Get documents about "Corps Outlines Hurricane Readiness Improvements
Document Sample
Task Force Hope Status Report May 17, 2007
Corps Outlines Hurricane Readiness Improvements
Upgrades include Corps of Engineers is a participant. Commander of the New Orleans Dis-
trict Corps of Engineers. “Starting at
new high-tech Chain of command
our Division Headquarters in Vicks-
On August 29, 2005, there was not a
communications and burg, Miss., to our command centers
clear chain of command in place for
here at the District and at Port Allen,
monitoring systems the cities and parishes, the state, the
we have back-
four levee dis-
up communi-
tricts, numer-
By Susan Spaht cations sys-
ous federal
tems to ensure
agencies and
T
he 2007 hurricane season is that we main-
other emer-
less than a month away and tain contact
gency re-
the New Orleans District with each
sponse organi-
Corps of Engineers is prepared and other and with
zations. Today,
ready. appropriate
four levee dis-
outside agen-
Since Hurricane Katrina hit the area tricts have
cies.”
almost two years ago, numerous been narrowed
improvements have been made to- to two (the Corps emer-
ward hurricane preparedness and Southeast Lou- gency person-
response, including improved com- isiana Flood nel will be
munications, additional storm moni- Protection Au- equipped with
toring and area-wide coordination, thority – East, State Police
Ray Newman, Canal Captain/17th Street,
not to mention the vast improve- and the South- and Emer-
works on a new SCADA computer during a
ments to the hurricane protection east Louisiana practice excercise. (USACE Photo) gency Opera-
system itself which will be outlined in Flood Protec- tions Center
the next issue of the Status Report tion Authority – West), and they have radios, as well as satellite phones,
Newsletter. been meeting regularly with each cell phones and Blackberries with
other, with the Corps of Engineers out-of-state numbers in the event
The last issue introduced the Joint and with other emergency response that local cell towers go down, as
Communication Advisory Council organizations in the area to hammer they did during Katrina. Back-up
(JCAC), a group of communications out an organized jurisdictional plan in
professionals representing several the event of a major storm. Continued on page 2
area agencies and government enti-
ties involved in hurricane prepared- Communications and monitoring Also in this issue:
ness and protection. The JCAC is systems
LaRFO employee wins award……….Page 3
poised to respond with coordinated “We have established multiple com-
Publc Meetings planned……………..Page 4
advisories should a major storm or munications and monitoring sys- Introducing new TFH Director……….Page 5
hurricane threaten this area. The tems,” said Col. Richard Wagenaar,
Page 2 May 17, 2007
Continued from page 1 a high-tech information and control JCAC Holds Second Press Briefing
system that will measure water
communications systems are also levels at the canals. “And we’ve
planned for emergency centers at assigned highly-trained personnel
numerous southeast Louisiana par- to operate the equipment,” Ac-
ishes. This will give the Corps the cardo said. If the situation at the
availability to call on additional man- canals gets rough, the operators
power or equipment if needed. will fall back to SCADA equipment
The Corps will follow a newly- at the District command center. If
established communications matrix the storm situation gets worse, the
The Joint Communication Advisory
to ensure that local, state and federal operators can take the SCADA
Council (JCAC) holds its second
officials are kept informed on all criti- computers and seek refuge in the
press briefing on May 3. The JCAC is
cal steps taken, including outfall ca- Corps’ Leake Avenue bunker. Of
an organization of communications
nal gate closings. course, the systems are backed-up professionals who represent civic and
by alternate power sources. government agencies involved in hur-
There is a communications plan and ricane evacuation and response. The
system in place for the operators of Manned outpost locations Corps of Engineers is a participant.
the Corps’ outfall canal gates and During a major storm, Corps Divi- (USACE Photo)
pumps, and the operators of the two sion Headquarters at Vicksburg
will direct emergency operations tional Canal to monitor installations
parishes’ interior pump stations.
until command is established and storm activities.
The purpose closer to the storm. “We are here,
Preparation is key
here is con- we are on the ground and we know
Corps personnel have been partici-
trol of outfall the territory,” said Col. Wagenaar.
pating in emergency training exer-
canal water “At the end of the day, all initial
cises internally and at the outfall ca-
levels by co- emergency responses start at the
nals, as well as with local, state and
ordinating local level.”
other federal agencies. The Corps
pump capac-
A team has been established for has also pre-placed emergency
ity from the
the Corps’ Emergency Operations equipment at strategic locations, in-
interior pump
Chris Accardo Center on Leake Avenue, and key cluding sandbags, Hesco bastions,
stations to
positions have already been as- sheet piles, water tubes and pumps.
the outfall canal pump structures at
signed with a high-level Corps en- It also has contracts in place for pos-
Lake Pontchartrain, particularly at
gineer coordinating emergency sibly-needed emergency services
the huge 17th Street Canal. “We will
responses. and supplies.
have Corps personnel stationed at
the Sewerage & Water Board’s inte- About 20 high-level engineers and “If we have a major storm this sea-
rior pump stations and at the outfall managers will be posted at the son,” said Col. Wagenaar, “we’re
canal pump structures,” said Chris Port of Greater Baton Rouge at ready. We have the command cen-
Accardo, Operations Chief, “and they Port Allen which is the Corps’ es- ters in place, we have the communi-
will be communicating with each tablished staging ground for equip- cation systems and equipment we
other to coordinate water levels in a ment, supplies and skilled workers. need, we are coordinated with the
storm event.” Corps boats and ships can return other local, state and federal emer-
executive staff to New Orleans by gency agencies, and our people are
An important component of the storm
water if land transportation is inac- confident.
monitoring system is the new Super-
visory Control and Data Acquisition cessible.
“We live here too,” the commander
(SCADA) equipment which has been Trained crews will also be as- added; “we have a personal interest
installed at the three outfall canals signed to the locks at Algiers, Har- and professional duty to save lives
and at the Harvey Canal. SCADA is vey and the Inner Harbor Naviga- and protect property.”
Page 3 May 17, 2007
Faces of Hope Corps Employee Receives
Prestigious Military Award as Volunteer
for Hurricane Victim Assistance
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Armed Forces
Civilian Service Award
This award was established to recognize
the contributions and accomplishments
of the Department of Defense civilian
workforce in directly supporting the mili-
tary forces, whose members are en-
gaged in military operations of a pro-
longed peacekeeping or humanitarian
nature. This award honors those employ-
ees who support designated operations
under the same or similar conditions as
our military members, thereby strength-
ening the unique partnership between
our uniformed members and the civilian
workforce. Emil H. “Skip” Jacobs III, left, recently received the prestigious Armed Forces
Civilian Service Award for outstanding service to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Here he accepts congratulations from Michael Park, director of the Corps’ Louisi-
ana Recovery Field Office, following official ceremonies honoring Jacobs.
By Michael Logue (USACE Photo)
E
mile H. “Skip” Jacobs III, a ties like ice, water and food from re- in Florida in 2005-2006 following
Corps of Engineers interpre- gional points of delivery to more cru- passage of Hurricanes Charlie and
tive ranger at the Bonnet cial local delivery points, and ulti- Frances. Later that same year, he
Carre Spillway, has been awarded mately into the hands of victims of went back to Florida as commodities
the prestigious Armed Forces Civil- Katrina. manager for relief efforts for Hurri-
ian Service Medal by the Louisiana canes Ivan and Jeanne.
He quickly established excellent
Recovery Field Office (LaRFO) of
working relationships with local A graduate of Martin Behrman High
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in
agencies, law enforcement agencies, School in New Orleans, Jacobs
New Orleans.
the Army National Guard, faith- served in Vietnam with the U.S. Ma-
Jacobs, a Kenner, La., native and based and non-governmental relief rine Corps and received the Purple
longtime New Orleans area resident, agencies to assist hundreds of storm Heart. He and his wife of 33 years,
volunteered to serve with the LaRFO victims throughout southeastern Lou- Ilene, have two children: Todd, 29,
as a logistics specialist during the isiana who greatly benefited from his and Brittany, 16.
months following Hurricane Katrina. efforts.
Nationwide, the U.S. Army Corps of
In an area stricken by catastrophe, A lifelong volunteer, Jacobs served Engineers (USACE) is made up of
Jacobs “demonstrated courage and as property book officer for the Iraqi approximately 34,600 civilians and
care for victims by quickly establish- Reconstruction Office in Baghdad in 650 military members.
ing control and visibility of commodi- 2003-2004 and later for relief efforts
Page 4 May 17, 2007
Corps of Engineers Hosting Contact Information
Important Public Meetings in June New Orleans District
Environmental & Project Status Presentations (504) 862-2201
Task Force Hope
(504) 862-1836
T
he Corps of Engineers is conducting a series of public meetings in the New Or- Hurricane Protection Office
leans area in June. The purpose of these meetings is to update the public, as (504) 862-2126
well as federal, state and local agencies, on the progress of work on the hurri- Louisiana Recovery Field Office
cane protection system and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (504) 681-2317
(NEPA) as it relates to the continuing work on that system.
The Status Report Newsletter supports the
information program for Task Force Hope
Representatives of the Corps will be on hand at these public meetings to discuss de- and its stakeholders. It also serves as the
sign information, contract awards, construction schedules and the progress of environ- primary tool for accurately transmitting the
mental compliance. hurricane recovery work to stakeholders.
This is an online publication and
open to public distribution.
This issue and past issues can be found at:
www.mvn.usace.army.mil/hps
Comments and questions
may be sent to the
Status Report Newsletter editor at:
b2fwdpao@usace.army.mil
The Status Report Newsletter
is an unofficial publication authorized
under the provisions of AR 360-1.
Views and opinions expressed
are not necessarily those of the
Corps of Engineers
or the Department of the Army.
Public meetings are an important part of the Corps’ job. Here John Status Report Newsletter
Meador, Deputy Director of Task Force Hope, presides over a recent, Task Force Hope
well-attended public meeting. (USACE Photo) Public Affairs Office
7400 Leake Ave., Room #388
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 862-1949
All public meetings start at 7:00 p.m. and end at approximately 9:00 p.m.
June 5 June 12 Pump Capacity
Gretna/Algiers Orleans East Bank
Holy Cross College, Moreau Center University of New Orleans, Report
4123 Woodland Dr. Lindy Boggs Conference Center
New Orleans, LA 70114 Lakeshore Dr. at Elysian Fields
New Orleans, LA 70148 17th Street Canal…...approx. 4,000 cfs
June 7 London Ave. Canal...approx. 2,800 cfs
Jefferson Parish East Bank June 13 Orleans Ave. Canal....approx. 2,200 cfs
Jefferson Parish Library Harvey/Westwego
4747 W. Napoleon Ave. Westwego City Council Chambers
Metairie, LA 419 Avenue A As of May 17, 2007
Westwego, LA
Note: The Status Report Newsletter will
For more information on the NEPA public meetings, give regular reports on the pump capacity
of the three temporary outfall canals under
please go to this website:
construction. For more details, please visit:
www.mvn.usace.army.mil/hps
http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/pd/Envir_Processes_NEPA/Index.htm
Page 5 May 17, 2007
Karen Durham-Aguilera, SES, P.E.
Named New Director of Task Force Hope
K
aren Dur- the state of Louisi-
ham- ana, Durham-
Aguilera, Aguilera holds a
P.E., has been ap- bachelor’s degree
THE U.S. ARMY pointed the new in engineering and
CORPS OF ENGINEERS Director of Task a master’s degree
established Task Force Hope on Force Hope, part of in civil
Sept. 4, 2005 after Hurricane Katrina the U.S. Army (geotechnical) engi-
made landfall on the coasts of Corps of Engineers’
Louisiana and Mississippi. neering, both from
Mississippi Valley the University of
Division. As Direc- Karen Durham-Aguilera
Louisville.
Mission of Task Force Hope: tor, she is responsi-
ble for overseeing the Corps’ $5.7 In 2005, she served as the Director
• Achieve long term coastal restora- billion hurricane protection system of the Reconstruction Programs,
tion and hurricane damage reduc- work in New Orleans and Southeast Project and Contracting office in
tion: Louisiana Coastal Protection Louisiana, and the long-term plan- Baghdad, Iraq. In that position she
and Restoration (LaCPR) Study ning of coastal restoration and hurri- was responsible for planning, coordi-
cane damage reduction. nation, contracting acquisition and
• Provide system 100-year level of
execution of nearly 3,200 projects
protection to the greater New Durham-Aguilera, a member of the
Orleans area prior to hurricane spanning the nation of Iraq.
Army’s elite Senior Executive Ser-
season 2011
vice, replaced Dan Hitchings who For several years, Durham-Aguilera
Focus of Task Force Hope Staff: served as the first Director of Task served on the Army’s Career Board
Force Hope. Durham-Aguilera began for Engineers and Scientists. Her
• Manage hurricane protection sys- transition meetings with Hitchings as recognitions include the Bronze Or-
tem program development: plan- far back as December 2006 in der of the DeFleury Medal, Joint Ci-
ning, design, construction and preparation for the important post, vilian Service, Meritorious Service,
quality and officially took over the reigns of Superior Civilian Service Awards and
the job in early March. Commander’s Awards. She was also
• Integrate program amongst state,
selected as the Corps of Engineers’
region and higher authorities In her previous position as Director 1990 Southwestern Division Engi-
of Programs for the Corps’ North- neer of the Year and the 1993 Fed-
• Lead strategic communications
western Division, Durham-Aguilera eral Engineer of the Year.
• Manage the coastal protection and was responsible for civil works and
restoration programs military programs that included hy- Durham-Aguilera recently moved her
droelectric, navigation, flood damage household from Portland, Ore., to
• Support the Federal Emergency reduction, and endangered species her new home in
Management Agency when re- recovery projects in an area that cov- New Orleans and
quired ered about 25 percent of the conti- looks forward to be-
nental United States. ing part of this his-
toric mission.
A registered professional engineer in
