris, but it will be pretty hard to determine which is which" if one homeowner is tearing out flood-damaged walls and a neighbor is throwing out scraps from a remodeling project unrelated to the storms.

Indeed, Axel Hichos and his Boston-based crew from Trident Environmental Group, a subcontractor for the Corps, spent a recent Wednesday afternoon collecting the asbestos tile -- and only the asbestos tile -- from a debris pile in front of a house on New Orleans's Lowerline Street in the city's southern bulge along the Mississippi River.

That neighborhood suffered little storm damage and no flooding. But many roofs need repairing, and some residents have taken the opportunity to renovate or clear out their houses. The debris pile that Hichos and his crew were tackling was, according to neighbors, the result of an eviction and a renovation, not an inundation. "We'll come back through here in three days, and there will be more piles," Hichos predicted.

Although the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11 created 2 million cubic yards of rubble, all of that debris was concentrated in a few square blocks of Lower Manhattan. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, by contrast, spread their destruction over thousands of square miles.

Every town in the storms' paths now has hazardous hotspots that used to be photo shops, drycleaners, hardware stores, or nail salons. Toxic chemicals are hidden under heaps of brick, wood, and wallboard.

Josie Clark, an EPA employee from Chicago, is heading a "school assessment group," a 10-member team that searches storm-tossed Louisiana communities for schoolroom hazards, mostly chemistry labs with collections of toxic materials in various states of disarray and destruction. By late December, Clark's team had worked its way through 40 schools that officials hope to reopen. Schools beyond repair will be searched later.

Many of the cleanup jobs involve coping with stomach-turning stenches. Rick Tillman, a Corps debris specialist, won't soon forget the New Orleans meat-storage facilities where the loss of power caused tons of chicken and seafood to rot. The Corps, worried that the carcasses posed a health threat, hauled 50 million pounds of putrid meat to a special dump in lined trucks that had to be decontaminated before they could return to the roads. Tillman says that his truck stank for weeks.

And then there are the wrecked vehicles. In Louisiana alone, officials expect they will have to dispose of 350,000 cars and perhaps 37,000 boats. Each will be tagged, towed, disassembled, drained of petroleum products and other hazardous waste, stripped of recyclable materials, and finally crushed.

A FEMA spokesman in Mississippi pointed out that several hundred cars and boats have to be dredged up off the coast before being tagged, towed, and all the rest.

How Much Wood Could a Termite Gnaw?

By Army Corps of Engineers estimates, Katrina and Rita together produced 12 million cubic yards of vegetative debris in Louisiana, mostly downed trees and branches. Mississippi officials estimate that the hurricanes created 20 million cubic yards of woody waste. Much of this debris was gathered up quickly, as crews cleared streets for safe passage.

Woody waste presents some excellent recycling opportunities. In Washington Parish, north of New Orleans, the waste is being ground up to serve as fuel in a paper mill. Elsewhere, it is being chipped or shredded for use as temporary cover for landfills. Environmental groups suggest that the woody materials could be used to build new levees around endangered wetlands, and some have even proposed that clean woody waste be used to fill industrial canals that contributed to the flooding of New Orleans.

But even for this seemingly benign material, disposal can be complicated, because of a pernicious local critter called the Formosan termite. Accidentally imported in the 1940s by U.S. warships returning from Asia, the termite is such a serious problem that Louisiana's wood waste cannot be shipped out of state or to uninfested regions of Louisiana.

"If we didn't have a termite problem, we could use barge or rail to send this stuff to other states," said Brown of the DEQ. "People from Texas and Alabama have called us asking for some of our waste," but it cannot be sent. The prohibition also applies to wooden waste from residences.

What's more, warns Bob Odom, Louisiana's commissioner of agriculture and forestry, "if you buried all this wood waste, all you would have done is to create a haven for those termites." Odom advocates burning the woody waste or spraying it with a pesticide. He said he would support composting only if he could be convinced that it would generate enough heat to kill the insects. Otherwise, he said, all of the chipped wood will have to be sprayed before it can be used.

Even woody waste from areas not infested with termites generates questions. Winter said that FEMA approved collection of Jefferson Parish's downed trees and limbs, but did not immediately approve the collection of stumps. "People kept calling and saying, 'When are you going to pull out these stumps?' "

Eventually, FEMA agreed to get rid of the stumps, but then had to assign contractors to the task. In the Army Corps's debris database, it still counts tree removal and stump removal as separate disposal operations.

The infrastructure developed to track and manage all of this waste is extraordinary. In a dingy building in Baton Rouge, Georgiann Shult, a Corps employee from central Pennsylvania, has developed a computerized database that tracks every truckload of waste hauled by her agency's contractors.

Every load has a paper ticket signed by the driver and by the operator of the disposal site. Dozens of staffers in the Baton Rouge office enter information from those tickets into the database, at a rate of several thousand tickets per day. At the touch of a few buttons, Shult can locate any truckload of waste.

By late December, she had records on more than 300,000 loads of debris hauled by the 10,000 trucks that the Corps's primary contractors had operated since September.

Where Does It All Go?

After hurricane debris is picked through, sorted, and collected, a dizzying array of hurdles still must be cleared before it is laid to rest somewhere. In New Orleans, the Army Corps of Engineers is using the Old Gentilly landfill as its primary disposal site for construction and demolition rubble, but reopening that site has sparked a firestorm of protests. Gentilly, a former city-owned municipal landfill, was closed in 1986.

The city was in the process of getting a site permit for construction debris when Katrina struck. The landfill reopened days later. Critics contend that the dump does not meet the standards of a modern landfill. Marsh surrounds Gentilly, and owners of nearby landfills argue that they have plenty of capacity for hurricane-related waste and can handle it more safely.

Joel Waltzer, a lawyer suing on behalf of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network to try to force the state to close the landfill, said that Gentilly is simply not equipped to handle the hazardous materials that are almost certainly mixed in with the curbside debris that's arriving by the truckload.

"They can pluck through those rubbish piles, and they will get the [dangerous] stuff that's on top.... But if they get even 25 percent of it, I will be shocked," Waltzer said.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality counters that Gentilly is needed. Assistant Secretary Brown said, "If it weren't available, we would really be behind the eight ball." He added that the landfill "meets every standard that every other construction and demolition debris landfill meets."

Gentilly sits on a spit of marshy land east of downtown New Orleans that is covered with decades-old illegal dump sites. Herons and other coastal birds stand in brackish waters amid abandoned cars, junked furniture, and garbage from various eras. Trucks bearing hurricane debris continually drive in and out of unregulated sites that have no apparent environmental controls.

"I've been raising hell about those sites," but the DEQ has not shown any interest in shutting them down, said Sierra Club organizer Darryl Malek-Wiley. DEQ Enforcement Director Harold Leggett testified before the state Legislature's environmental committees in mid-December that the state had not emphasized enforcement in the immediate aftermath of the storms, but said, "There are some criminal investigations going on related to the landfill activities."

Brown said that his agency is very concerned about illegal dumping near the Gentilly landfill and is working with city police to identify the perpetrators.

In some places, the Louisiana DEQ favors burning hurricane debris, but the EPA has issued warnings about the combustion of debris that may be contaminated with asbestos or other health hazards. The Corps, officials said, is not burning any waste and will not unless the EPA approves.

Brown said that his agency is burning clean, woody debris and is hoping to rely heavily on shredding or grinding other wastes to reduce the space they take up in landfills. The state has begun using a tractor-trailer-sized grinding machine called the "annihilator" that can chew more than 100 tons of waste an hour into 2-foot chunks.

In Mississippi, about half the hurricane debris is woody waste, but the state Department of Environmental Quality would prefer not to burn it. "We tolerate [burning], but we don't encourage it," said Mark Williams, the department's solid-waste administrator. Mississippi's biggest challenge, he said, is sorting through the debris fields that were left after the storm.

Katrina made a direct hit on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and while Louisiana was left with thousands of damaged structures, most of the buildings along the Mississippi coast were obliterated. Ron Calcagno, public works director of the pulverized town of Waveland, Miss., said that officials are scheduling waste-crew visits so that residents can meet the crews at their former homes to collect any valuable or sentimental objects that remain.

The greatest mystery lying at the bottom of the massive piles of hurricane waste is the total cost of disposal. The federal government has already signed waste contracts totaling $2 billion. But FEMA and the Army Corps refuse to say what they are paying per ton for waste hauling. Officials maintain that totals are not yet available or that releasing the information would give contractors a leg up in price negotiations.

Parishes around New Orleans have complained that the structure of FEMA's waste contracts -- FEMA hires the Army Corps, which hires national contractors, who hire local subcontractors -- guarantees that the hauling price will be marked up several times. Local haulers hired directly, critics contend, could do the job more cheaply. A FEMA official in Mississippi said that the recovery of recyclable materials will defray some of the disposal cost.

But, in the end, there's no getting around these facts: Katrina and Rita trashed the Gulf Coast. And trash disposal is expensive and environmentally difficult.

Link to Reference: David Brown, Washington Post Staff Writer, 12/15/05

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Highlights:
- Some New Orleans neighborhoods are covered in a layer of sediment containing lead above the concentration the federal government considers hazardous to human health, a new study has found.
- The team sampled 14 sites, 12 of them inside the city limits. In two, lead was above the 400-parts-per-million concentration of the Environmental Protection Agency's "high-priority bright line screening" level, a hazardous designation set by the EPA. One was on Esplanade Avenue downtown (406 ppm) and the other was on the bank of the Industrial Canal (642 ppm).
- They also sampled snakes and an alligator to determine baseline levels of various pollutants the animals acquired before the flood. More will be sampled later to see if the flood increased their levels of toxic substances

Some New Orleans neighborhoods are covered in a layer of sediment containing lead above the concentration the federal government considers hazardous to human health, a new study has found.

The dirt poses the greatest hazard to small children who might play in it, said Steven M. Presley, a toxicologist at Texas Tech University, who led the soil survey team. The hazard could be reduced by keeping the dirt from becoming dry and airborne, by covering it with uncontaminated soil or, if necessary, by hauling it away.

"These levels are not astronomical. It's not like this is an insurmountable hazard. But we are saying that we did find levels that exceeded these thresholds for human health," Presley said yesterday after the study, which will appear in Environmental Science & Technology, was posted on the American Chemical Society's Web site.

The team sampled 14 sites, 12 of them inside the city limits. In two, lead was above the 400-parts-per-million concentration of the Environmental Protection Agency's "high-priority bright line screening" level, a hazardous designation set by the EPA. One was on Esplanade Avenue downtown (406 ppm) and the other was on the bank of the Industrial Canal (642 ppm).

Slightly elevated levels of arsenic and numerous organic chemicals, including some pesticides, were also found at the Industrial Canal. Presley said that was not surprising because "it was the neck of the funnel for the water being pulled from New Orleans."

The researchers also found slightly elevated concentrations of iron at one site near the Lakefront neighborhood and elevated pesticide residues near City Park, which Presley speculated might have come from a nearby golf course.

Presley thinks the chief implication of the study is that more extensive sediment testing needs to be done, as contamination is likely to vary across the city.

The source of most of the lead was exhaust from a century's worth of leaded gasoline burned by automobiles. In many places, it was under the soil surface and covered with vegetation. Hurricane Katrina and the flood suspended it in the water and then redeposited it, sometimes a long way from where it originated.

The sediment is inside many buildings that will be torn down or renovated, making it a potential hazard to construction workers. They should wear masks in dusty areas and wash their clothing and hands, Presley said.

Eryn Witcher, an EPA spokeswoman, said the new findings are "consistent with the sampling we have done. We have seen elevated levels of lead and arsenic, and we have urged the public to avoid contact with the sediments."

The researchers also sampled water and found high levels of some pathogenic bacteria, including various species of Aeromonas that caused many skin infections in victims of last December's tsunami in Southeast Asia. The sampling was done in mid-September; these organisms would have died as the water evaporated.

They also sampled snakes and an alligator to determine baseline levels of various pollutants the animals acquired before the flood. More will be sampled later to see if the flood increased their levels of toxic substances

Link to Reference: BRETT MARTEL, Associated Press Writer, 12/13/05

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Highlights:
- Eight sections of steel sheet pulled from a failed New Orleans levee Tuesday appear to have been driven into the ground to the specified depth, contradicting earlier tests, engineers said.
- The steel had been sunk into the ground to prevent water from saturating the soil and destabilizing the flood walls. Initial testing by sonar had indicated the sheet pilings were driven to only about 10 feet below sea level, even though the design called for 17.5 feet below sea level.
- After pulling and measuring the pilings, officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressed a measure of relief, since the Corps was responsible for ensuring the construction matched the design when the flood wall was built in the early 1990s.
- restoring about 350 miles of hurricane protection levees in the New Orleans area.

NEW ORLEANS - Eight sections of steel sheet pulled from a failed New Orleans levee Tuesday appear to have been driven into the ground to the specified depth, contradicting earlier tests, engineers said.

The sheet pilings were removed as part of an investigation into why the flood wall at the 17th Street Canal failed, contributing to floods that covered 80 percent of the city when Hurricane Katrina struck on Aug. 29.

The steel had been sunk into the ground to prevent water from saturating the soil and destabilizing the flood walls. Initial testing by sonar had indicated the sheet pilings were driven to only about 10 feet below sea level, even though the design called for 17.5 feet below sea level.

The discrepancy fueled suspicion of wrongdoing in the building of the flood wall, attracting criminal investigators to the work site. The U.S. attorney, the state attorney general and the district attorney all have launched investigations into the building and maintenance of the levees.

After pulling and measuring the pilings, officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressed a measure of relief, since the Corps was responsible for ensuring the construction matched the design when the flood wall was built in the early 1990s.

But if the flood wall was built to specifications, as the latest inspection indicated, the next question will be whether the design was faulty.

"We need to look at all the failure mechanisms because obviously something did happen here and each piece of the puzzle helps us determine what happened," said Col. Lewis Setliff, commander of the task force restoring about 350 miles of hurricane protection levees in the New Orleans area.

Brig. Gen. Robert Crear said the length of the sections pulled all exceeded 23 feet. About six feet of the sheet piling was above sea level, leaving a little more than 17 feet below sea level — in accordance with design specifications.

Engineers also plan to test the concrete and the reinforcing bars in the flood wall to ensure they were made properly.

Also, engineers must try to figure out why the sonar tests yielded bad results on how deep the sheet pilings were driven.

Link to Reference: Ana Radelat, hattiesburgamerican.com, 12/11/05

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Highlights:
- The Sierra Club this week released a report that said that soil samples taken in Hurricane Katrina-hit regions of Mississippi and Alabama have dangerous levels of pollution.
- Katrina's storm surge - which covered the coast with sludge that contained heavy metals and microorganisms - is to blame.
- Bass said his agency did not test the soil at DeLisle Elementary School. But he said sampling of nearby areas showed there's no danger to the children who attend the school. "Unless the children are eating the dirt, I don't think there's a high risk," he said.

WASHINGTON - The Sierra Club this week released a report that said that soil samples taken in Hurricane Katrina-hit regions of Mississippi and Alabama have dangerous levels of pollution.

The samples revealed higher than normal levels of arsenic, heavy metals, dioxin and life-threatening E-coli bacteria, the environmental group said.

Wilma Subra, a Sierra Club chemist, said Katrina's storm surge - which covered the coast with sludge that contained heavy metals and microorganisms - is to blame.

"There's a need to determine the extent of that contamination and establish a plan to remove the contaminants in order to prevent residents and workers from being harmfully exposed," Subra said.

The Sierra Club said the highest levels of arsenic - 27 times more than Environmental Protection Agency limits - were found in Moss Point on Elder Ferry Road near the site of the former Rohm and Hass chemical plant. The group also found high levels of arsenic in Gulfport's Big Lake and near Pearlington in Hancock County.

The Sierra Club also said it found unsafe levels of arsenic at DeLisle Elementary School in Pass Christian, which is located near a DuPont chemical plant.

But Phil Bass, director of pollution control at the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality said his agency and the EPA have conducted sediment and soil tests on the Gulf Coast and have not found anything to be alarmed about.

"What we're getting back looks pretty good," Bass said.

He said all of the samples have not been processed, but those that have failed to show "any huge issues." He also said that Mississippi normally has higher-than-average amounts of arsenic in its soil.

Bass said his agency did not test the soil at DeLisle Elementary School. But he said sampling of nearby areas showed there's no danger to the children who attend the school. "Unless the children are eating the dirt, I don't think there's a high risk," he said.

The Sierra Club has urged the EPA to conduct more tests and is warning residents returning to what it calls high-risk neighborhoods to take certain precautions, including donning protective gloves and smocks and using respirators.

Disaster preparation

The Council for Excellence in Government and the American Red Cross released poll results last week that showed that Southerners say they do the most to prepare for a disaster. Midwesterners report doing the least.

Only 52 percent of Midwesterners report doing a great deal or some things to prepare for a disaster, followed by the Northeast, 58 percent, the West, 64 percent and the South, 74 percent.

The survey also showed that 38 percent of Americans were not motivated at all by hurricanes Katrina and Rita to prepare for an emergency.

The poll was conducted before and during Hurricane Katrina (Aug. 26-31) and then repeated two months later (Oct. 26-30).

In August, about one in four Americans reported preparing a disaster kit of emergency supplies such as water, food and medicine.

But a majority, 59 percent, of people who live in areas affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita said they prepared such a kit. The percentage didn't increase after the storms.

The poll also found that people with at least some college education are more likely to have taken steps to prepare for a disaster than those with a high school degree or less education. Those with household incomes of less than $40,000 per year are also less likely than those with higher incomes to have taken preparedness steps, the survey found. But there was no difference in preparedness by race.

Seeking cures

Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., has teamed up with Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., to introduce a bill this week that would create a new division at the National Institutes of Health that would focus exclusively on finding the cures for cancer, diabetes and other diseases.

The American Center for Cures Act would authorize $5 billion to be spent on hiring more doctors and researchers and setting up new ways for NIH to collaborate with other government researchers.

"I'm excited about the Center for Cures. We know that where there is interest and a dedicated effort, there will be success," Cochran said.

Mississippi has the highest rates of some of the chronic diseases that would be targeted by the new center. The state has the highest percentage of population with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It also has the highest percentage of overweight people, about 67 percent of Mississippians are obese or overweight.

Link to Reference: JOHN SURRATT, The Mississippi Press, December 09, 2005

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Highlights:
- Seafood from the Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico is safe to eat and overall water quality of the Coast's bays and estuaries is good, despite the debris deposited in the water by Hurricane Katrina
- Preliminary test results by DEQ, Folmar said the state Department of Marine Re-sources, Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration indicated that the overall water quality was good, that there no metals, PCBs or pesticides in the seafood to warrant seafood advisories. And, he added, bacteria levels were much lower than expected.
- Tests did indicate low dioxin levels in the sediment in the Escatawpa and Pascagoula River area and in St. Louis Bay near Bayou LaCroix and low dissolved oxygen concentrations in the Escatawpa and St. Louis Bay and elevated nutrient levels in Bayou Casotte and Back Bay Biloxi.

OCEAN SPRINGS -- Seafood from the Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico is safe to eat and overall water quality of the Coast's bays and estuaries is good, despite the debris deposited in the water by Hurricane Katrina, the director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality said Thursday.

Henry Folmar, who oversees the DEQ's laboratory activities, announced the news about Coast seafood and its waterways during a Thursday night post-Katrina update meeting on the seafood industry and recreational fishing at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.

The announcement was part of a "good news, bad news" presentation, which was a central theme during the entire program. The presentation was held to give area residents and commercial fishermen an idea of how the Coast's seafood and recreational fishing industries have faired in the wake of Katrina's Aug. 29 assault on the Coast.

Katrina's passage across the Coast raised concerns by many environmentalists, commercial fishermen, biologists and residents about the quality of Coastal waters and seafood.

But according to preliminary test results by DEQ, Folmar said the state Department of Marine Re-sources, Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration indicated that the overall water quality was good, that there no metals, PCBs or pesticides in the seafood to warrant seafood advisories. And, he added, bacteria levels were much lower than expected.

However, Folmar said tests did indicate low dioxin levels in the sediment in the Escatawpa and Pascagoula River area and in St. Louis Bay near Bayou LaCroix and low dissolved oxygen concentrations in the Escatawpa and St. Louis Bay and elevated nutrient levels in Bayou Casotte and Back Bay Biloxi.

Folmar also said fish kills were found in several areas of the Pascagoula, which he said were primarily caused by vegetation being blown into the river and dissolving the oxygen.

But while the Coast's seafood is in good shape, there are few people and equipment to harvest it.

GCRL scientist Jim Franks told the residents that the damage to the Coast's commercial and recreational fishing industries could total an estimated $170 million to $200 million, not including the damages to structures like marinas, piers, wharves and commercial support businesses, which he said could total an extra $10 million.

"Preliminary information based on interviews with 25 percent of the commercial fisherman indicate that the total estimated damage to the fleet is $50 million," Franks said. "Interviews with 30 percent of the processors and dealers put the total estimated damage to Katrina at $120 million."

A similar problem exists in the Coast's oyster industry, which took a major hit from the hurricane.

Bradley Randall, DMR biological program coordinator for shellfish, said preliminary reports indicated that 90 to 95 percent of the Coast's legal --three inches or larger -- oyster crop was killed by Katrina.

"The rest were scattered to where we can't find them," he said. "But the spats (oysters less than legal size) survived."

He said oyster larvae, which formed before Katrina hit, managed to stay in place, leaving the potential for another oyster crop to develop. But Randall said the spats won't reach legal size for another 18 to 24 months, meaning that the next money oyster crop could be two years away.

"It could be sooner than that," he said. "We're still investigating. We could find other beds that were never affected by the storm."

Randall said, however that Coast's offshore areas could benefit from the storm, because the water churned up by the hurricane could help refurbish the fisheries and stir up and redistribute nutrients. It could also create new areas for oyster larvae to attach themselves and induce them to spawn.

But even if the oyster beds were in good shape, the facilities to process and sell the crop would be few and far between. Many of the processing and dealer facilities were severely damaged by Katrina.

"Right now, we only have one processor in operation in Pass Christian," Randall said. "And it's processing Texas oysters."

Link to Reference: Gulf of Mexico Sea Surface temperatures and location of Loop Current waters affecting recent strong hurricane crossings

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Highlights:
- The LSU Earth Scan Lab is deeply pained by the events wrought in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
- Hurricane Katrina's Aftermath is being monitored, and studied with satellite imagery acquired at the ESL, and obtained from outside sources.
- Warm water provided by the Loop Current plays a role in the strengthening of hurricanes as they traverse the Gulf of Mexico

The LSU Earth Scan Lab is deeply pained by the events wrought in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Our thoughts are with the victims of this tremendous natural disaster, and our hopes are for a safe and rapid recovery for the victims, the city of New Orleans, and the State of Louisiana.

Our lab has served the the emergency relief efforts, state-wide, and at the LOHSEP since before Katrina made landfall, and, will continue to provide satellite-based analysis and operational support throughout the recovery effort. Hurricane Katrina's Aftermath is being monitored, and studied with satellite imagery acquired at the ESL, and obtained from outside sources. Links to other sites related to the post-storm analysis are also provided.

Warm water provided by the Loop Current plays a role in the strengthening of hurricanes as they traverse the Gulf of Mexico. For more information on the Loop current visit our research page.

For information concerning the effects hurricanes have on the Loop Current, read Dr. Nan Walker's recent work on cold-core cyclones in the Gulf of Mexico here.

Link to Reference: NASA Hurricane Resource Page

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Highlights:
- The warming of the Pacific Ocean waters which is commonly referred to as El Nino, deters hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean because the warm water creates strong westerly winds which disrupt tropical depressions before they can develop enough intensity.
- El Nina has the opposite effect encouraging more hurricanes then typical.

The warming of the Pacific Ocean waters which is commonly referred to as El Nino, deters hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean because the warm water creates strong westerly winds which disrupt tropical depressions before they can develop enough intensity.

El Nina has the opposite effect encouraging more hurricanes then typical.

Link to Reference: The U.S. EPA and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, (MDEQ) 11/11/05

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Highlights:
- completed a water quality study along major bay systems on the Mississippi coast following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that showed few chemicals of concern in bays and rivers where samples were taken.
- Overall, the sampling data show that few water quality criteria were exceeded during the study. In areas where elevated contamination levels were found
- To determine if there may be any long term effects of the hurricane, additional data will be collected and compiled with existing data.

WASHINGTON (11/11/05) -- The U.S. EPA and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) have completed a water quality study along major bay systems on the Mississippi coast following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that showed few chemicals of concern in bays and rivers where samples were taken.

The study looked for any serious short term problems with water quality. EPA and MDEQ specifically targeted areas with the greatest potential for environmental harm because of the proximity to industrial or municipal areas. Overall, the sampling data show that few water quality criteria were exceeded during the study. In areas where elevated contamination levels were found, EPA and MDEQ will continue to evaluate the need for additional site specific studies to determine if there are any further adverse environmental impacts. Samples collected show bacteria concentrations at or below levels EPA considers suitable for swimming.

To determine if there may be any long term effects of the hurricane, additional data will be collected and compiled with existing data.

The study encompassed major bay systems on the Mississippi coast including Bangs Lake, Bayou Casotte, the Pascagoula and West Pascagoula River systems, the Back Bay of Biloxi, St. Louis Bay, and the Pearl River. 

The full report is available online. Testing results by state, county or testing site can be viewed by using EnviroMapper.

Link to Reference: Government of the United States of America, 21 Nov 2005

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Highlights:
- FEMA has distributed nearly $4.4 billion in federal aid to more than 1.4 million households
- More than 14,000 federal personnel have been deployed to help state and local officials along the Gulf Coast recover from Katrina and Rita.
- The United States Coast Guard rescued more than 33,000 lives in the wake of Katrina.

President George W. Bush declared major disasters for areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is actively managing federal assistance to these affected communities to speed response and save lives.

FEMA - FEMA has distributed nearly $4.4 billion in federal aid to more than 1.4 million households. A record-setting 44 states and the District of Columbia have been given emergency declarations to cover expenses related to sheltering millions of evacuees forced from their homes by Katrina and Rita.

FEMA has thousands of phone operators taking registrations on its 24-hour phone bank. Callers may register faster by calling during the off hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Those registering should be ready, if able, to provide their Social Security number, insurance information, financial information, contact information and their direct deposit information. Registration will remain open for many months to ensure that all citizens eligible for assistance have had the opportunity to apply.

More than 14,000 federal personnel have been deployed to help state and local officials along the Gulf Coast recover from Katrina and Rita.

FEMA's Transitional Housing Assistance Program has provided nearly $1.2 million in cash assistance to eligible households to help with their immediate housing needs.

FEMA established a Housing Area Command to oversee all temporary housing operations across the Hurricane Katrina impacted areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Housing Strike Teams are being readied for deployment into each state to begin the process of quantifying temporary housing needs.

Individuals in declared counties can register online for disaster assistance at www.fema.gov or call FEMA’s toll free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

Coast Guard - The United States Coast Guard rescued more than 33,000 lives in the wake of Katrina.

Thousands of Coast Guard men and women from around the nation continue conducting waterway reconstitution and environmental impact assessment operations from Florida to Louisiana with other federal, state and local agencies.

A multi-agency task force of environmental response experts continue to remedy as many as 575 cases of hazardous materials and oil pollution in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. This federal, state and local task force is comprised of 10 agencies representing the U.S. Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as Florida, Alabama and Mississippi state environmental conservation and protection departments. Various commercial and private contractors have been enlisted as well.

The Coast Guard is conducting port surveys and moving assets into these ports to restore buoys, lights, and aids-to-navigation, thus allowing maritime traffic to safely navigate.

Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - U.S. Customs and Border Protection(CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) trucks delivered several thousand items of clothing to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Jackson, Miss., Houston and San Antonio, Texas. The clothing, seized in violations of U.S. trademark laws is worth estimated at over $17 million.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's - Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) has received numerous questions regarding international students who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina. ICE has established a toll free number (800-961-5294) for students who are attending a school that is affected by Hurricane Katrina and are unable to contact their Designated School official. Students can also email SEVIS at SEVIS.Source@dhs.gov.

National Guard - More than 50,000 National Guard members responded to state active duty in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Guardsmen are trained professionals and bring great expertise and sensitivity to their mission in support of local law enforcement.

National Guard soldiers flying helicopters from dawn to dusk are providing a critical air bridge to communities throughout the Mississippi Gulf Coast with much needed supplies of military rations, water and ice. Aircrews are flying four to 15 missions per day, depending on the distance of their drops from the busy Air National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center airfield.

The Mississippi Air National Guard has erected a transportable medical center on the grounds of the Hancock County Hospital - a stopgap until county medical organizations can operate again.

National Guard helicopters evacuated hundreds of sick and injured persons out of the devastated greater New Orleans area.

Department of Defense - The Defense Department continues to tailor its forces supporting hurricane relief operations as needed to provide the critical capabilities required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies. Over 72,000 military personnel (22,000 active-duty troops and more than 50,000 National Guardsmen) - have provided critical security, logistical and other support.

Joint Task Force (JTF) Katrina, the military’s on-scene command in support of FEMA, has shifted to the USS Iwo Jima, docked in New Orleans. The Navy amphibious assault ship allows commanders and their civilian counterparts to communicate with rescuers and assistance personnel across the region. Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, commander of the First Army in Fort Gillem, Ga., is the JTF-Commander.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is performing a detailed assessment of about 350 miles of hurricane levee and developing a comprehensive, prioritized plan to repair it and the pumping stations that support New Orleans and surrounding areas. State and local leaders are being informed as assessments are being completed and repairs are made. The Corps continues to work with state and local leaders to make assessments and repairs of the system.

The Department of Defense made available a fleet of approximately 50 helicopters to support FEMA's operations. Eight civilian swift water rescue teams were transferred from California to assist with recovery operations.

DOD has delivered more than 24.2 million liters of water, 67 million pounds of ice, and 13.6 million individually packaged military rations to areas in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Department of Agriculture - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has deployed 2,760 Forest Service employees who are trained in rescue and response to large-scale incidents to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency. These teams have expertise in setting up logistics staging areas, distribution of food products and debris removal.

USDA is making more than $170 million in emergency assistance available to agricultural producers suffering from Hurricane Katrina. In addition, USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is implementing immediate changes to its Marketing Assistance Loan Program due to the hurricane. These changes will allow producers to obtain loans for "on-farm" grain storage on the ground in addition to grain bins and other normally approved structures.

USDA has delivered or has on the way more than 300 trucks containing over 12 million pounds of food (canned vegetables, fruits, cheese and meats) and baby food and formula products, with truckloads of additional supplies being prepared for delivery to affected communities.

USDA has also authorized states to pre-load electronic food benefit cards with $50 to immediately purchase food even before application s have been processed to receive complete benefits. These cards can be used by displaced residents as they move from shelters to temporary housing.

USDA Rural Development will provide a six-month moratorium on payments for approximately 50,000 low-income residents who have Rural Development Single Family Housing Loans in the affected areas. USDA will also be taking an inventory of vacant USDA housing to help accommodate displaced residents."

Department of Commerce - The Department of Commerce has established the Hurricane Contracting Information Center (HCIC) to help U.S. businesses, especially minority, women and small businesses participate in the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. The HCIC is an interagency effort to provide a centralized location for information and services available throughout the government geared to help in the contracting process. HCIC also staffs a toll-free number (1-888-4USADOC or 1-888-487-2362) to provide information on rebuilding opportunities.

Commerce has deployed three National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) response teams to survey priority channel and port locations. The survey products produced by these teams will help determine when ports can be reopened. NOAA will also be working to determine the impacts of the storm on living marine resources, including commercial and recreational fisheries that are economically important to the region.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is working with FEMA to lend its technical expertise from the Building and Fire Research Laboratory to asses structural damage and provide assistance. NIST's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) will review the impact of the hurricane on small manufacturers in those areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama affected by the storm.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA), is coordinating with FEMA and identifying resources to deploy. Up to $7 million in FY 2005 funds could be deployed to build new/improved infrastructure to aid in economic recovery.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), will utilize the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS), as needed, to prioritize procurement of goods and services for the restoration effort -- temporary housing and plastic sheeting are likely major requirements.

Department of Education - has launched Hurricane Help for Schools, to help match schools with displaced students in need with companies, organizations, other schools and individuals willing to donate. In less than a week, more than 45 matches have already occurred between schools and organizations across the U.S.

The Department of Education has modified rules for providing Federal student aid to transfer students who transfer from a postsecondary educational institution that is not operating due to the hurricane to another institution.

The Department of Education has extended application filing dates for Federal student aid for students impacted by the hurricane and extended various reporting dates required of postsecondary educational institutions.

The Department of Education has also directed student loan holders to grant an automatic three-month forbearance to any borrower whose address is in a FEMA declared disaster county.

Department of Energy - Department of Energy (DOE)Secretary Samuel Bodman has authorized the release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. DOE has also expanded their gas gouging reporting system to include a 1-800 telephone number of 1-800-244-3301or online at http://gaswatch.energy.gov/.

DOE's Office of Science has established a temporary program to match interested displaced students and faculty researchers -- who may be eligible regardless of current DOE funding status -- with research programs that currently receive grants from the Office of Science. The clearinghouse for the activity is the DOE Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, which will match hosts with those desiring to participate and will consider on a case basis modest supplemental funding to existing programs to facilitate this process. For further information, those interested may contact Christopher.Yetter@science.doe.gov or call (301) 903-4353. They may also gain additional information at the Oak Ridge web site at www.orau.gov/doeedrelief/.

Department of Health and Human Services - is offering streamlined access to benefits for Hurricane Katrina victims. As part of this streamlining process, states will be given the flexibility to enroll evacuees without requiring documents such as tax returns or proof of residency. Evacuees who have lost all identification and records should be able to give their address or other simple form of attestation to be eligible. The special evacuee status will apply to the full range of federal benefits administered by the states, including HHS programs that provide services through Medicaid, family assistance through Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), child care support, foster care assistance, mental health services and substance abuse treatment services.

HHS has summarized the federal payments available for providing health care services to hurricane evacuees and for rebuilding health care infrastructure.

HHS has announced all children from birth to 18 years old displaced by Hurricane Katrina are eligible to receive free vaccines through the federally-run Vaccines for Children program (VFC), regardless of whether they are staying at shelters, hotels, or with family and friends and regardless of previous health insurance coverage status. Managed by HHS’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the VFC helps families of children who may not otherwise have access to vaccines by providing free vaccines to doctors who serve them.

HHS has declared a public health emergency for Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas . This action allows the Department to waive certain Medicare, Medicaid, State Child Health Insurance Program, and HIPAA requirements as well as make grants and enter into contracts more expeditiously during this emergency.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has adopted a series of emergency policy changes to accommodate the needs of thousands of displaced Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) beneficiaries who have fled Hurricane Katrina and need urgent medical attention in their new host states.

HHS is providing $15 million in emergency funding to assist Head Start and Early Head Start grantees in providing services to children and families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. These funds will enable Head Start and Early Head Start grantees to provide services to evacuee children and families until October 11, 2005. To receive services, a family must have been forced to leave their home because of Hurricane Katrina.

HHS announced the availability of a toll-free hotline for people in crisis in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), callers will be connected to a network of local crisis centers across the country that are committed to crisis counseling. Callers to the hotline will receive counseling from trained staff at the closest certified crisis center in the network. HHS also is providing $600,000 in emergency grants to Louisiana, Alabama, Texas and Mississippi to ensure that mental health assessment and crisis counseling are available in areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

The federal government will speed up the award of grants to establish 26 new health center sites in areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Approximately $2.3 million in fiscal year 2005 funds to these sites will get health care resources up and running quickly in disaster areas and neighboring states treating evacuees from the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast.

The Office of The Surgeon General and the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness to mobilize and identify healthcare professionals and relief personnel to assist in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. They have registered over 30,000 medical volunteers to assist in recovery measures.

HHS continues to ship pallets of basic first aid materials and supplies to the area, and the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration are augmenting state and local public health resources -- including chemical and toxicology teams, sanitation and public health teams, epidemiology teams and food safety teams.

Department of Housing and Urban Development - has established a single toll-free housing hotline, 1-888-297-8685, to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina with all housing concerns. This number operates from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT, seven days a week.

HUD has partnered with the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) to identify thousands of available homes to temporarily house displaced families in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Initially, the Department identified nearly 5,000 vacant single-family HUD-owned properties in 11 states near the affected areas.

Department of the Interior - The Department of the Interior has deployed 1,489 personnel in response to Hurricane Katrina. Emergency response activities include interagency assistance under the National Response Plan; assuring public safety on Departmental lands and providing mutual aid to surrounding communities; and restoring capability of offices in the disaster areas to execute essential functions.

United States Geological Survey employees are repairing and replacing damaged stream gauges throughout the region to restore flood warning capacity; coordinating with other federal agencies to provide geospatial information, maps, satellite images and scientific assessments to help response and recovery operations; and sampling and testing water pumped out of New Orleans and into Lake Pontchartrain.

Department of Justice - has established the Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, designed to deter, investigate and prosecute disaster-related federal crimes such as charity fraud and insurance fraud. Justice has also set up a page on how to protect against fraud.

The U.S. Department of Justice is working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to set up a national hotline to locate missing hurricane victims at 1-888-544-5475.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has obtained the authority to provide states access to the FBI's criminal history database for the purpose of conducting background checks on any volunteer, relief worker, or evacuee associated with Hurricane Katrina, who would have access to children. The FBI is waiving its $24.00 fee that is normally charged for fingerprint-based checks relating to employment, licensing, and suitability. This limited authority expires on November 7, 2005 and requires a state or federal statute authorizing a fingerprint-based criminal history background check for individuals with access to children.

Department of Labor - has three programs to offer immediate income assistance to workers displaced by Hurricane Katrina 1) Unemployment Insurance for workers who lost their jobs because of Hurricane Katrina; 2) Disaster Unemployment Insurance for the newly employed and self-employed not normally eligible for unemployment insurance and, 3) Temporary jobs funded through National Emergency Grants.

For information on how to access these benefits, individuals can call DOL's national toll free number: 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365). For those able to access the internet, information can also be found on DOL's website (www.dol.gov). DOL has also dispatched teams to all evacuee sites, and has staff canvassing neighborhoods, churches, parishes and hospitals to advertise these benefits. Mobile “One-Stop” vans have been deployed to FEMA sites, including one in the parking lot of the Houston Astrodome.

DOL has created the Katrina Recovery Job Connection, a new resource focused on supporting the transition back into employment for individuals impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The site’s purpose is to connect job seekers with employers interested in hiring them for either new permanent employment or for jobs related to the cleanup, recovery and rebuilding process in hurricane-impacted areas. While the site is intended to complement the efforts at the state and local level to connect workers and jobs in the impacted areas, it is also intended to make individuals evacuated to other states aware of opportunities in their home state. Both employers and job seekers are encouraged to visit the site to post and view listings of available jobs.

DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service, has announced an extension of a number of deadlines related to health plan coverage, giving workers and employers affected by Hurricane Katrina additional time to make critical decisions regarding health coverage.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has deployed safety and health professionals to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to provide technical assistance to recovery workers in their ongoing cleanup efforts along the Gulf Coast of the United States.

OSHA has been contacting major power companies in the affected areas to provide safety briefings to employees at power restoration staging areas.

OSHA has released public service announcements to inform workers about hazards related to restoration and cleanup.

OSHA has identified home supply and construction stores in the affected areas in order to distribute safety and health fact sheets and materials to these locations.

Department of State - The Department of State advises concerned family members of foreign nationals residing or traveling in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina to try to reach their family members by phone, email, or other available means. If family member cannot be reached, the State Department recommends they contact their embassy in Washington, D.C. for assistance.

Reports from the region indicate that some phone lines are working but experiencing heavy call volume, so family members are encouraged to keep trying if lines are busy.

Department of Transportation - The Department of Transportation (DOT) is working closely with state and local authorities, federal partners, and private sector transportation service providers to assess damage to transportation infrastructure and assist in immediate recovery efforts.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will allow transit agencies affected by Hurricane Katrina to make use of federal funds to buy supplies, repair buses or equipment, or begin reconstruction without having to use matching local funds until further notice.

Work on repairing the Twin Spans Bridge that carries traffic on Interstate-10 between New Orleans and Slidell, La., has begun following the September 9th award of a $31 million contract to Boh Brothers Construction of New Orleans. The eastbound span will be repaired first, providing one lane of traffic in each direction.The contract requires work to be completed within 45 days. The second phase of the work will result in repair of the westbound span which, along with the eastbound span, will provide two-lane traffic in each direction within 120 days.

The Department has secured more than 1,639 trucks to support the delivery of more than 3,731 truckloads of goods, including more than 25 million MREs (meals ready to eat), more than 31 million liters of water, 56,400 tarps, more than 19 million pounds of ice and 215,000 blankets.

DOT has also deployed teams from the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to help clear roads and inspect bridges, establish communications and increase operations at major airports, and to move generators to pipeline pumping stations to restore the flow of petroleum products to the southeast.

Department of Treasury - The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced special relief for taxpayers in the Presidential Disaster Areas struck by the hurricane. These taxpayers generally will have until October 31 to file tax returns and submit tax payments. The IRS will stop interest and any late filing or late payment penalties that would otherwise apply. This relief includes the September 15 due date for estimated taxes and for calendar-year corporate returns with automatic extensions.

Several thousand IRS telephone operators are helping the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) answer telephone calls from Hurricane Katrina victims calling to register for disaster assistance.

The IRS has also established a separate toll-free number for Katrina victims with tax issues. That number is 1-866-562-5227.

Office of The Comptroller of the Currency - The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is working with federal and state banking agencies and other organizations to support the operations and recovery of national banks in the affected region, to support citizens, and to ensure the safety and soundness of available banking resources. Questions regarding national bank issues can be directed to 1-800-613-6743, or by e-mail at: customer.assistance@occ.treas.gov. Additional information for bankers and bank customers is available at http://www.occ.gov/katrina.htm.

The Office of Thrift Supervision has setup a toll-free hotline for thrift institutions and their customers affected by Hurricane Katrina. Call (1-800-958-0655) between the hours of 8:00am to 5:30pm CST, Monday to Friday. The Office of Thrift Supervision is the primary regulator of all federally chartered and many state-chartered thrift institutions, which includes savings banks and savings and loan associations.

Department of Veterans Affairs - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has successfully evacuated the most critically ill patients from the VA medical center in New Orleans . V A officials are establishing procedures for family members to locate inpatients evacuated from the affected facilities. Officials are also finalizing procedures for veterans from the hurricane area to receive benefits checks and prescription drugs, and to ensure that VA employees continue to be paid.

Mobile clinics are now open in South Mississippi and Louisiana to provide medical treatment to veterans displaced by Hurricane Katrina. For more information about the mobile clinics, veterans can call 1-800-949-1009 ext. 6004. Veterans currently enrolled in a standing VA clinic that is operational should continue to seek treatment at that clinic.

Environmental Protection Agency - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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 and Habitability Assessment issued 9/17 identifies a number of barriers to be overcome and critical decisions to be made prior to reinhabiting New Orleans.

The EPA has temporarily waived standards for gasoline and diesel fuels in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida under the Clean Air Act. Waivers have also been sent to the Governors of the 46 remaining states and territories providing temporary relief from volatility and sulfur standards.

These waivers will ensure that fuel is available throughout the country to address public health issues and emergency vehicle supply needs. They will be effective through September 15 and only apply to volatility standards - the rate at which fuel evaporates - and the amount of sulfur in fuel.

EPA, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, is posting 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.

EPA continues assessment of damage to local drinking systems and providing technical assistance to help restore service in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. As of 9/19, EPA has determined that 522 of the facilities in Louisiana are operational, 26 are operating on a boil water notice and 135 are either inoperable or their status is unknown. In the Mississippi affected area, there are a total of 1,368 drinking water facilities that served approximately 3,219,690 people. EPA has determined that 1,207 of these facilities are operational, 118 are operating on a boil water notice and 43 are either inoperable or their status is unknown. In the Alabama 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 emergency and response personnel are helping assess the damage and prepare to support cleanup in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. Teams are traveling to affected areas and conducting aerial assessments.

Federal Communications Commission is facilitating continuing service for customers of wireline carriers that are unable to provide service due to Hurricane Katrina. The Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau has adopted an order that temporarily waives certain carrier change requirements. This will allow affected carriers to temporarily transfer customers to those carriers with working facilities while restoration efforts are under way, with minimum inconvenience and burden on customers.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is working cooperatively with all of the state and federal banking agencies and other organizations to determine the status of the financial institutions located in the affected areas and has established a 24-hour consumer hotline and a dedicated web page that includes bank branch information for FDIC-insured institutions in damaged areas. This and other information for consumers and bankers is available on the FDIC Web site (link above) or by calling the FDIC's toll-free Call Center at 1-877-ASK-FDIC (1-877-275-3342).

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has pledged vigilant oversight of tight winter natural gas supplies to prevent market manipulation and increased prices. FERC has also released a natural gas price situation report. It has also granted permission to reroute 300,000 Mcf of natural gas shut in by the Hurricane Katrina to ease natural gas supplies.

General Services Administration - The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has updated links to Web sites with useful information for victims of the hurricane and interested citizens on the federal government's official portal, www.FirstGov.gov and its Spanish-language counterpart, FirstGov.gov en Español .

GSA has also been providing supplies and services to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the interagency community in support of the relief effort for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

GSA hotlines are available to federal customers 24/7 in the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina allowing them to access information related to buildings, products, services, technology, or other relevant issues. For Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Kentucky the number is: (404) 224-2222; for Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico the number is: (817) 978-2210. Customers may also send an e-mail to actiongsa@gsa.gov.

National Archives and Records Administration - is offering expedited services to provide federal civilian and military personnel affected by Hurricane Katrina with necessary copies of documents. NARA is also offering document recovery advice to federal agencies and courts in the region devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Office of Personnel Management - The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will establish an emergency leave transfer program to assist federal employees affected by Hurricane Katrina. OPM has also implemented expedited procedures for replacing monthly retirement annuity checks not received.

OPM has set up a new toll-free number for current and retired Federal employees and annuitants who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina to answer questions about health insurance, life insurance, status on paychecks, retiree annuity payments, and disability issues. The toll-free number, 1-800-307-8298, is available between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Central Time.

The Peace Corps, in response to a request from FEMA, has deployed close to 200 Crisis Corps Volunteers in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to assist victims with their applications for federal aid. The Peace Corps continues to provide Crisis Corps Volunteers as resources to FEMA in the affected areas.

Small Business Administration - Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace the primary residence. Loans of up to $40,000 are available to renters and homeowners to cover losses to personal property like clothing, appliances and furniture. The interest rate is 2.68 percent with 30 year terms and the loans are aimed at covering losses not fully covered by insurance.

Businesses of all sizes may apply for an SBA disaster loan of up to $1.5 million to cover damages to the property, machinery, inventory, etc. Economic injury disaster loans may be used to pay bills or meet operating expenses. The interest rate on both the SBA business disaster loans are 4 percent, with up to 30 year terms.

To qualify for any kind of federal assistance, residents and business owners in the disaster areas must contact FEMA first at 1-800-621-FEMA. For more information on SBA's disaster loan program call 1-800-659-2955 or visit the Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster.

The Social Security Administration has issued 30,000 checks to evacuees who are not able to receive their monthly benefits, whether by mail or direct deposit. Beneficiaries can go to any open Social Security office and receive an immediate payment by check that replaces the full amount of their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment.

Social Security is providing immediate payments and other vital services to the affected areas and to evacuees in other locations through temporary offices at evacuation centers, and FEMA Family Assistance Centers.

The U.S. Postal Service - Delivery service has been restored to 86% of affected Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana addresses, with full service available at 427 Post Offices and partial service at 53 Offices. More than 100,000 households of affected residents have filed a Change of Address. Also during the last week, the Postal Service has distributed more than 30,000 Social Security checks to residents at mobile locations in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Corporation for National and Community Service is providing relief and recovery efforts to those affected by the hurricane. Over 12,000 AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Special Volunteer Program in Homeland Security participants have been involved. The Corporation runs the Hurricane Resource Center for the USA Freedom Corps, which links groups of volunteers to service opportunities. For more information on how groups or organizations can volunteer, visit www.usafreedomcorps.gov/katrina/orgs_place.asp. The USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network links potential volunteers with opportunities to serve both in the immediate hurricane area and in communities around the country.

The Corporation joined with the ABC's “Good Morning America” and the Salvation Army to adopt and rebuild the Gulf Coast town of Pass Christian, Miss. AmeriCorps members have already removed 355 tons of brush and debris, helped local residents empty their homes of water-damaged property, and reopened the town’s remaining school.

American Red Cross - Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, the Red Cross has provided hurricane survivors with more than 3.3 million overnight stays in nearly 1,100 shelters across 27 states and the District of Columbia. More than 187,000 Red Cross disaster relief workers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have responded to their neighbors in need. People looking for loved ones can call toll-free 1-877-LOVED-1S (1-877-568-3317) or online at Family Links.

The Red Cross relies on donations of the American people to do its work. Citizens can help by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669) or by making an online contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund at www.redcross.org.

Link to Reference: U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

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Highlights:
- Coastal Impacts Hurricane Impact Studies
- Satellite Imagery and other Geospatial Data USGS Landsat 7 Satellite Images
- Additional USGS Hurricane Information

The U.S. Geological Survey continues to mobilize equipment and personnel to gather the scientific data and information on the impact of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.

USGS scientists will be:
• Collecting satellite imagery to assess the impact on wetlands, coasts, and changes in the elevation
• Collecting water samples to determine the water quality in areas where there has been significant salt water intrusion
• Marking and flagging high-water marks to document flooding and storm surge
• Repairing and replacing damaged streamgages to restore flood warning capabilities
• Collecting aerial photography and video to document the impact on the coast and wetlands
• Using airborne laser mapping systems (LIDAR) to quantify coastal changes

 Coastal Impacts
Hurricane Impact Studies
• Hurricane Katrina Impact Studies
• Hurricane Rita Impact Studies
• Hurricane Wilma Impact Studies
• Prehurricane Survey of Raccoon Island, Louisiana
• Post-Hurricane Flight on Barrier Islands and shoreline

Satellite Imagery and other Geospatial Data
USGS Landsat 7 Satellite Images
• Katrina Remote Sensing Clearinghouse
• Rita Remote Sensing Clearinghouse
• Wilma Remote Sensing Clearinghouse
• Geospatial One-Stop—Data and Imagery of the Affected Areas (Katrina)
• Geospatial One-Stop—Data and Imagery of the Affected Areas (Rita)
• The National Map Spotlight: Hurricane Katrina
• Elevation Data

News Releases
• DOI News Release—USGS Geospatial Science Helps Pinpoint New Orleans Flood Victims
• Katrina Rolls Barrier Island Landward—Shown by Airborne Laser Mapping Images
◦ Dissolve animations created by NASA that illustrate how
major storm events can impact and change coastal areas
• USGS Reports New Wetland Loss from Hurricane Katrina in Southeastern Louisiana
• USGS Providing Humanitarian and Scientific Aid in Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
• USGS Releases Aerial Video of Coastal Impacts From Biloxi, Miss. To Chandeleur Islands, La.
• Aerial Photos Depicting Before and After Coastal Impacts From Hurricane Katrina Available on USGS Web Site
• USGS Providing Humanitarian and Scientific Aid in Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
• Media Advisory: USGS Issues Alert of Landslide Dangers from Hurricane Rita

Monitor Streamflow Conditions as Hurricane Rita Moves Inland

Texas
• Real-Time Streamflow Conditions (NWISWeb)
• Map Comparing Real-Time and Historical Streamflow Conditions (WaterWatch)
• Map of the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast Region Potentially Affected by Hurricane Rita, with Labeled Coastal Storm Surge Stream-Gaging Stations

Louisiana
• Real-Time Streamflow Conditions (NWISWeb)
• Map Comparing Real-Time and Historical Streamflow Conditions (WaterWatch)

Publications
• Bacteriological Water Quality in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, Louisiana, Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, September 2005
• Geologic Framework and Processes of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin
• Environmental Atlas of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin
• Coastal Erosion and Wetland Change in Louisiana: Selected USGS Products
• Sea-level Rise and Subsidence: Implications for Flooding in New Orleans (PDF)
• Houston-Galveston Bay Area, Texas, From Space—A New Tool for Mapping Land Subsidence

Additional USGS Hurricane Information
• Hurricane Katrina Special Features (National Wetlands Research Center)
• Hurricane and Extreme Storm Impact Studies
• Overview of Hurricane Katrina, August 24-31, 2005 (Word - 239 K)
• Water Watch—Current Water Resources Conditions
• USGS Activities in Texas—Hurricane Rita Information

Federal Resources
• How to Get Help
• Donate and Volunteer
• Finding Friends and Information
• Health and Safety
• What Government is Doing
• En Espanol

Link to Reference: Mississippi Business Journal Online, November 14, 2005

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Highlights:
- completed a water quality study along major bay systems on the Mississippi Gulf Coast following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that shows few chemicals of concern in bays and rivers where samples were taken.
- Overall, the sampling data show that few water quality criteria were exceeded during the study. In areas where elevated contamination levels
- encompassed major bay systems on the Mississippi Gulf Coast including Bangs Lake, Bayou Casotte, Pascagoula and West Pascagoula River systems, Back Bay of Biloxi, St. Louis Bay and Pearl River.

MISSISSPPI GULF COAST — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ have completed a water quality study along major bay systems on the Mississippi Gulf Coast following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that shows few chemicals of concern in bays and rivers where samples were taken.

The study looked for any serious short-term problems with water quality. EPA and MDEQ specifically targeted areas with the greatest potential for environmental harm because of the proximity to industrial or municipal areas.

Overall, the sampling data show that few water quality criteria were exceeded during the study. In areas where elevated contamination levels were found, EPA and MDEQ will continue to evaluate the need for additional site-specific studies to determine if there are any further adverse environmental impacts. Samples collected show bacteria concentrations at or below levels EPA considers suitable for swimming. To determine if there may be any long-term effects of the hurricane, additional data will be collected and compiled with existing data.

The study encompassed major bay systems on the Mississippi Gulf Coast including Bangs Lake, Bayou Casotte, Pascagoula and West Pascagoula River systems, Back Bay of Biloxi, St. Louis Bay and Pearl River. The full report is available at http://www.epa.gov/region4/sesd/reports/2005-0926.html/.
Testing results by state, county or testing site can be viewed by using EnviroMapper at http://www.epa.gov/enviro/katrina/emkatrina.html/ .

Link to Reference: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Communication

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Highlights:
- Findings released today suggest that, despite expectations that hurricane-related flooding in New Orleans could cause uniformly high concentrations of fecal bacteria in Lake Pontchartrain, water samples from sites in and around the lake commonly were within limits acceptable for recreational waters.
- Concentrations in samples they collected in the third and fourth week after passage of Hurricane Katrina commonly were less than U.S. EPA criteria for E. coli and enterococci in fresh or marine waters and also met the Louisiana DEQ standard for fecal coliform bacteria.
- The report, "Bacteriological Water Quality in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, Louisiana, Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, September 2005," by Donald M. Stoeckel and others, USGS Data Series 143, is available online at http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/ds143/

In response to public concern for the water quality of Lake Pontchartrain following Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is conducting intensive studies of water, sediment, and seafood quality of Lake Pontchartrain.

Findings released today suggest that, despite expectations that hurricane-related flooding in New Orleans could cause uniformly high concentrations of fecal bacteria in Lake Pontchartrain, water samples from sites in and around the lake commonly were within limits acceptable for recreational waters.

These results represent a first round of testing following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Louisiana DEQ is continuing to monitor bayous along the north side of Lake Pontchartrain, areas found to be ‘hot spots’ in samples collected immediately following Hurricane Rita.

USGS scientists measured fecal-indicator bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli), enterococci, and fecal coliforms over a 3 week period. These indicator bacteria are not themselves pathogens, but scientists monitor for them because they are useful indicators of fecal contamination and the possible presence of pathogens. Concentrations in samples they collected in the third and fourth week after passage of Hurricane Katrina commonly were less than U.S. EPA criteria for E. coli and enterococci in fresh or marine waters and also met the Louisiana DEQ standard for fecal coliform bacteria. A week later, following the passage of Hurricane Rita, concentrations at several tributary sites were well above the criteria and standard, while concentrations in the lake remained generally below or near those limits.

Scientists collected water samples at 22 sites—including most inflows to the lake, sites within the lake, and the major outflows to the Gulf of Mexico by way of Lake Borgne and the Mississippi Sound. Nineteen of the sites are routinely sampled as part of the Louisiana DEQ ambient monitoring network. Corresponding data on water temperature, specific conductance (a measure of salinity), pH, and dissolved oxygen also were collected at each site at the time of sampling.

The scientists were especially interested to find the highest concentrations of fecal contamination in north shore tributaries rather than in the south shore canals that carried flood water from New Orleans into Lake Pontchartrain. Dennis Demcheck, the USGS hydrologist at Baton Rouge, La., who led the sampling effort, attributed this to a "settling pond" effect in New Orleans, which held flood waters during the weeks prior to pumping them back into Lake Pontchartrain.

The study included an extensive quality-control data set, and that data set largely indicates satisfactory analytical performance, even though scientists were working out of a mobile lab in less than ideal field conditions. These results are intended to help in completing the regional Interagency Environmental Assessment underway by USGS, U.S. EPA, NOAA and FDA.

The report, "Bacteriological Water Quality in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, Louisiana, Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, September 2005," by Donald M. Stoeckel and others, USGS Data Series 143, is available online at http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/ds143/

Link to Reference: Mike O'Toole, Washington File Staff Writer, 11/4/05

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Highlights:
- Marine life mostly intact; swift response reduces effects of contaminants
- able to pump out nearly 850 billion liters of water in 43 days, effectively “drying out” the city.
- MARINE LIFE FREE OF CONTAMINANTS, HAZARDOUS WASTE REMOVED

Marine life mostly intact; swift response reduces effects of contaminants
Washington – Much of the environmental damage feared in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina appears to have been avoided, in part due to the swift response of several U.S. government agencies.

In the city of New Orleans, which suffered massive flooding after levees holding back adjoining Lake Pontchartrain broke on August 29, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was able to pump out nearly 850 billion liters of water in 43 days, effectively “drying out” the city.

At the same time, the U.S. Coast Guard, working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, used equipment to scoop up spilled oil and other debris, thereby limiting the effects of contamination.

As of October 28, the Coast Guard said more than 30 million liters of petroleum were spilled in the Gulf of Mexico and adjoining waters due to Katrina. The Coast Guard estimates, however, that only about 17 kilometers of shoreline were affected.

The spilled oil was estimated to have affected fewer than 200 animals; many were recovered, cleaned and released by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel.

MARINE LIFE FREE OF CONTAMINANTS, HAZARDOUS WASTE REMOVED

On October 11, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that its sample tests of Gulf of Mexico fish showed no levels of the E. coli bacteria associated with human or animal fecal contamination.

An October 4 study showed no levels of oil contamination and very low levels of pesticides or industrial chemicals "that are likely not related to hurricane runoff," according to NOAA.

White shrimp, harvested in the Mississippi Sound running into the Gulf, also showed no elevated levels of contaminants, NOAA said.

The EPA announced on October 31 that more than 450,000 kilograms of household hazardous waste -- home cleaning products, lawn and garden pesticides and herbicides, fuel, paint, batteries -- had been collected in Louisiana in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Link to Reference: ScienceDaily.com, Source: Harvard Medical School, 2005-11-03

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Highlights:
- The Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, along with co-sponsors Swiss Re and the United Nations Development Programme, today released a study showing that climate change will significantly affect the health of humans and ecosystems and these impacts will have economic consequences.
- The study reports that the insurance industry will be at the center of this issue, absorbing risk and helping society and business to adapt and reduce new risks.
- A comparable event would be the aftermath of flooding, contamination and homelessness witnessed after Hurricane Katrina hit the US Gulf coast in August.

The Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, along with co-sponsors Swiss Re and the United Nations Development Programme, today released a study showing that climate change will significantly affect the health of humans and ecosystems and these impacts will have economic consequences. The study, entitled "Climate Change Futures: Health, Ecological and Economic Dimensions," surveys existing and future costs associated with climate change and the growing potential for abrupt, widespread impacts. The study reports that the insurance industry will be at the center of this issue, absorbing risk and helping society and business to adapt and reduce new risks.

"We found that impacts of climate change are likely to lead to ramifications that overlap in several areas including our health, our economy and the natural systems on which we depend," said Dr. Paul Epstein, the study's lead author and Associate Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School. "A comparable event would be the aftermath of flooding, contamination and homelessness witnessed after Hurricane Katrina hit the US Gulf coast in August. Analysis of the potential ripple effects stemming from an unstable climate shows the need for more sustainable practices to safeguard and insure a healthy future."

The CCF study is comprised of three primary elements: trends, case studies and scenarios, which detail and analyze current climate change related consequences for human health, ecological systems and the global economy. Through two potential scenarios, the CCF report examines possible impacts of climate change that may impose severe strains on the financial sector.

"As a reinsurance company, our goal is to evaluate and plan for the long-term." said Jacques Dubois, Chairman of Swiss Re America Holding Corporation. The parent company, Swiss Re, is a leading global reinsurance company and a co-sponsor of the study. Dubois continued, "Swiss Re has an ongoing effort to focus on potential economic impacts of climate change. This study adds to this by helping to review areas of increased vulnerability to climate change from a unique perspective. Whereas most discussions on climate change impacts hone in on the natural sciences, with little to no mention of potential economic consequences, this report provides a crucial look at physical and economic aspects of climate change. It also assesses current risks and potential business opportunities that can help minimize future risks."

There are 10 case studies within the report, written by scientific experts, that outline current effects of climate change with regard to infectious diseases such as malaria, West Nile virus, Lyme disease and asthma; extreme weather events such as heat waves and floods; and ecosystems such as forests, agriculture, marine habitat and water. Economic implications as well as possible near-future impacts are projected for each case.

The study shows that warming and extreme weather affect the breeding and range of disease vectors such as mosquitoes responsible for malaria, which currently kills 3,000 African children a day, and West Nile virus, which costs the US $500 million in 1999. Lyme disease, the most widespread vector-borne disease, is currently increasing in North America as winters warm and ticks proliferate. The study notes that the area suitable for tick habitat will increase by 213% by the 2080s. The report also finds that ragweed pollen growth, stimulated by increasing levels of carbon dioxide, may be contributing to the rising incidence of asthma.

Charles McNeill, Environment Programme Manager for the United Nations Development Programme, a co-sponsor of the study, pointed out that these costs will fall disproportionately on developing nations. "While developed nations are not immune to the impacts of climate change, those populations that are already struggling with myriad social challenges will bear the greatest brunt of climate change," said Dr. McNeill.

Background

The CCF project stemmed from a common concern of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, Swiss Re and the United Nations Development Programme. This concern was centered on the emerging threats to health from climate change and the implications of diseases of humans and Earth's life-support systems for economies and development. Unique aspects of the study include:
• Integration of corporate stakeholders in the assessment process
• Combined focus on physical, biological and economic impacts
• Anticipation of short-term impacts, rather than century-scaled projections
• Scenarios of plausible futures with gradual and step-wise change
• A framework to deal with and plan for climate-related surprise impacts

In September 2003, a Scoping Conference for the CCF project was held at the United Nations in New York and involved more than 80 participants from multiple scientific disciplines, corporations, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations. Through the initial deliberations, follow-up workshops and teleconferences, a set of case studies and impact scenarios was developed.

In June 2004, a conference and Executive Roundtable were held at Swiss Re's Centre for Global Dialogue near Zurich, Switzerland. This gathering expanded the reach of the project to include more representatives from the financial sector, allowing deeper exploration of the links between health, environmental and economic consequences of the changing climate. Risks and opportunities were addressed, as were policies and measures commensurate with the magnitude of the possible futures envisioned.

In August 2004, a follow-up workshop was facilitated to standardize the methodology for the case studies and scenarios. The resulting study was released today at the American Museum of Natural History.

Link to site: Tests of white shrimp samples collected the week of September 12 from Mississippi Sound found no elevated contaminants.

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Highlights:
- samples were tested for hydrocarbon exposure due to oil spills or urban runoffs and other contaminants, such as PCBs and DDTs.
- Analyses found PCB levels below five parts per billion (ppb) and DDT levels below two ppb, which were within U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines for consumption. FDA guidelines allow PCB levels of 2,000 ppb and DDT levels of 5,000 ppb.
- Analyses also found low levels of hydrocarbons in the shrimp, less than 15 ppb. In addition, analyses showed no detectable level of brominated flame retardants (PBDEs) in the shrimp samples.

Susan Buchanan, NOAA Fisheries Service, Oct. 26, 2005
NOAA announced today that tests of white shrimp samples collected the week of September 12 from Mississippi Sound found no elevated contaminants. The agency collected 23 samples of white shrimp from Mobile Bay to Lake Borgne two weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf coast. The samples were tested for hydrocarbon exposure due to oil spills or urban runoffs and other contaminants, such as PCBs and DDTs.

Analyses found PCB levels below five parts per billion (ppb) and DDT levels below two ppb, which were within U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines for consumption. FDA guidelines allow PCB levels of 2,000 ppb and DDT levels of 5,000 ppb.

Analyses also found low levels of hydrocarbons in the shrimp, less than 15 ppb. In addition, analyses showed no detectable level of brominated flame retardants (PBDEs) in the shrimp samples.

NOAA tested samples of shrimp that were caught prior to hurricane Katrina and found similarly low levels of toxins. The agency previously announced that analyses of water, sediment, crab samples and fish tissue also collected during the week of September 12 found no elevated contaminants or bacteria.

NOAA scientists currently are analyzing the second round of samples collected from the Gulf of Mexico during the week of September 26. Agency scientists returned to port on October 17 after collecting the third round of samples aboard a chartered shrimp trawler, the Patricia Jean. Scientists collected samples from areas that most likely would be affected by delayed releases of toxic substances, such as the mouth of the Mississippi River and the western Mississippi Sound where water from Lake Pontchartrain enters the Gulf of Mexico.

NOAA will continue to collect and test samples at least through the end of the year to monitor for any environmental change over time.

The NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving the nation's living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management and enforcement. The NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA Hurricane Katrina Environmental Impacts

NOAA Fisheries Service

Media Contact:
Susan Buchanan, NOAA Fisheries Service, (301) 713-2370

Link to site: Flood water sampling

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Highlights:
- EPA is carrying out extensive sampling of standing flood waters in the City of New Orleans.
- EPA is ensuring coordination of data between federal, state, and local agencies and will routinely release data as soon as it is available

Flood water sampling
EPA is carrying out extensive sampling of standing flood waters in the City of New Orleans. The Agency follows a quality assurance process that ensures that the data is thoroughly reviewed and validated. This process is being used for all data received as part of the emergency response. EPA is ensuring coordination of data between federal, state, and local agencies and will routinely release data as soon as it is available.

* Boil water - To kill major water-borne diseases, bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute. Boil 3 minutes at elevations above 5280 ft (1 mile or 1.6 km).

* What to do about water from household wells after a flood . Do not turn on the pump - danger of electric shock. Do not drink or wash with water from the flooded well. More info. General info about household wells.

* Dehydration (extreme thirst) can be life-threatening in older adults. Make sure older adults have enough good drinking water and are drinking it. Older adults risk dehydration because they may feel thirsty less, because of medications, or due to physical conditions that make it difficult to drink. More information about dehydration risks in older adults.

* EPA and HHS Urge Caution in Areas Exposed to Contaminated Flood Water - guidelines for those in contact with flood water. Flood water test results...

For water and wastewater facilities
* Suggested post-hurricane activities - to help facilities recover from severe weather conditions.
* National Emergency Resource Registry (https://www.swern.gov/) - Register if you have resources to help water utilities recover from Katrina.

Link to site: Early government tests show Gulf waters are clean enough for people to go swimming and eat some seafood, but submerged storm debris means people should still stay away

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Highlights:
- We didn't have any identifiable releases of large amounts of industrial contamination
- have not had any rainfall since Hurricane Katrina and that we will likely see some spikes of contamination when we begin to get some normal rainfall back here.
- it is too soon to tell whether seafood had been dangerously contaminated.


By Mike Keller, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.
Oct. 27--Early government tests show Gulf waters are clean enough for people to go swimming and eat some seafood, but submerged storm debris means people should still stay away, according to officials.

"We didn't have any identifiable releases of large amounts of industrial contamination," said Phil Bass, spokesman for the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. "But I also want to remind everybody that we basically have not had any rainfall since Hurricane Katrina and that we will likely see some spikes of contamination when we begin to get some normal rainfall back here."

The first group of water-quality tests came back showing certain types of bacteria below government limits for recreation, but officials cautioned it is too soon to tell whether seafood had been dangerously contaminated.

"All 20 monitoring stations tested showed at this time that the water was appropriate for what is referred to as primary contact recreation," said Ben Grumbles, spokesman for the Environmental Protection Agency. "While this is encouraging for recreational uses, this data should not be used to assess the safety of consuming raw or undercooked molluscan shellfish such as oysters."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration completed its first round of chemical tests on seafood from Mobile Bay to Louisiana waters.

Steve Murawski, an NOAA spokesman, said that contaminants are "far below" government limits in the 23 shrimp samples they analyzed. He said that NOAA scientists would continue to check seafood until they are confident that no contaminants are creeping into coastal waters and seafood.

"We'll be monitoring because some of the contaminants may take a while to work their way out into the ocean environment," he said.

Government researchers monitoring the health of Gulf waters have been looking closely for chemicals called brominated fire retardants, which are indicators of chemicals washing off of urban areas.

In what seemed to be an attempt to quell potential fears of seafood consumers, Don Kraemer, a spokesman for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency responsible for monitoring the safety of commercial seafood, said there were two reasons not to be worried.

"One, because the waters which were impacted from the hurricane remain closed to the harvest of oysters and other molluscan shellfish," he said. "On the other side, of crab, shrimp and fin fish, none of the analytical results to date show contamination at or above levels of concern of any of the contaminants that have been tested."

MDEQ's Bass added: "We're happy to report that some of our oysters and even some of our shrimping is back in operation."

Link to site: today EPA announced the quality assured test results from water samples collected by the OSV Bold in the Gulf.

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Highlights:
- EPA's initial assessment is now complete and sample analysis is currently proceeding as planned. Additional results of water, sediment and fish tissue analysis will be released as the data become available.
- The data being released today is available at: http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/water/index.html#surface

Contact: Eryn Witcher, 202-564-4355 / witcher.eryn@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C.-Oct. 21, 2005) In ongoing efforts actively to provide information to the public about activities surrounding Hurricane Katrina recovery, today EPA announced the quality assured test results from water samples collected by the OSV Bold in the Gulf.

"Today's water sampling results are an important part of the large-scale, collaborative effort to monitor the hurricane's impact on water in the Gulf," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, assistant administrator for the Office of Water. "Our ship, the OSV Bold, is a floating laboratory that has been used in this cooperative response, providing a vehicle for shared testing and analysis."

EPA announced the first pathogen indicator data collected by the EPA vessel. This data was collected from Sept. 27 through Oct. 2, 2005 at monitoring stations in the river channels and nearshore waters surrounding the Mississippi Delta. The agency monitored 20 areas to determine whether fecal pollution from flooded communities had spread into these waters.

All 20 monitoring stations tested showed that at the time the water was appropriate for primary contact recreation--including swimming. While this is encouraging for recreational uses, this data should not be used to assess the safety of consuming raw or undercooked molluscan shellfish--such as oysters-- because accidental ingestion of water presents different risks than eating raw or undercooked shellfish.

The analyses performed aboard the OSV Bold tested for Enterococcus and Clostridium perfringens. Today's results are from Enterococcus only as the Clostridium analysis requires additional time. At four stations, Enterococcus was detected from 10 to 53.1 per 100 ml --- which is below the marine water standard of 500 per 100 ml and the freshwater standard of 151 per 100 ml.

EPA's initial assessment is now complete and sample analysis is currently proceeding as planned. Additional results of water, sediment and fish tissue analysis will be released as the data become available.

The OSV Bold is a scientific survey vessel 224 feet long and 43 feet wide that collects oceanographic data in waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. The Bold initiated monitoring and assessment surveys for EPA in August 2005 and will serve as the principal platform for this multi-agency effort to assess the near-shore environmental and human health impacts of Hurricane Katrina. The data being released today is available at: http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/water/index.html#surface and information about EPA's survey vessel the Bold is available at: http://www.epa.gov/bold

Release date:10/21/2005

Link to site: Individuals and communities will likely be faced with correcting the subsequent contamination of private as well as public water supples

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Highlights:
- National Environmental Services Center offers numerous free and low-cost products to help individuals and communities learn more about emergency preparedness, emergency response, and potential health effects of water contamination.
- Free from the National Drinking Water Clearinghouse:
- From the National Small Flows Clearinghouse

In light of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation of coastal areas of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, restoring clean drinking water to the many destroyed small communities is a job almost beyond comprehension. Although less horrendous, much of the inland areas of these states and others have also been affected by flooding. Individuals and communities will likely be faced with correcting the subsequent contamination of private as well as public water supples. It is also imperative that individuals with contaminated private wells and springs contact their local health departments for more information and assistance.

To aid in this effort, the National Environmental Services Center offers numerous free and low-cost products to help individuals and communities learn more about emergency preparedness, emergency response, and potential health effects of water contamination. When requesting these materials, please give the product number listed before each item.

Free from the National Drinking Water Clearinghouse:
DWFSPE57—Emergency Disinfection of Water Supplies
DWBLOM05—Shock Chlorination of Wells and Springs
DWFSPE204—Water for Emergency Use
DWBLMG69—Response Protocol Toolbox: Planning and
responding to drinking water contamination
threats and incidents
DWPKOM59—Emergency Response Planning Pack (ERPP)
DWBLPE58—Water Testing
DWBLPE97—Water Testing Scams
DWFSPE140—Bacteriological Contamination of Drinking Water
DWBLPE183—Mycrobacteria: Drinking Water Fact Sheet
DWBLPE112—Interpreting Drinking Water Quality Analysis:
What do the numbers mean?
DWCDMG64—Emergency Response Tabletop Exercises for
Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems

From the National Small Flows Clearinghouse:
SFPLNL30—How to keep your Water “well” $0.40
SFPLNL06—Wastewater treatment protects small
community life, health $0.40
GNBKGN12—Community-based environmental protection—
A Resource Book for Protecting Ecosystems and Communities (Book on CD-Rom) $10.00
SFPLNL11—Basic wastewater characteristics $0.40

From the National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities:
TRBLGN25—Emergency Response Planning Resources for
Small Water and Wastewater Utilities $2.55
TRBLGN26—Emergency Response Plan Guidance for Small
and Medium Community Systems $8.00
TRPMCD62—Due Diligence—Small Water System Security $32.00
TRPMCD56—Preparing for the Unexpected: Security for
Small Water Systems $39.80
TRBKMG03—Protecting Your Community’s Assets: A Guide
for Small Wastewater Systems $15.00
TRCDMG05—(CD-Rom Version) $10.00

To order any of these publication, please contact NESC at (800) 624-8301, e-mail info@mail.nesc.wvu.edu, or fax to (304) 293-3161. If you have questions, our technical staff is available to help you with your water and wastewater needs.

Link to site: Using the Map

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Highlights:
- This map displays the States impacted by the Hurricane Katrina (Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama). These States were also impacted by Hurricane Rita.
- offering maps and aerial photos that can be used to locate EPA and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality sampling sites.
- There are five ways to find the area you want:

Using the Map
This map displays the States impacted by the Hurricane Katrina (Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama). These States were also impacted by Hurricane Rita. However, sampling of flood water and sediment occurred only in Louisiana in the Parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany. To view all of the sampling results, search by Louisiana. To view a smaller subsection of the results search by one of the Parishes listed above or by locations within one of these Parishes.

There are five geographically-based selection options to help you zoom into areas of interest. Each option essentially does the same thing, offering maps and aerial photos that can be used to locate EPA and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality sampling sites. In addition, the "By Facility" option has the potential to zoom to a point closer to or exactly on individual EPA regulated facilities. Some views allow you to select or de-select layers of information such as street names, water bodies, etc.
There are five ways to find the area you want:
1 By Zip, City, County, State: Enter your zip code or the nearest city or county for selected state and click the "Zoom To" button to go to interactive map of your general area.

2 By Address: Enter the complete address of the structure and then click the "Zoom To" button to go to interactive map of your structure.

3 By Facility: Enter the Facility Name or Identification Number and then select a database. Next click the "Zoom To" button to go to interactive map of your facility.

4 By Watershed: This may require you to click on the hyper linked titles and go to the corresponding USGS page in order to obtain the necessary information.

5 By Latitude/Longitude: You will need to enter coordinates in either Decimal Degrees (DD) or Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS) format. Click "Zoom To" to go to the set of coordinates that were entered.


Once you've entered the search criteria for any of the options, click the "Zoom To" button.

Link to site: Water and sediment samples, collected two weeks ago off Panama City by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Department of Environmental Protection, revealed little environmental impact from Hurricane Katrina in that area

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Highlights:
- Hurricane Rita's path affected surface currents in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and likely mixed the post-Katrina plume water substantially, which would essentially dilute concentrations of soluble contaminants
- samples from seven stations along a 30-mile transect from nearshore seaward to depths up to 49 meters. At each location, scientists took water samples at the surface and bottom. They also collected sediment samples, except from the nearshore site.
Panhandle, Florida - Water and sediment samples, collected two weeks ago off Panama City by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Department of Environmental Protection, revealed little environmental impact from Hurricane Katrina in that area.

There was no indication that Mississippi River water had moved alongshore into the Florida Panhandle.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also is assessing the oceanography and water quality of the Gulf of Mexico.

The federal agency recently completed a sampling transect from the Dry Tortugas to the Florida Panhandle, and more measurements and water sampling will take place in the northern Gulf Oct. 6-16.

The federal agency's south Florida program will modify its regular field study to sample the southeastern Gulf thoroughly a few days later.

A series of oceanographic drifters -- floating devices that collect temperature, speed and direction information -- already are deployed in the Gulf for this purpose and to improve the hurricane forecast estimates.

More are planned for the coming weeks.

In conjunction with satellite data, models and the data collected by partner agencies, these data will yield more accurate assessments of downstream risks to Florida.

More recently, Hurricane Rita's path affected surface currents in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and likely mixed the post-Katrina plume water substantially, which would essentially dilute concentrations of soluble contaminants.

State agencies sampled the Panama City area, looking for signs of initial storm water damage to coastal Gulf ecosystems from the Mississippi River and elsewhere in Mississippi and Louisiana.

They collected samples from seven stations along a 30-mile transect from nearshore seaward to depths up to 49 meters. At each location, scientists took water samples at the surface and bottom. They also collected sediment samples, except from the nearshore site.

Link to site: NOAA Office of Response and Restoration will be on the scene for a year or more responding

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Highlights:
- more than a thousand pollution reports have been received along the coastal waters of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
- positioning NOAA-trained "Scientific Support Teams" in each of the joint federal-state agency command posts
- how to deal with numerous sunken or grounded vessels which may be carrying potential pollutants

NOAA Magazine, NOAA Home Page Oct. 6, 2005 — Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have passed, but the NOAA Office of Response and Restoration will be on the scene for a year or more responding to the challenges faced in cleaning up the hazardous chemical and oil spills generated by the storms' destructive powers. "In terms of over-all impact, these two hurricanes have created the largest incidents to which NOAA has ever responded," notes David Kennedy, director of the NOAA Office of Response and Restoration.

As a consequence of Katrina and Rita, more than a thousand pollution reports have been received along the coastal waters of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. This includes five designated as major (spills greater than 100,000 gallons) and five classified as medium (spills between 10,000 and 50,000 gallons). Prioritizing oil spills in the region is vital. It is likely that the long-term affects to the heavily populated Gulf Coast will be tremendous.

NOAA, along with the EPA, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard, has been working, since the passage of the hurricanes, to assist in coordinating response and restoration efforts by positioning NOAA-trained "Scientific Support Teams" in each of the joint federal-state agency command posts established in Alexandria and Baton Rouge Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; Austin and Houston, Texas.

The NOAA teams, including staff from the NOAA's Office of Coast Survey and the National Geodetic Survey, provide a broad range of scientific and technical expertise and data. This information has been useful to the U.S. Coast Guard in making determinations of where and when to open navigational passageways to both emergency and commercial traffic.

Even before Katrina hit land, NOAA employees were preparing for its effects. NOAA's Scientific Support Coordinators provided critical infrastructure assessments, discussed possible points of impact and began pre-storm staging of critical personnel in the region. (Click NOAA image for larger view of oil slick seen from a NOAA helicopter in Breton Sound, La., after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. Click here for high resolution version. Please credit “NOAA.”)

In addition to personnel expertise, NOAA has been applying the latest technology in assisting officials making critical determinations on when responders can enter potentially dangerous areas. Through coordinated use of remote sensing and aerial photography, NOAA field teams have been able to produce maps of flooded areas as well as situation maps of pollution incidents and salvage operations.

One of the innovative technologies being applied is combining LIDAR (airborne laser used to measure topography) and satellite imagery to create maps of flooding in New Orleans. NOAA is assisting in tracking the progress in removing water from the flooded areas, as well as identifying location of contaminant spills and condition of critical energy industry infrastructure through various mapping techniques.

NOAA is conducting a systematic review of the petroleum facilities from the Galveston area on the west to as far east as Pensacola, Fla. Nearly 25 percent of the nation's oil and gas resources come from the region. NOAA's scientific support teams will be advising the U.S. Coast Guard on ways to control and clean up spills throughout the region, and ensuring that additional damage to the environment does not occur during the clean-up.

Among the other challenges facing responders is how to deal with numerous sunken or grounded vessels which may be carrying potential pollutants. Priority will be given to salvage efforts dealing with those posing the greatest pollution and navigational threats. (Click NOAA image for larger view of boats washed ashore in Bayou La Batre, Ala., after Hurricane Katrina roared across the U.S. Gulf Coast. Click here for high resolution version. Please credit “NOAA.”)

NOAA efforts reflect a federal response aimed at restoring the economic lifeline of the region. A NOAA-sponsored National Ocean Economics Program study, using 2003 Bureau of Labor statistics, shows that in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama 59 percent of the employment in the natural resource and mining sector, which includes oil and gas production, comes from the 80 counties most severely impacted by the storm.

"The NOAA commitment to the region will be long-lasting," notes William Conner, chief of the NOAA Hazardous Materials Response Division. "We have people in the impact zone and around the country working seven days a week to support and evaluate hazardous material spills."

Once spills are identified, prioritized and clean-up begins, NOAA's second response component begins as the NOAA Damage Assessment and Restoration Program, created after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, begins its work.

The program provides permanent expertise within NOAA to assess and restore natural resources injured by oil and hazardous substance releases as well as physical impacts, such as ship groundings.

DARP brings a multidisciplinary team of biologists, economists, attorneys, and policy analysts to work with other designated federal and state co-trustees to assess and quantify injuries; develop and evaluate restoration alternatives and implement restoration projects.

"The scope of the damage in the area is enormous," says Pat Montanio, chief of the NOAA Damage Assessment Center. "NOAA and its fellow trustees will need to assess both the short-term and long-term impacts to the sensitive ecosystems along this valuable coastline. As that process moves forward, we will make the determinations necessary, with both state and public input and guidance, on how best to proceed in restoring this environment with projects that will benefit both their communities and the natural resources of the region."

The Office of Response and Restoration is part of the NOAA Ocean Service, which is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation's coasts and oceans. The NOAA Ocean Service balances environmental protection with economic prosperity in fulfilling its mission of promoting safe navigation, supporting coastal communities, sustaining coastal habitats and mitigating coastal hazards.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.

Link to site: Teams collected sediment samples at 10 locations in St. Bernard Parish and six locations in lower Plaquemines Parish

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Highlights:
- Bacteriological analyses of individual private well water supplies in the Livingston area and drinking water from public water systems in Kinder have begun
- Flood water was sampled
- inspect area drinking water systems

Household hazardous waste collection efforts continue in three parishes (St. Tammany, Jefferson, Lafourche Parishes).  Additional programs are planned for Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes as soon as staging locations can be identified and approved by local officials.   Currently, 13 additional Parishes including Beauregard, Cameron, Vermillion, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, Iberia, Lafayette, Assumption, Terrebonne, Acadia, St. Mary, St. James, and St. Charles are scheduled to create household collection programs.

Teams collected sediment samples at 10 locations in St. Bernard Parish and six locations in lower Plaquemines Parish. Bacteriological analyses of individual private well water supplies in the Livingston area and drinking water from public water systems in Kinder have begun and will continue for several weeks. Teams collected five outfall water samples and recorded water quality readings at pump stations in Plaquemines Parish.

Flood water was sampled in the lower 9th Ward in Orleans Parish and Orleans Parish canals as part of our on-going water quality assessment program.  EPA and Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals continue to inspect area drinking water systems.  Of the 1,591 public water supply systems damaged by hurricanes in Louisiana: 1,151 are operating without a boil water advisory; 186 are operating under boil water advisories; 82 are not operating, 13 remain closed, and additional information is needed from 159 systems.

EPA and LDEQ completed 38 inspections of sites in southwest Louisiana.  Teams inspected 14 facilities, including wastewater treatment plants, in Tangipahoa and Lafourche parishes.  Underground storage tank teams conducted reconnaissance at 32 facilities.

Link to site: Fish samples collected from coastal and offshore marine waters of the Gulf of Mexico two weeks after Hurricane Katrina show no elevated exposure to contaminants related to oil

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Highlights:
- NOAA will continue to collect and test samples over the next two months to monitor for changes due to releases of contaminants and as water is once again pumped out of the streets of New Orleans after floods caused by Hurricane Rita.
- Results from the first limited round of tests show that the water quality and fish in the Gulf of Mexico do not now indicate an elevated presence of hydrocarbons due to oil.
- collect samples from shallower waters of the Mississippi Sound and into Lake Pontchartrain


Sept. 29, 2005 — Fish samples collected from coastal and offshore marine waters of the Gulf of Mexico two weeks after Hurricane Katrina show no elevated exposure to contaminants related to oil, announced NOAA. These results are just one part of contaminant testing of Gulf water and fish currently underway at NOAA. Additional results on potential exposure to bacteria, pesticides and other toxic chemicals will be available within days, and additional testing on shrimp samples from Mississippi Sound is ongoing.

NOAA will continue to collect and test samples over the next two months to monitor for changes due to releases of contaminants and as water is once again pumped out of the streets of New Orleans after floods caused by Hurricane Rita.
"As people in the Gulf region begin to rebuild their lives and return to work, NOAA will continue to monitor the effects of the hurricanes on seafood and coastal water safety," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher Jr., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "Results from the first limited round of tests show that the water quality and fish in the Gulf of Mexico do not now indicate an elevated presence of hydrocarbons due to oil. We expect to have results from pesticide and chemical tests in the coming days."

NOAA's environmental impact research is part of a government-wide effort to keep the American people safe and to help stabilize the region's economy in the aftermath of the Gulf hurricanes. The area is known for its valuable seafood production and coastal way of life.

Agency scientists conducted the research cruise aboard the NOAA research vessel Nancy Foster September 13 to 16. The vessel sailed from Pensacola, Fla., along the coastlines of Alabama and Mississippi, and then around the southern tip of Louisiana at the mouth of the Mississippi River and back. During the cruise, oceanographers, toxicologists and microbiologists collected water, fish and sediment samples to determine whether Hurricane Katrina resulted in elevated levels of contaminants in the ocean.

"We will continue to monitor the environment and fish and shellfish to assure the public that the seafood supply is healthy," said Bill Hogarth, director of NOAA Fisheries Service.

The samples were flown to one of NOAA's premier toxicology labs in Seattle, Wash., as soon as the ship returned to port in Pensacola on Friday, Sept. 16. Last week, the samples were prepared and tested for a variety of chemical contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic compounds, which are typically absorbed by marine life in areas impacted by oil spills. The samples also were tested for a number of harmful bacteria, and the results of those tests will be made available as soon as the analyses are complete.

NOAA also has contracted with the owner of the Patricia Jean, a commercial shrimp vessel, to collect samples from shallower waters of the Mississippi Sound and into Lake Pontchartrain. NOAA scientists aboard the Patricia Jean will continue to collect water, fish and sediment samples. Both the Patricia Jean and the Nancy Foster are in the Gulf of Mexico conducting follow-up surveys this week.

NOAA also is conducting a comprehensive analysis of fishing infrastructure damage caused by the hurricanes. The agency has teams surveying the region's fishing fleets, seafood processing plants, fish markets and bait shops. The survey will take months to complete, although NOAA will release preliminary information as it becomes available.

NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.

Link to site: Scientists and research centers from across the country came together to generate information on the contaminated floodwaters and offer it to hazardous materials experts and public health officials.

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Highlights:
- developing forecasts that will predict the circulation of those foul waters
- three-dimensional computer program that can be used to model water levels and flow.


CHAPEL HILL -- In the immediate wake of Hurricane Katrina, scientists and research centers from across the country came together to generate information on the contaminated floodwaters and offer it to hazardous materials experts and public health officials.

In a matter of hours, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Marine Sciences Program and Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI), together with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), played a key role in that effort by providing rapid-response computing and modeling capability.

Floodwaters containing organic and chemical pollutants such as sewage and oil still cover swaths of Mississippi and Louisiana. To aid cleanup, researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL), along with UNC faculty, have been developing forecasts that will predict the circulation of those foul waters.

A group of researchers, including Drs. Richard Luettich and Brian Blanton, marine scientists in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences, has developed a three-dimensional computer program that can be used to model water levels and flow. This program, "ADCIRC," is what experts call a hydrodynamic code. Previously, the code was used largely for after-the-fact analyses of coastal circulation, but researchers now believe it can help produce answers during a crisis.

Blanton and Luettich, assistant research professor and professor of marine sciences, respectively, knew that to simulate the required 60 days of water velocity and water surface elevation they would need more computational power then they had at the university. They asked UNC’s Dr. Daniel A. Reed for help -- based on their NOAA--funded collaboration with RENCI -- to establish a computational system with Web access for rapid-response forecasting to severe weather.

Reed is Chancellor’s Eminent professor and vice chancellor for information technology at UNC. North Carolina’s 2005-06 budget includes $5.9 million in new funding for RENCI, a collaboration of UNC, Duke and NC State that is based on the Chapel Hill campus and run by Reed. RENCI is slated to receive $11.8 million in recurring funding thereafter.

"If we had a month to do these runs, we could do them on our desktop computers or on a small cluster, but to do it literally overnight requires some horsepower," Blanton said.

Reed, former director of NCSA, connected Blanton and Leuttich with NCSA, the National Science Foundation-supported supercomputing center located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Using NCSA’s Xeon system, a state-of-the-art parallel computer called Tungsten, the researchers were able to complete the required computational runs in about 15 hours, from midnight on Sept. 11 to mid-afternoon on Sept. 12.

"This is a prelude to the capabilities RENCI and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will provide to North Carolina, as we deploy our own large-scale computing infrastructure and continue to build disaster-response collaborations with North Carolina experts," Reed said. "With state support, we are now building world-class capability for interdisciplinary research, technology transfer, economic development and engagement across North Carolina."

Researchers at CSDL, with assistance from Luettich and Blanton, are working to integrate information provided by the computational calculations with NOAA’s North American Mesoscale Model, the primary weather forecasting model used by the National Weather Service, to simulate wind speed, direction and other weather factors. Their goal is to provide daily forecasts of coastal circulation and pollutant concentrations in the Katrina-affected region, information that will be vital as cleanup efforts and recovery continue.

The two also have extended their work with RENCI, Reed and colleagues to analyze various aspects of last weekend’s Hurricane Rita and its effects in Texas and Louisiana.

"We are trying to be prepared and generate reliable information that the hazardous materials experts will need to have," said CSDL scientist Jesse Feynen. "We're doing that, and we're doing it quickly."

Link to site: Overall Hurricane Response

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Highlights:
- Sediment Sampling
- Debris Assessment and Collection
- Superfund Sites
- Drinking Water Assessment
- Wastewater

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 - All field activities have been on stand down due to Hurricane Rita. Activity will resume in the Tammany Parish. EPA is conducting air monitoring at debris burn sites in Louisiana. EPA teams continue collection of household hazardous wastes (HHW) and orphan containers in the hurricane affected area. In addition, EPA personnel 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 Katrinea 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). EPA plans to sample the Agriculture Street Landfilll site on Sunday, weather conditions permitting.

Rapid Needs Assessment-Katrina - EPA and LDEQ are coordinating to develop schedules on how to look at NPL sites, including the Malone Services and Jasper Creosote sites. The schedule is to be completed by end of day Sunday, 9/25.

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 9/22, EPA has determined that 534 of these facilities are operational, 19 are operating on a boil water notice and 130 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.

Link to site: EPA Biological and Chemicl testing

Return to: watercenter.org sciencefaircenter.com watercenter.net

Highlights:
- Biological testing: total coliforms and E. coli
- Chemical testing
- Additional information

Biological testing: total coliforms and E. coli
EPA, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, is collecting and analyzing biological pathogen data. Flood water sampling data for biological pathogens from Sept. 3 on are being posted as they become available. To date, E. coli levels remain greatly elevated and are much higher than EPA’s recommended levels for contact. Based on sampling results, emergency responders and the public should avoid direct contact with standing water when possible. In the event contact occurs, EPA and CDC strongly advise the use of soap and water to clean exposed areas if available. Flood water should not be swallowed and all mouth contact should be minimized and avoided where possible. People should immediately report any symptoms to health professionals. The most likely symptoms of ingestion of flood water contaminated with bacteria are stomach-ache, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Also, people can become ill if they have an open cut, wound, or abrasion that comes into contact with water contaminated with certain organisms. One may experience fever, redness, and swelling at the site of an open wound, and should see a doctor right away if possible.
More information about fecal coliform and E. coli
Test results
Biological testing Sep. 3-10, 2005

Chemical testing
EPA in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality performed chemical sampling of New Orleans flood waters for over one hundred priority pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), total metals, pesticides, herbicides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Flood water sampling data for chemicals are being posted from September 3, 2005 on as they become available. The data has been reviewed and validated through a quality assurance process to ensure scientific accuracy.

Test results
Flood water results for September 14, 2005 indicate that hexavalent chromium was found in twelve samples and that arsenic was found in one sample slightly above the drinking water action level. However ATSDR/CDC conclude that exposures at these levels during response activities are not expected to cause adverse health effects. Phenol and cresols were also detected. EPA and CDC do not feel that there is ingestion exposure to flood water, as long as there is no inadvertent ingestion (e.g.,from splashing).

Flood water results for September 13, 2005 indicate that hexavalent chromium was found in twelve samples and one sample contained cadium and lead at levels above the drinking water action levels, however ATSDR/CDC conclude that exposures at these levels during response activities are not expected to cause adverse health effects. Arsenic was found in four samples at levels that slightly exceeded the drinking water action level. Trace levels of organic acids, phenol, cresols, and metals associated with salt water were also detected. EPA and CDC do not feel there is ingestion exposure to flood water, as long as there is no inadvertent ingestion (e.g., from splashing).

Floodwater results for September 12, 2005 indicate that hexavalent chromium is present, however according to ATSDR/CDC's calculations the exposures at these levels in flood waters during response activities would not be expected to cause adverse health effects. Selenium and lead were detected at levels greater than the drinking water MCLs. EPA and CDC do not feel that there is ingestion exposure to flood water, as long as there is no inadvertent ingestion (e.g., from splashing).

Floodwater results for September 11, 2005 indicate that hexavalent chromium is present but not at levels that would pose a risk to human pose a public health concern. Total chromium was also detected but at levels below the drinking water MCL. EPA and CDC do not feel that there is ingestion exposure to flood water and therefore do not believe there is a public health concern associated with these chemicals.

Floodwater results for September 10, 2005 indicate that one sample contained lead at a concentration above the drinking water action level. EPA and CDC do not feel that there is ingestion exposure to flood water and therefore do not believe there is a public health concern associated with lead. Hexavalent chromium was detected in five samples, but not at levels that would pose a risk to human health as flood water is not being ingested as drinking water. Trace levels of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyaceticacid (an herbicide) were detected in some samples but are not of public health concern.

Floodwater results for September 9, 2005 indicate that one sample contained lead at a concentration above the drinking water action level. EPA and CDC do not feel that there is ingestion exposure to flood water and therefore do not believe there is a public health concern associated with lead. Hexavalent chromium was detected in nine samples but not at levels that would pose a public health concern as flood water is not being ingested as drinking water.

Floodwater results for September 8, 2005 indicate that fourteen samples contained lead above the drinking water action level. Hexavalent chromium and total chromium were detected in most of the samples. One sample contained benzidine. EPA and CDC do not feel that there is ingestion exposure to flood water and therefore do not believe there is a public health concern associated with these chemicals in the flood water.

Floodwater results for September 7, 2005 indicate that three samples contained lead above the drinking water action level, twelve samples contained arsenic at levels above the drinking water MCL, and one sample contained benzene, likely associated with petroleum products, above the drinking water MCL. EPA and CDC do not feel that there is ingestion exposure to flood water and therefore do not believe there is a public health concern associated with these chemicals. Hexavalent chromium and total chromium were detected in most of the samples but not at levels that would pose a public health concern as flood water is not being ingested as drinking water. Trace amounts of cresols were also detected, but not at unsafe levels.

Floodwater results for September 6, 2005: Arsenic and lead were detected at levels which exceed EPA drinking water standards. These compounds would pose a risk to children only if a child were to drink a liter of flood water a day. Long-term exposure (a year or longer) to arsenic would be required before health effects would be a concern. Hexavalent chromium was detected, but not at levels exceeding EPA drinking water standards. Thallium was detected at one sampling location and while levels are slightly elevated, they are 10 times lower than levels at which there would be a health effect.

Floodwater results for September 5, 2005: Results from the chemical analyses of the data collected did not reveal any contaminants that exceeded EPA drinking water standards. Minerals commonly found in sea water along with trace levels of organic acids, phenols, and sulfur chemicals were detected.

Floodwater results for September 4, 2005: Lead was detected at levels which exceed EPA drinking water standards. Lead would pose a risk to children only if a child were to drink a liter of flood water a day.

Floodwater results for September 3, 2005: Lead was detected at levels which exceed EPA drinking water standards. Lead would pose a risk to children only if a child were to drink a liter of flood water a day.

Additional information

Additional information regarding health and safety issues for both the public and emergency responders can be found on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Web site and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Web site.

Link to site: statistical glance at the Katrina environmental cleanup

Return to: watercenter.org sciencefaircenter.com watercenter.net

Highlights:
- 140,000 square miles of waterways and coastal zones, including 6,400 miles of shoreline.
- 1,369 drums, 679 tanks, 979 cylinders, 17 fuel cells, 5,735 other containers, 718,216 gallons of fuel removed, and 49,000 gallons of oil/water recovered.
- Cases of hazardous materials and oil pollution - 575.


The Associated Press, September 24. 2005
A statistical glance at the Katrina environmental cleanup:
Area covered - 140,000 square miles of waterways and coastal zones, including 6,400 miles of shoreline.
Debris collected in Alabama and Mississippi - 1,369 drums, 679 tanks, 979 cylinders, 17 fuel cells, 5,735 other containers, 718,216 gallons of fuel removed, and 49,000 gallons of oil/water recovered.
Sunken or damaged vessels assessed in the two states - 400.
Cases of hazardous materials and oil pollution - 575.
Environmental threat in Louisiana - 7.4 million gallons of oil discharged from tank storage plants - most of it recovered - with 11 major or medium spills.

Source: Coast Guard's Gulf Strike Team, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and state environmental agencies.

Link to site: Ocean Circulation Group

Return to: watercenter.org sciencefaircenter.com watercenter.net

Highlights:
- Katrina Current Tracking Tool
- Daily Wind Field


Ocean Circulation Group Check out these graphic models.
Loop Current trajectories: 14 September Movie
*** Revised version of 14 September movie (20 September 2005) ***
*** Revised version of 14 September movie (23 September 2005) ***

Loop Current trajectories: 7 September Movie
*** Revised version of 7 September movie (20 September 2005) ***
*** Revised version of 7 September movie (23 September 2005) ***

Wind Field Movie

Link to site: Hazardous medical waste and industrial chemicals

Return to: watercenter.org sciencefaircenter.com watercenter.net

Highlights:
- Drums full of hazardous medical waste and industrial chemicals float
- Millions of gallons of oil have spilled from refinery storage tanks
- hazardous waste site — an old New Orleans landfill — is submerged

DINA CAPPIELLO, 2005 Houston Chronicle

Drums full of hazardous medical waste and industrial chemicals float in the tainted floodwaters. As the water recedes, it leaves behind a sludge so laden with petroleum that federal officials are having trouble analyzing it. Millions of gallons of oil have spilled from refinery storage tanks. And at least one hazardous waste site — an old New Orleans landfill — is submerged, increasing the risk that chemicals buried long ago could escape.

These are the early signs of the environmental destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina, a storm that struck one of the most industrial and polluted areas of the country when it made landfall on the Gulf Coast. Along the hurricane's path sat 31 hazardous-waste sites and 466 facilities handling large quantities of dangerous chemicals. What impact — if any — the storm had on these areas is still being analyzed by the hundreds of personnel deployed, including those aboard mobile laboratories and in air-pollution-scanning aircraft.

"This is the largest natural disaster that we believe the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and nation has faced," EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson said during a media briefing Wednesday.

"We are concerned about the water, we are concerned about the land, but we are also concerned about the air," he said.

"It is certainly a volume problem," he said referring to the debris, "but in other cases, it is a hazardous materials problem that needs to be dealt with."

Reaction to the report
The briefing was the grimmest and most comprehensive picture of the hurricane's toll on the environment offered by the EPA since the storm struck 2 1/2 weeks ago .

The status of the air, water and soil in the affected areas will help determine when it will be safe for people to return. Already, the agency has issued advisories warning people not to wade in or drink the floodwaters based on early tests that found it contained high concentrations of bacteria and the toxic metal lead.

Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said the briefing he got Wednesday from the EPA was a "a grave and sobering assessment."

"We heard that the degree of environmental damage is considered catastrophic," Jeffords said.

Among the developments revealed Wednesday:

•More recent tests on floodwaters detected a new suite of chemicals, including hexavalent chromium, a chemical used in metal plating, and arsenic, which is used to treat wood.
•More than 5,000 containers, containing everything from gas to medical waste, have been collected.
•The EPA has instructed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use booms to prevent the oil and gasoline floating on top of the water from entering canals, the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain. Aerators — blowing oxygen in the water — have been set up in some canals to help fish breathe.
•On flights over the area, officials detected the industrial chemical chloroacetic acid leaking from a 55-gallon drum, a gas-well fire and numerous oil spills and sheens, although monitoring detected no chemicals above federal workplace standards.

Link to site: Extensive sampling of standing flood waters

Return to: watercenter.org sciencefaircenter.com watercenter.net

EPA is carrying out extensive sampling of standing flood waters in the City of New Orleans. The Agency follows a quality assurance process that ensures that the data is thoroughly reviewed and validated. This process is being used for all data received as part of the emergency response. EPA is ensuring coordination of data between federal, state, and local agencies and will routinely release data as soon as it is available.

Biological testing: total coliforms and E. coli

The samples are being analyzed for total coliforms and E. coli. These bacteria are commonly found in high numbers in the feces of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Finding total coliforms and E. coli in a water sample indicates the potential presence of pathogens and therefore a risk of illness or infection by being exposed to the feces-contaminated water. EPA and CDC have agreed that examining water samples for pathogens, such as Vibrio cholera, Shigella, E.coli 0157 or Salmonella would not be useful at this time.

More specifically, pathogens will not be determined at this time because:
• Pathogens are difficult to grow in the laboratory, especially in highly contaminated surface waters.
• Finding one pathogen will not predict the risk from other pathogens.
• Finding pathogens in standing water will not affect how imminent risk is presented to the public or how decisions are made.
• Wastewater from a large population is expected to contain enteric pathogens, therefore, identifying the presence of fecally-contaminated water will give a broader risk perspective than detecting specific pathogens.

The sampling effort devoted to measuring total coliforms and E. coli will be more effective if a large number of samples are tested and the results are applied to warning the public about risks associated with contact with contaminated floodwaters.

Based on the sampling, emergency responders and the public should avoid direct contact with standing water when possible. In the event contact occurs, EPA and CDC strongly advise the use of soap and water to clean exposed areas if available. Flood water should not be swallowed and all mouth contact should be minimized and avoided where possible. People should immediately report any symptoms to health professionals. The most likely symptoms of ingestion of flood water contaminated with bacteria are stomach-ache, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Also, people can become ill if they have an open cut, wound, or abrasion that comes into contact with water contaminated with certain organisms. One may experience fever, redness, and swelling at the site of the infection and should see a doctor right away if possible.

Test results Biological testing Sep. 3-10, 2005

Chemical testing

EPA in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality performed chemical sampling of New Orleans flood waters for over one hundred priority pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), total metals, pesticides, herbicides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Concentrations of lead in the flood water exceeded EPA drinking water action levels. These measured levels are a concern if flood water were to be a child's source of drinking water.

Flood water sampling data for chemicals from September 4 and September 6, 2005 are now available for public review. Data from September 5 is now undergoing review and validation. The data will be posted as soon as this process is complete. Hexavalent chromium and arsenic, in addition to lead which was previously detected on September 3rd, were detected at levels which exceeded EPA drinking water standards. These compounds would pose a risk to children only if a child were to drink a liter of flood water a day. Long-term exposure (a year or longer) to arsenic would be required before health effects would be a concern. Thallium was detected at one sampling location and while levels are slightly elevated, they are 10 times lower than levels at which there would be a health effect.

Based on the sampling, emergency responders and the public should avoid direct contact with standing water when possible. In the event contact occurs, EPA and CDC strongly advise the use of soap and water to clean exposed areas if available. Flood water should not be swallowed and all mouth contact should be minimized and avoided where possible. People should immediately report any symptoms to health professionals. The most likely symptoms of ingestion of flood water contaminated with bacteria are stomach-ache, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Also, people can become ill if they have an open cut, wound, or abrasion that comes into contact with water contaminated with certain organisms. One may experience fever, redness, and swelling at the site of the infection and should see a doctor right away if possible.

Additional information regarding health and safety issues for both the public and emergency responders can be found on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Web site (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.asp) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Web site (http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricaneRecovery.html).

Test results
Chemical testing Sep. 3, 2005
Chemical testing Sep. 4, 2005
Chemical testing Sep. 6, 2005

Link to site: First rounds of biological and chemical water sampling

Return to: watercenter.org sciencefaircenter.com watercenter.net

EPA News Release - September 14, 2005
EPA and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (http://www.deq.state.la.us/) have posted the results of the first rounds of biological and chemical water sampling.  The data has been reviewed and validated through a quality assurance process to ensure scientific accuracy.  

Biological sampling data from Sept. 3-10 are available at http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/water.html.  Chemical sampling data from Sept. 3, 4 and 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/water.html#chem.  Chemical sampling data from Sept. 5 is now undergoing review and validation.  

Environmental screening data from EPA's ASPECT aircraft is available at http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/air.html.  Data produced by ASPECT is non-validated and used by EPA and other agencies for screening purposes to assess immediate environmental hazards.  Information and data from ASPECT analyses are forwarded to personnel on the ground who evaluate the data and request follow-up air monitoring, if warranted.

EPA and CDC are working together to identify potential hazards that workers may be exposed to in the flood area.  EPA has requested that Federal Occupational Health physicians be deployed in New Orleans and St. Tammany Parish to assist workers by issuing prescriptions and monitoring workers for health effects.  OSHA will provide a team to assist with worker health monitoring.

EPA water sampling teams collected samples at 11 outfall locations and five floodwater locations yesterday.  LDEQ contractors conducted standard water quality and fecal coliform sampling in Lake Pontchartrain and selected Bayous.  The United States Public Health Service has taken the lead for sampling water and sediments for biological contaminants.  

EPA and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/) continue to assess drinking water systems and provide technical assistance to help restore safe drinking water to affected communities.  More than 400 drinking water systems are now operational.  Thirty-six drinking water systems are operational with boil water advisories.  

An EPA Mobile Lab is stationed in St. Tammany Parish offering support to residents with private wells that have been flooded.  Residents can bring samples directly to the Mobile Lab for testing.

Responders are assessing the area's wastewater facilities.  More than 82 percent of major municipal wastewater facilities are operational.  More than 29 percent of major industrial wastewater facilities are operational.  

EPA and contractors have collected more than 9700 containers of household hazardous waste/orphan containers in Mandeville, Slidell and St Tammany Parish.

Two teams completed reconnaissance of the Bayou Bonfouca, Southern Shipbuilding, Madisonville Creosote Works, Agriculture Street landfill, and Delatte Metals NPL sites.  The Bayou Bonfouca site was secure but the pump and treat system was non-operational.  Visual investigation of the capped on-site landfill indicated that the cap was not damaged and appeared to be in good condition.  The Southern Shipbuilding site was secure, but closed.  Teams are working to contact the current owner for access and to further assess the site's condition.  The Agricultural Street landfill site is underwater and inaccessible to the reconaissance teams.  EPA will perform an overflight assessment.  The Madisonville Creosote Works treatment facility appeared to be in good condition.  The decontamination pad was intact and in good condition.  At Delatte Metals, the smelting and concrete structures sustained no visible damage.

LDEQ is monitoring ambient air quality using summa canisters.  EPA Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) units conducted air quality monitoring in Orleans Parish and at the outfall near the USCG station in Metairie.  Passive air monitoring devices will be distributed to EPA staff working in hurricane-affected areas.  EPA and OSHA will develop a plan to measure air monitoring results from the individual pasive air monitoring devices worn by sampling teams.

EPA's joint field operations with state officials are ongoing.  The EPA and State of Louisiana Joint Incident Management Team is operating 24 hours a day at the emergency center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Following facts highlight efforts

Link to site:

Return to: watercenter.org

Office of the Press Secretary
September 10, 2005

Federal support to state and local officials and volunteer organizations continues around the clock in an effort to save lives, sustain life, and assist with law enforcement operations in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. The following facts highlight some of the important activities and approximate numbers as of 4 p.m.:

- Lives Saved (rescues performed) -- 49,700
- People housed in shelters -- 208,000
- FEMA responders -- 8,900
- U.S. Coast Guard personnel -- 4,000
- National Guard personnel -- 50,800
- Active Duty Military -- 20,000
- MREs provided (meals) -- 21.3 million
- Water provided (liters) -- 49.2 million

The Department of Labor has established toll-free number (1-866-4-USA-DOL) and a Web site, www.dol.gov (Department of Labor’s Hurricane Recovery Assistance Page); to help evacuees file unemployment insurance claims and access temporary and permanent job information.

The Coast Guard has established a forward operating base in Baton Rouge, LA, to coordinate pollution response efforts with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the state of Louisiana, and local industries. The Coast Guard is responding to over 150 pollution reports.

EPA in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality posted data from New Orleans flood water samples. The data has been reviewed and 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 -- www.epa.gov. Daily sampling is ongoing and EPA, in coordination with federal, state and local agencies will continue to release data as it becomes available.

Floodwater samples tested for total coliforms and E . Coli bacteria

Link to site:

Return to: watercenter.org

Introduction

Floodwater samples across the New Orleans area were collected and tested for total coliforms and E . Coli bacteria. Results of these tests indicated bacteria levels in the floodwaters greatly exceeded EPA's recommended levels of contact.

Using EPA approved methodology specifically designed to test for coliform and E . Coli (Colilert-18 test kits), bacterial concentration levels of over 2400 coliform bacterial colonies were detected in all samples collected. These levels of E. Coli were detected in all but two samples collected. EPA recommends “safe” levels for coliforms to be below 200 bacterial colonies per sample and for E. Coli below 126 colonies per sample for recreational contact from swimming, fishing, or wading.

Since these samples were found contaminated far beyond EPA's recommend level of human contact, it was determined that no useful information relative to the degree of hazard to public health could be gained from further testing.

The data below is the first set of what will be an extensive amount of flood water sampling results. The samples were analyzed for both biological pathogens and chemicals. The biological data is presented here. Chemical data will be presented here as it becomes available (estimate: September 10th).

The data below is the first set of what will be an extensive amount of flood water sampling results. The samples were analyzed for both biological pathogens and chemicals. The biological data is presented here. Chemical data will be presented here as it becomes available (estimate: September 10th).

Data

Sample Number	Sample Date	Bacteria	Colonies/100ml
1	9/3/2005	E. Coli	39.7
1	9/3/2005	Total Coliform	>2419.6
2	9/3/2005	E. Coli	68.0
2	9/3/2005	Total Coliform	>2419.6
3	9/3/2005	E. Coli	>2419.6
3	9/3/2005	Total Coliform	>2419.6
4	9/3/2005	E. Coli	>2419.6
4	9/3/2005	Total Coliform	>2419.6
5	9/3/2005	E. Coli	1413.6
5	9/3/2005	Total Coliform	>2419.6
6	9/3/2005	E. Coli	461.1
6	9/3/2005	Total Coliform	>2419.6
7	9/4/2005	E. Coli	508.8
8	9/4/2005	E. Coli	1914.4
9	9/4/2005	E. Coli	>9678.8
10	9/4/2005	E. Coli	1252
11	9/5/2005	E. Coli	1145.5
12	9/5/2005	E. Coli	12718

 

Map of sampling locations

Chemical sampling of New Orleans flood waters

Link to site:

Return to: watercenter.org

EPA in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality performed chemical sampling of New Orleans flood waters for over one hundred priority pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), total metals, pesticides, herbicides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Concentrations of lead in the flood water exceeded EPA drinking water action levels. These measured levels are a concern if flood water were to be a child's source of drinking water.

Based on the sampling, emergency responders and the public should avoid direct contact with standing water when possible. In the event contact occurs, EPA and CDC strongly advise the use of soap and water to clean exposed areas if available. Flood water should not be swallowed and all mouth contact should be minimized and avoided where possible. People should immediately report any symptoms to health professionals. The most likely symptoms of ingestion of flood water contaminated with bacteria are stomach-ache, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Also, people can become ill if they have an open cut, wound, or abrasion that comes into contact with water contaminated with certain organisms. One may experience fever, redness, and swelling at the site of the infection and should see a doctor right away if possible.

Additional information regarding health and safety issues for both the public and emergency responders can be found on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Web site (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.asp) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Web site (http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricaneRecovery.html).

Chemical sampling map - September 3, 2005
Click the Links below for Test Results:
Site 1: West End Blvd Veterans Highway (I-10 and I-61)
Site 2: Airline Highway and Causeway Blvd
Site 3: North Claiborne Ave exit ramp (Exit 236B) off I-10
Site 4: Off I-10 near Exit 239 Louisa St and Almonaster Ave
Site 5: Off I-10 near Exit 240B Chef Menteur Highway (US Hwy 90)
Site 6: Off I-610 near Exit 2A between Paris St and St. Bernards St

EPA Test results from Sep.3-4-5, 2005

Link to site:

Return to: watercenter.org

EPA is carrying out extensive sampling of standing flood waters in the City of New Orleans. The Agency follows a quality assurance process that ensures that the data is thoroughly reviewed and validated. This process is being used for all data received as part of the emergency response. EPA is ensuring coordination of data between federal, state, and local agencies and will routinely release data as soon as it is available.

Biological testing: total coliforms and E. coli

The samples are being analyzed for total coliforms and E. coli. These bacteria are commonly found in high numbers in the feces of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Finding total coliforms and E. coli in a water sample indicates the potential presence of pathogens and therefore a risk of illness or infection by being exposed to the feces-contaminated water. EPA and CDC have agreed that examining water samples for pathogens, such as Vibrio cholera, Shigella, E.coli 0157 or Salmonella would not be useful at this time.

More specifically, pathogens will not be determined at this time because:
• Pathogens are difficult to grow in the laboratory, especially in highly contaminated surface waters.
• Finding one pathogen will not predict the risk from other pathogens.
• Finding pathogens in standing water will not affect how imminent risk is presented to the public or how decisions are made.
• Wastewater from a large population is expected to contain enteric pathogens, therefore, identifying the presence of fecally-contaminated water will give a broader risk perspective than detecting specific pathogens.

The sampling effort devoted to measuring total coliforms and E. coli will be more effective if a large number of samples are tested and the results are applied to warning the public about risks associated with contact with contaminated floodwaters.

Test results for Biological testing Sep. 3-4-5, 2005

Chemical testing

EPA in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality performed chemical sampling of New Orleans flood waters for over one hundred priority pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), total metals, pesticides, herbicides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Concentrations of lead in the flood water exceeded EPA drinking water action levels. These measured levels are a concern if flood water were to be a child's source of drinking water.

Based on the sampling, emergency responders and the public should avoid direct contact with standing water when possible. In the event contact occurs, EPA and CDC strongly advise the use of soap and water to clean exposed areas if available. Flood water should not be swallowed and all mouth contact should be minimized and avoided where possible. People should immediately report any symptoms to health professionals. The most likely symptoms of ingestion of flood water contaminated with bacteria are stomach-ache, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Also, people can become ill if they have an open cut, wound, or abrasion that comes into contact with water contaminated with certain organisms. One may experience fever, redness, and swelling at the site of the infection and should see a doctor right away if possible.

Additional information regarding health and safety issues for both the public and emergency responders can be found on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Web site (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.asp) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Web site (http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricaneRecovery.html).

Test results

Chemical testing Sep. 3, 2005