Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Emergency Response
U.S. Gulf Coast
- The Summary
- Employees from across the country are among the first disaster responders to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which hit the Gulf Coast within weeks of each other. They are two of the deadliest and most damaging hurricanes to ever strike the U.S.
- The Client
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- The Rundown
- Employees join in around-the-clock emergency response, concentrating on controlling numerous environmental hazards and health risks for several weeks after the devastating hurricanes. They also assist in search and rescue operations via boat, rescuing stranded evacuees. Other response activities include:
- Provide oversight and management of disaster Situation Units set up to oversee and report on on-the-ground activities.
- Perform ground, water and air quality testing to determine levels of contamination and identify environmental risks.
- Conduct site inspections of communities and facilities to assess environmental damage suffered from the storms.
- Assist in developing a strategy to mitigate human health and ecological risks through removal of contaminants from 2,500 facilities.
- Develop removal plans for toxic waste, including: hazardous chemicals, fuel and propane spills and mercury exposure.