Situation
Flood waters continue to recede in the South Texas Flood area and disaster responses continue. Currents remain swift and heavy with sediments in area waterways, but most are now at or below their respective flood stage. Much flotsam is evident from the flood event. As water recedes more oil field damage is expected to be found (next week or two) by oil field pumping crews when they return to previously flooded production equipment.
Action Taken
The Region 6 Response Center (RRC) will continue operations but with reduced staff. RRC hours of operation will be limited to 8 hours per day from this point forward.. The FEMA Disaster Field Office opening in Houston is open with phone number 832-513-4000 and fax is 281-877-8816. EPA personnel now in the field will man the DFO as soon as practical. EPA personnel will demobilize from the FEMA ROC as the DFO stands up.
Press release as well as notice to local governments has stimulated a good bit of interest in the household hazardous waste (HHW) and orphaned drum program. The City of Houston expects to operate collection of HHW on 6/16. Harris County precincts 1 & 2 (North Harris County) will have EPA sponsored collection points for citizen drop off of HHW. Media coverage of EPA recovery of a drum from a construction crane boom was judged to give "good press".
Runaway container recovery work continues and about 70 drums, 47 -5 gallon buckets, and at least a dozen propane cylinders, gasoline cans, fire extinguishers, and compressed gas cylinders, have been recovered. It is not clear how many "runaway" containers will be recovered by this effort. Containers pickup has now moved from near downtown ( on Buffalo Bayou) to the mouth of the San Jacinto River. New reports of containers in this area indicate that some were missed or that others have floated into the area.. Almost all of the drums with product have been reclaimed by the original vendors.
Commercial rapid lube facilities have experienced difficulties with the flooding and subsequent loss of lube oils. These facilities have been active in cleanup of their fluids. The USCG has been collecting oiled debris and free oil from the surface of the water in the flood zone. The source of this material is not apparent and no responsible parties associated with this oily waste have been identified. It appears that this environmental problem is a result of the Tropical Storm Allison, and it could be subject to FEMA funding.
above actions will contine
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