Katrina Command

Texas Ranger · September 04, 2005, 03:38:52 PM

Texas Forest Service's role in hurricane recovery expanded

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By Pat Schaub, pschaub@tfs.tamu.edu
9/1/2005

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today asked Texas Forest Service's Lone Star State Incident Management Team (LSSIMT) to take over the receiving and distribution of food, water and ice to the entire area in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Katrina, which is all communities south and east of Baton Rouge, including greater New Orleans.

Currently, the state has established five distribution points that are being staffed and operated by eight wildland fire hand crews. These sites were operational as of yesterday, but communication remains a problem. The LSSIMT will be establishing satellite communications with each of these sites today and has set up the portable satellite system at the State Command Center in Baton Rouge.

The team will be taking command of these distribution sites, plus setting up another seven distribution sites over the next couple of days. More distribution sites will be added as needed across the affected area, particularly in some of the areas outside of New Orleans as people are allowed to return.

The team is currently looking at establishing a base camp in the Hammond area to support these operations, with the expectation of bringing in an additional 1,500 responders of federal and state wildland fire fighters and incident managers. The base camp will provide caterers, showers and accommodations for the responders. Texas Forest Service's LSSIMT is experienced in this aspect of incident command and management after having served as the lead state agency in the Columbia Shuttle Recovery effort in 2003. At that time, they established five, self-sustaining base camps in East Texas and moved 25,000 search and support personnel to and from the base camps over a three-month period.

L. Wakefield · September 04, 2005, 11:39:37 PM

Hmm, any idea why Texas is commanding activities in Louisiana? Is there no similar agency in La, or are they there but not as competent?

I am either going to deploy with ARC or possibly the Maine team- one of the 40 that HHS asked to be formed to operate field hospitals (if they are called)- at this point I am teaching new volunteers up here in Maine and- we already have refugees from La. I will bew doing casework in the AM with a family from one of the parishes just outside NO. At this point the ARC is setting up each state to handle its own cases in relation to Katrina. I don't think the Feds would send people this far afield, but if they self-present God knows we can perform the same services for them which we would down south. The only problem is how the heck would you work on 'recovery' when you are this far away from 'home'?

If my home burned, I would be sad, but I would rebuild from the basement but better. FEMA, when they assist individuals or municipalities, does not generally fund rebuilding unless 'remediation' has occurred- that is either prevention is built into the plan, or- say- no rebuilding *at all* in the flood plain. If it were up to me (and it's not) I would re-build further back. A *new* New Orleans. Wasn't there one of the old Greek cities where they had built 7 of them one on top of another? It would be like that only laterally. Talk about your urban renewal.

I came back on partly to see just after Katrina hit what your threads had covered about it. The other Katrina thread was fascinating reading.

Thanks for the welcome back. I miss reading regularly, and refer people to the forum often.

lw

Bro. Noble · September 05, 2005, 09:57:44 AM

Well, Stranger,

Welcome back, good to see you again, and happy birthday ;D

It was a privilage to meet you in person when you helped after that tornado in our area a couple of years ago.

Texas Ranger · September 05, 2005, 12:19:52 PM

LW, I am not familiar with most of the other states in the south, but, Texas has a state of the art overhead command set up that was used when the shuttle went down, doing the command and control of that operation. They have shown their metal, and were called on by FEMA because of that. Louisiana is in very bad shape, power gone to almost half the state, and Incident Command set up for Texas is self contained.

They are getting an education under fire, but showed they could handle it in the past.

Kirk_Allen · September 05, 2005, 02:36:01 PM

The state of Texas uses a standard Incidnet Command System, and most of the larger cities in Texas have this system upgraded to the latest and greatest equipment and technology available. They utilize numerous mobile command vehicles that can go anywhere anytime.

Right now, according to one of the Chiefs I have been speaking with, the first responders in LA are spent. They can no longer function on adrenalin this late in the battle. Not only that, they do not have the equipment available to run such an operation because of what was lost during the storm.

What is working? All 504 area codes are not working for phone calls but TEXT MESSAGING IS WORKING. Go figure. They still have two area's that are on "security escort search only". He said those areas are the worst part of town and its still a very ugly mess with some of the thugs left behind who think they own something now.

Still praying for my boy and getting stuff packed.

DanG · September 05, 2005, 02:40:39 PM

Kirk, we are praying for your Lad as well.

It might be helpful if you gave us his full name and stats and post a recent picture. There are tons of evacuees around here and more coming every day. Have you found out what hospital he was located in?

Kirk_Allen · September 05, 2005, 02:47:03 PM

His name is Nick Allen ( Nicholas Edwards Allen) and he lived in Jefferson, LA.

I dont know what Hospital but have been told they are all emptied now. I am sure he is alive but have no clue of where he is at or what he needs, other than lots of prayer.

I have several folks on the ground looking for him now. Thank God for my connections in the fire service. I have him on several lists with the red cross, Gulf coast news and others but no update yet.

Patty · September 05, 2005, 05:13:18 PM

Good luck Kirk, to both you and your son. We wish you the very best.

Kirk_Allen · September 05, 2005, 11:47:15 PM

I got call tonight from ny neice in Washington who got a text message from my ex. My son is safe and sound and is in Hammond, LA.

She said there has only been one message and phones are still not working. I have sent several text messages but no response as of yet.

I am on hold as of tonight and hope to learn more in the morning.

Thanks for the prayers and support.

Tom · September 05, 2005, 11:48:38 PM

Glad he's OK, Kirk. i bet you sleep better tonight, eh?

Fla._Deadheader · September 05, 2005, 11:48:54 PM

That's great news, Kirk. 8) 8)

Jeff · September 05, 2005, 11:49:47 PM

Whew. Thanks for letting us know Kirk.

beenthere · September 05, 2005, 11:55:13 PM

I'm betting he is like his Dad and has been very busy helping others.

Glad to hear he is safe.
Also glad to hear some of the news that "it isn't quite as bad in NO as some thought it was" and that the levees are patched and pumping moving along. Long way to go though.

Heard from my BIL (Hattiesburg) and he is wondering if he can cope for the next few weeks, with the racial edge beginning to creep to a discomforting level. Apparently still long lines to get gas and things, and patience is thin when people try to buck the lines. I think mine would be too.

etat · September 06, 2005, 12:11:42 AM

Kirk, I am so happy that you let us know, and that he is safe......

Faron · September 06, 2005, 12:38:34 AM

Terrific! Kirk 8)

smiley_clapping smiley_clapping

hawby · September 06, 2005, 08:53:24 AM

Kirk.... I can only surmise the level of relief you feel! 8) Emily and I are truly happy for you.

Beenthere: Don't know where you heard its not as bad as thought. The Mayor of NO, the Gov. of LA have both called it a "Dead City". They have no clue as to the number of bodies trapped in attics. The water is toxic enough that it is causing chemical burns of skin. Any structure made of wood will have to be destroyed. While it is true that the water is receding, that does not mean that NO is not a total disaster area. The authoorities are only letting few come back to get their belongings and get back out.

beenthere · September 06, 2005, 10:14:08 AM

hawby
I didn't hear that on CNN

Some people are going in and finding their homes intact, where the water only reached to the front steps. Others saying their valuables were found safe. I don't mean to say things are even a bit rosy. Time will tell, and at the moment, I'm glad to hear there are some people finding out they aren't completely 'destroyed'.
Can't believe it is true, but read last night that 450,000 people were lined up in cars to get back to 'visit' their homes. That number seems a bit large to me, but what do I know. Lots of things that come from the media 'mouth' that I tend not to believe.

Time will tell and I hope for as much good news as possible for everyone.

Bro. Noble · September 06, 2005, 02:44:36 PM

We are starting to hear some stories about the goodness of people that is brought out by this tragic event. It's good to hear about some of the heros and good deeds after hearing so much bad.