NOS Katrina and Rita Recovery Efforts in the Gulf Coast Region

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, NOS is conducting various recovery efforts, including contamination assessments, navigational surveys, aerial photography surveys, hazardous spill response, map and data analysis, and long-term recovery planning.

Contamination assessments

NOAA's National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program, part of the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, coordinated with multiple partners to develop a strategy to assess the environmental impacts of contaminants in Gulf coastal and estuarine waters in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Specifically, the NS&T Program is measuring contaminants in oyster tissue, sediments, and waters in the affected region.

 

Navigational surveys

The Office of Coast Survey (OCS) provided emergency hydrographic services for the port areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These services were performed by OCS's Navigation Response Teams (NRTs). Emergency services included performing side scan sonar surveying for updating U.S. Government Navigational Charts, conducting hazardous obstructions surveys (using diving operations), conducting electronic navigation capture, and providing data collection and mapping support capabilities.

 

Aerial photography surveys

NOAA's National Geodetic Survey conducted damage assessment flights and took thousands of aerial photographs of the affected areas following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Imagery was captured of the Gulf coast of Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina made landfall and, a few weeks later, of the coasts of Texas and Louisiana after Hurricane Rita came ashore.

 

Hazardous spill response

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) is providing scientific support to the hazardous materials response efforts along the Gulf coast. OR&R is working with partners to identify, assess, prioritize, and mitigate hazardous material problems, including multiple large pollution incidents in the Mississippi River delta region. OR&R is also providing guidance on vessel salvage, conducting shoreline cleanup assessments, and collecting information to understand natural resource impacts from spills in affected areas.

 

Maps and data analysis

Following Hurricane Katrina, the NOAA Coastal Services Center (CSC) used aerial images to generate maps and analyses, to help officials understand the effects of the hurricane.  These data products included recent pre-Katrina imagery and digital elevation data from a variety of sources; before and after imagery comparisons; and maps depicting ecological impacts, debris assessment, and wetlands loss along the Gulf coast. CSC also conducted analyses to determine the economic impacts of Hurricane Katrina.

 

Long-term Recovery Planning

The NOAA Coastal Services Center (CSC) and the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) are providing assistance in long-term recovery planning in areas of Louisiana impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Via assignment to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, several NOS staff are working with Louisiana parishes to develop coastal project plans, coordinating with other federal and state organizations involved in recovery planning, and assisting with the design and implementation of activities to involve local communities in planning for their own long-term recovery. This work included participation in the planning and staffing of Louisiana Recovery Planning Day on January 21, 2006. Key findings from the event are available in the Louisiana Recovery Planning Day State and Parish Report (pdf, 30 Mb).