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RESILIENCE SYMPOSIUM Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana By Wilma Subra Subra Company Louisiana Environmental Action Network

Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

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By  Wilma Subra      Subra Company      Louisiana Environmental Action Network More information on symposium: http://superfund.oregonstate.edu/LSUSymposium1.13

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Page 1: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

RESILIENCE SYMPOSIUM

  Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

By  Wilma Subra     Subra Company

     Louisiana Environmental Action Network

Page 2: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

2005, August 29 - Hurricane Katrina - 20 - 30 foot storm surge

2005, September 24 - Hurricane Rita - 15 foot storm surge

2008, April -  Mississippi River Flood - Bonnet Carre’ Spillway opened to protect New Orleans, Atchafalaya River flooded

2008 Very large Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana and Texas caused by nutrient runoff loading from fertilizers applied in the mid west

2008, July 23 -  #6 fuel oil spill in the Mississippi River in New Orleans, drinking water intakes along the river shut down, 100 miles of damage and destruction down river below

New Orleans

Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Page 3: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

2008, September 1 - Hurricane Gustav - 12 foot storm surge

2008, September 12 - Hurricane Ike - 15 foot storm surge

2010, April 20 - BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster

2011 Spring - Mississippi and Atchafalaya river flooding, Bonnet Carre’ and Morganza spillways opened

2012, September 29 - Hurricane Isaac -detrimental  impact to southeast Louisiana  

These Natural and Man Made Disasters have resulted in extensive and severe environmental, human health and economic impacts to communities in Louisiana

Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Page 4: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Immediately responded to aerosol air emissions - impacted coastal communities as far inland as 100 miles along the coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the pan handle of Florida

Worked to protect the health of fishermen who worked for BP as clean up workers

Federal Court on May 2 - to insure cleanup workers did not loose their rights

Federal Court on May 7 - to require BP to provide proper training and protective gear to cleanup workers

BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster - April 2010Response by LEAN and Wilma Subra 

Page 5: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

LEAN began giving out protective gear to fishermen working as cleanup workers 

The fishermen, their families and other cleanup workers were not allowed to speak up

Marylee Orr and I became the voice of fishermen/cleanup workers

This occurred in 2010 and 2011 and it was and still is not acceptable for workers to be made sick in a work place environment

BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster - April 2010Response by LEAN and Wilma Subra 

Page 6: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Conducted workshops throughout the entire northern Gulf coast to provide desperately needed information

Monitored the EPA air monitoring programs and recommended new locations for monitoring stations

Developed fact sheets on health impacts associated with the BP crude and dispersants used

Worked with Federal and State agencies to protect the health of community members and cleanup workers

Collected sediment/soil, oysters, shrimp, crabs, fish, etc. samples and analyzed for BP crude and dispersant components

Issued e-alert reports immediately when data became available

BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Response (continued)

Page 7: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Monitored the environmental impacts along the coastal areas

Monitored the health impacts and conducted health surveys of the impacts on human health being experienced by coastal residents, current and former cleanup workers and tourist

Evaluated volatile organic chemicals in blood of cleanup workers and community members who were and are very ill

Conducted workshops all along the coastal areas of the Gulf, presenting results of sampling, monitoring and health surveys

Evaluated contaminants in seafood over time at designated locations

Opened a clinic to specifically treat victims of the BP Disaster

Continuing on a daily basis to respond to request by community members for information  and assistance

BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Response (continued)

Page 8: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Communities are negatively impacted by environmental hazards particularly from disasters◦ sediment sludge washed on shore by hurricanes◦ hazardous materials leaked or spilled by hurricanes and flooding ◦ flood waters carried contaminants◦ oil spills◦ contaminated aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna

Communities experience numerous, severe and wide spread physical and mental health impacts and degradation of their quality of life caused by the cumulative impacts of a  host of different chemicals and stressors associated with disasters

Many communities in Louisiana have differential preparedness and ability to recover from exposure to disasters

The lack of adequate health care throughout the state of Louisiana also results in a decreased ability to recover 

All of these factors result in decreased community resilience  

Vulnerable Communities

Page 9: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Providing health and scientific information to communities enables community members to become educated and empowered

Results in communities being educated about factors impacting their health and quality of life

Allows the communities to integrate the knowledge into their  specific community situations and develop strategies to recover

Allows communities to educate governmental agencies, elected officials, business owners, health care providers and the general public concerning their specific situations

Allows communities to take measures to reduce their exposure, improve human health and their quality of life, reduce risk, recover and become more resilient

Educating Vulnerable Communities

Page 10: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

What odors are you smelling

How long did the odor event last

What health impacts are you experiencing

How long did the health impacts last

How many individuals in your household were impacted

Loss work time due to event

Impacts on pets and livestock

What is the source or potential source of the odor

Date, time, duration and location of the event

Wind speed and direction from TV Weather Channel

Odor and Symptom Logs - Help Communities Identify Exposure Sources and Plot Strategies

to Reduce Exposure

Page 11: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Immediate and ongoing  documentation of odor events and associated health impacts

Record of frequency of events

Possible correlation with chemical release events occurring in the community

A good base of information to determine if and which health symptoms are being experienced

Determine if sufficient impacts are being experienced to indicate a health survey would be appropriate 

Benefits of Utilizing the Odor and Symptom Logs

Page 12: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Check with the parish Office  of Emergency Response, LA DEQ EDMS data base, and National Response Center to  determine  if an accidental release has been reported for the time period of the odor event

Determine the health  impacts of chemicals that may have been released

Correlate the health impacts associated with the chemical released to the health impacts  experienced by community members

Use the data from accidental  releases  to determine specific  chemicals to monitor for in the air and water

Use the data to request governmental agencies to  provide ambient monitoring and/or to include requirements in the facility permit conditions

Correlation of Odor Events with Accidental Releases

Page 13: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

In August 2006, the NEJAC Council issued the report:The 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes and Vulnerable Populations - Recommendations for Future Disaster Preparedness/Response

The Gulf Coast Hurricane Work  Group of NEJAC was formed in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (Chaired by Wilma Subra)

The charge to the work group dealt with identifying effective methods for EPA to address vulnerabilities of all communities to protect health and environmental risks and harms in EPA’s response and rebuilding, and preparedness and prevention efforts in the aftermath of natural disasters similar to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

NEJAC Report  - Recommendations for Future Disaster  Preparedness/Response

Page 14: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Enhance EPA’s disaster preparedness and response procedures

Facilitate risk communications and environmental health response

Foster environmental sound redevelopment

Areas of Main Recommendations

Page 15: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Identify vulnerable populations and their environmental and/or public health needs

Ensure communication with, and input from, vulnerable populations  in both the development  and implementation of new disaster response procedures

Example of Specific Recommendations

Page 16: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

By November 2, 2006, EPA had responded  to several of  the recommendations  by issuing a memorandum entitled "Incorporating Environmental Justice Considerations into EPA Disaster Preparedness Response Procedures

When Hurricanes Gustav and Ike struck the northern gulf coast in September 2008, the recommendations and follow up activities  were responsible for improved responses in dealing with vulnerable  populations

Implementation of Recommendations by EPA

Page 17: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Survey of commercial fisher families harvesting seafood from the coastal areas and off shore and seafood processing facilities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida consisting of Vietnamese, Cambodians, Asians, Islanos, African Americans, Native Americans, and Caucasians

Southern Mutual Help AssociationEconomic Impacts  of Disasters on 

Commercial Fisher Families and Seafood Processing Facilities

Page 18: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Rank                     Event

#1                     2010 BP Crude Oil Disaster

#2                     September 2005 Hurricane Rita

#3                     August 2005 Hurricane Katrina

#4                     September 2008 Hurricane Gustav

#5                    September 2008 Hurricane Ike

     The fisher families reported loosing up to $80,000 to $530,000 as a

result of each disaster.   The seafood processorsreported loosing up to $100,000 to $2,500,000 for each disaster.

Most Economic Impacts

Page 19: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

The commercial fisher families and seafood processors have been negatively impacted by the hurricanes of 2005 and 2008 and severely impacted by the BP Crude Oil Disaster.

The fisher families surveyed projected the negative impacts associated with the BP Crude Oil Disaster will last 30 years into the future. 

The seafood processors estimate the negative impacts will last 12 to 20 years into the future.  

Fishermen surveyed estimate 60 to 70%  loss in the quantity of seafood harvested in the next 10 years.

Work has continued with these fisher families and seafood processors to assist in their recovery.

Page 20: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

University/Community Based Participatory Research

Fishing Communities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama

The fishing communities partners are trained to ◦ collect seafood samples of brown and white shrimp, blue

crabs, oysters and fin fish (red snapper, grouper, mackerel, speckled trout)

◦ process and package seafood samples for shipment to the lab at UTMB in Texas

◦ record data◦ document with photos

Deepwater Horizon Research Consortium - NIEHS Project

GC-HARMS University of Texas at Galveston 

Page 21: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Seafood samples are analyzed for petrogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) suspected of causing adverse effects including immunosuppression, developmental abnormalities and cancer

Sample results are presented first to the fishing community partners that collected the samples, then to all the community partners before being released to the general public and for publication

The sample results are presented in the form of quantity of seafood of each species and collection location that can be consumed on a frequency basis by age group without resulting in increased risk.

The results presented in this fashion allows the community partners to make decisions on where to collect seafood that they will feed to their families and how frequently they will provide the seafood for consumption by their families.

These fishing community partners are know to consume above average amounts of gulf seafood and are in desperate need of information on the safety of the seafood they harvest and feed to their families. 

Page 22: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Information and knowledge is important to the level of resilience in communities

Data must always be backed up by technical information

Information must be incorporated into the issues and situations in the impacted communities

Assistance provided to communities must work towards improving human health, environmental quality and quality of life in the communities

The information and knowledge must also be used to educate and inform a broader base of stakeholders - ultimately result in improvements in the overall community members

Responding to the needs of the environmental communities must occur in a timely manner

Remember

Page 23: Response to Natural and Man Made Disasters Impacting Louisiana

Frequently response continues even when recovery is taking place

In some cases restoration activities are targeted in areas that are still contaminated and remediation is not being targeted prior to restoration activities

Destruction of Quality of Life for many communities, leaves the communities with no way to recover, especially in areas where the land on which they lived is now open water

Resilience is critical to recovery and survival on behalf of not only the impacted community members,  but the responders, governmental agencies, businesses and the NGO communities

Response/Recovery