Counties Declared: Anderson, Angelina, Brazoria, Chreokee, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, smithy, Trinity, and Walker Counties of Texas.
Tropical Storm Allison formed relatively quickly in the northwest quadrant of the Gulf of Mexico starting early in the afternoon of June 5, 2001. The storm made landfall with sustained winds of 50 mph, with winds extending outward up to 90 miles from the center. The storm moved up to the Lufkin area and stalled. This has created days of continual rain in the entire southeastern Texas area, producing massive rainfall totals. This has resulted in severe flooding in 28 counties. It now appears that the tropical low is moving back toward the coastal area and may reform over the gulf waters. Heavy rainfall continues.
The FEMA Regional Operations Center (ROC) was activated at approximately 7:00 am and the ESF#10 was activated at 13:30 pm. At 1400, OSC McCormick arrived at the FEMA ROC and began to coordinate initial contact with federal, state and local agencies. OSC McCormick made contact with US Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Houston - Lt. Commander Emeric, Texas Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Austin, Hazardous Materials – Phil Winnsboro with TNRCC, TNRCC Region 12 - Steve Hamm, and Harris County EOC – Joe Leonard.
At this time, no request has been made or activation to assist the State of Louisiana, however, OSC McCormick contacted Louisiana State Police (EOC) – Sergeant Arnold to make initial notification for any future coordination with ESF#10 ROC contact. Colonel Brown, Louisiana Office of Emergency Management, might seek Federal Assistance for 20 parishes, depending on the further rainfall.
OSC McCormick has been contact and coordinating with OSC Mason, Phone Duty Officer who has activated EPA Region 6 Regional Response Center (RRC). Phone Duty Officer, OSC Mason, has received from the National Response Center (NRC) notifications on numerous minor pipelines releases, tanks overflowing and secondary containments breached. Memorial Hospital Lab in Houston is flooded and releasing hazardous materials and Lyondell-Citgo had an explosion in their Coker Unit with 2 workers injured. Those two incidences have been forwarded to Steve Hamm with Region 12 TNRCC and will continue to coordinate with EPA ESF#10 ROC representative.
OSC McCormick is in coordination with USCG District 8 – Lt. Pete Trebbe and ESF#1 (Transportation) to provide assistance with a Mission Assignment for Search and Rescue in Houston Area. The Mission Assignment will requests two C130 aircraft to transport USCG assets (boats and crews) from Louisville, Kentucky to Ellington A.F.B. and NAS Belle Chase, LA to Shultz Field both located in Houston Area, in addition to Search and Rescue where requested.
Two conference calls have been held between EPA Region 6 personnel and headquarters OERR personnel to discuss present status and planned EPA actions.
EPA OSC McCormick received a FEMA mission assignment to provide assistance to the local authorities in the Houston metropolitan area, while conducting programs to collect, stage, segregate, transport and dispose of household hazard waste generated in the flood affected areas of SE Texas during response and recovery operations. OSC McCormick en route to Houston area to perform a rapid needs assessment and coordinate with state and local officials.
EPA has mobilized START contractors for immediate assistance in citizen complaints of runaway drums and containers. The Region 6 Regional Response Center (RRC) has been activated and will be fully operational on the morning of June 11, 2001. There will be a conference call this evening at 1700 hours CDT between EPA Region 6 representatives, EPA START contractors, and EPA headquarters in Washington, DC to discuss the FEMA mission assignment and outline a plan of action. Additionally, EPA will be staffing the FEMA Regional Operations Center (ROC) as the ESF #10 representative around the clock until further notice.
EPA Region 6 will continue to coordinate with federal, state, and local representatives concerning the spread of hazardous materials and oil incidences. A conference call between EPA Region 6 and headquarters will be held tomorrow evening (Sunday).
Household Hazardous Waste
Potential Orphan Drums/Tanks
Oil and Chemical Releases
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