EQ's Emergency Response to Hurricanes Katrina & Rita
Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita caused the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. Large portions of 36 Louisiana parishes, encompassing 30,855 square miles were inundated by 120+ mph winds, 30 foot storm surges, and flooding up to 15 feet in depth.
This has resulted in arguably the largest hazardous waste management project in U.S. history. Preliminary assessments estimated 22 million tons of debris; 200,000 homes requiring demolition; 350,000 abandoned automobiles; 1 million tons of abandoned white goods; 1,000 damaged underground storage tanks (USTs); and 60,000 abandoned/damaged boats in Louisiana.
Due to the sheer size of the damaged areas and the numbers of businesses and homes affected, more than 70 Federal, State, and local government agencies became involved in response and recovery efforts.
EPA’s Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractors have played a major role in the response and recovery efforts. As a Region 6 ERRS prime contractor, Environmental Quality Management (EQ) has provided skilled personnel and specialized equipment in support of these tasks under uniquely difficult conditions. In addition, EPA Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractors and USCG Basic Order Agreement (BOA) spill response contractors supported the Unified Command to implement its many responsibilities.
EQ responded with personnel, vehicles, and small-to-medium-sized rescue boats within 24 hours of EPA’s order to mobilize. The EQ and EPA hazardous waste staff joined fire fighters, police, and other first responders and rescued nearly 800 people in Louisiana during the first 2 weeks following Katrina.
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Additional Information on EQ's response and recovery efforts is available in the AWMA paper; Management of Hazardous Wastes during EPA’s Emergency Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Extended Abstract A#995, prepared by Jack S. Greber, President Environmental Quality Management.
