Local Corps staff helping in Katrina disaster recovery efforts

Three of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dworshak Project staff are on 30 day assignments to help with the disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

According to Paul Pence, Natural Resources manager, Mike Deitrick and Pete Summerton are working with debris removal and Anne Millard is working with administration of the recovery effort. Pence said there is a high probability that other local staff will also go to help.

In support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency the Corps of Engineers has been working with local, state and federal partners, to bring relief to the Gulf following Hurricane Katrina. More than 1,600 Corps employees are actively engaged in recovery efforts, and the numbers are increasing daily, according to a Corps news release.

With more than $2.9 billion in missions, the Corps is working closely with its government and contracting partners to meet the most urgent needs, including providing ice and water, temporary roofing, temporary housing, power assessment, and debris removal across the area impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, work continues to repair the levees around New Orleans and pump floodwater out of the city.

These missions are being performed in the affected areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The Corps released the following synopsis of the activities underway:

Un-watering and breach repair:
Working with the city of New Orleans and private contractors, the Army Corps of Engineers continues to make steady progress on pumping out floodwaters from the city of New Orleans and immediate vicinity. Through a system of existing and temporary pumps floodwaters are being pumped into Lake Ponchartrain. The number of pumps that are operational at any given time is continually changing.

Original estimates for completing the un-watering of the city have recently been revised. Several factors, such as no significant rainfall, strong easterly winds that have allowed the Lake Ponchartrain levels to recede lower than expected, the deliberate un-watering breaches or 'notches' have allowed flooded areas to drain faster and thus have improved the ability to acquire more pump capacity. The Corps estimates the overall un-watering effort will be completed in early to mid-October.

It is important to note that the un-watering effort will remove most, but not all the water. There will be some isolated pockets of water that will remain. However, these pockets of water should not hamper recovery efforts such as debris removal, structural assessments and restoration of critical services.

The fourth of four critical breaches at the 17th Street Canal and London Avenue Canal was closed Sept. 10. Auxiliary pumps and generators are operating at both locations.

Water and ice:
In Mississippi, more than 18,000 tons of ice and 8 million liters of water have been delivered to staging areas. In Louisiana, more than 15,000 tons of ice and 15 million liters of water have been delivered In Alabama, more than 6,000 tons of ice and 5 million liters of drinking water has been delivered.

Debris removal:
More than 270,000 cubic yards of debris has been removed thus far from areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. These numbers continue to increase daily.

Operation Blue Roof:
In Mississippi and Louisiana "Operation Blue Roof" is underway in several counties. The Operation Blue Roof program provides temporary plastic sheeting for roofs that were damaged during Hurricane Katrina. Over 3,000 requests for assistance have been received thus far. The program is underway and plastic sheeting is being placed on damaged roofs in the affected areas. It is estimated over 40,000 homes will need plastic sheeting.

Power Assessments:
In Mississippi, almost 200 power assessments have been completed, and 35 sites have power restored. Power assessment teams continue to work in New Orleans with 223 of 256 assessments completed.

Temporary Housing:
Housing needs continue to be identified daily. As of today, eight units have been leased, 80 units are ready for occupants, and 130 units have been identified.

Other missions:
In support of FEMA, the Corps of Engineers will be assessing and repairing public facilities (schools, libraries, fire stations, etc.) for the state of Louisiana. This mission is estimated at $200 million dollars.

The priority of the Corps is to support efforts to save lives and find people, sustain lives, and set conditions for recover.

The Army Corps of Engineers, in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provides disaster response assistance to the nation, working in concert with 30 federal departments, as well as, state and local governments.

For more information on the Army Corps of Engineers response to Hurricane Katrina, please visit our web site at www.usace.army.mil.