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NOAA

Marine environmental, wildlife assessments of post-Isaac pollution continues

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NEW ORLEANS – Wildlife teams recovered three oiled birds, Monday and were out on the water searching for any other impacted wildlife. 

Coast Guard and State of Louisiana response workers continued assessments of the areas affected by Hurricane Isaac, searching for signs of pollution or impacted wildlife. 

So far, Coast Guard and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality assessment teams have investigated about 90 separate reports of pollution throughout the impacted areas. Facility owners are taking steps to clean up the majority of these. Six sites require further assessment and environmental response crews are taking steps to clean up or contain any oil.

“We respond to every pollution report that comes in and send teams to see what’s out there and try to identify the responsible party so they can get it cleaned up,” said Lt. Cmdr. Lushan Hannah, the Coast Guard incident commander for the pollution response. “Pollution following a hurricane is to be expected, especially with a slow-moving storm like Isaac.” 

The Coast Guard, EPA, NOAA, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries are working together to safeguard public safety and minimize wildlife and environmental impacts resulting from Hurricane Isaac.

Coast Guard and state officials are asking residents to avoid any contact with chemicals or pollution they come across and to report it to the Sector New Orleans Operations Center at 504-365-2200 or the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.

 

Recent Updates for HQ (use “U.S. Coast Guard Digital Newsroom”)

What We’re Viewing: three/9/twelve

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Posted by: Alexandra Kirin, Public Affairs

At the finish of every single week, we post a “What We’re Watching” weblog as we seem ahead to the weekend and recap events from the week. We inspire you to share it with your pals and household, and have a risk-free weekend.

Climate Outlook

A new storm in the Pacific Northwest will generate valley rain and mountain snow across western Washington. Snow melt resulting from a sturdy warming trend could bring flooding this weekend to considerably of the Northern Rockies and Intermountain West. Winds from 15-30 mph are expected across a lot of Montana, with gusts above 40 mph in the Chinook regions. These robust winds, mixed with reduced relative humidity, will outcome in essential fire climate situations right now across significantly of north-central Montana.

A clipper-like technique in the Midwest is expected to bring snow from the upper peninsula of Michigan off into a lot of the northeastern U.S. A Red Flag Warning is in effect these days for western and north-central Nebraska as a outcome of strong winds and very low relative humidity.

Update on Tornado Response

FEMA continues to help efforts of state, tribal and neighborhood officials in states impacted by severe storms and tornadoes Feb. 28 – March three. President Obama declared a main disaster declaration, on Tuesday, for the Commonwealth of Kentucky making federal disaster aid available assist to supplement commonwealth and regional recovery efforts in the location affected by the recent storms. Residents and company owners in the designated Kentucky counties who sustained losses can apply for support by registering on the internet at www.disasterassistance.gov, by web enabled mobile gadget at m.fema.gov or by calling one-800-621-FEMA(3362) or one-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.

Joint Preliminary Harm Assessments are ongoing in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.

National Flood Security Week

We’re teaming up with NOAA once more to bring you Nationwide Flood Security Awareness Week 2012. Starting up following week, March twelve -16 we’ll share information on flood risks, how people, households, and organizations can take precautions to shield their households and households in the occasion of flooding and safety guidelines on what to do ahead of, for the duration of, and after flooding.

Floods are one of the most typical hazards in the United States, but there are basic steps citizens can take today to lessen their danger to all types of floods. Head over to www.prepared.gov/floods for details on floods and make certain to test back following week for the commence of Flood Security Awareness Week.

Clocks Spring Forward on Sunday

Don’t forget, on Sunday we spring forward an hour for Daylight Financial savings – it’s also a fantastic reminder to make sure you have a operating smoke alarm in your home. Smoke alarms considerably increase your chances of surviving a deadly property fire, so we motivate everyone to take these easy methods to be prepared:

  • Test and clean your smoke alarms nowadays and on the 1st of each month
  • Substitute the batteries at least as soon as a year
  • Spot smoke alarms on each level of your residence and in every bedroom
  • Examine the manufacture/expiration date on the smoke alarm (yes, smoke alarms have expiration dates)
  • Practice your family’s fire escape strategy

For a lot more data about property smoke alarms and fire sprinklers, check out www.usfa.dhs.gov/smokealarms.

Watches &amp Warnings – What’s the Variation?

As we head into spring, and extreme weather and storms turn into a lot more active, we wished to make sure that absolutely everyone understood the variation in between a serious climate watch and warning. Watch this video from our close friends at NOAA explaining the difference between serious climate watches and warnings.

FEMA Website