Parish of Ascension OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Tommy Martinez Parish President Richard A. Webre Director ASCENSION PARISH SITUATIONAL REPORT 06 August 2008 As of: 1600 Hours BARGE INCIDENT CLEANUP AND RECOVERY EFFORTS CONTINUE. SEE PARAGRAPH 1 FOR DETAILS. 1. HAZMAT: MISSISSIPPI RIVER BARGE INCIDENT: Current: Recovery and removal operations continue with plans to cut barge and remove both sections by the end of this week. History: At about 0200 hours 23 July 2008, the Tanker Vessel Tintomara collided with the fuel barge DM932 causing the barge to be split in two. As a result, an estimated 375,000 gallons of #6 diesel discharged into the Mississippi River. At about 0800 hours 30 July 2008 there was an additional release of material from the barge affecting 2 miles of river downstream from the barge and was mitigated. Vessel traffic in and out of the safety zone is being regulated by the USCG along with decontamination sights on the north and south ends of the safety zone. The barge is located at Mile marker 95.7 which is near the Crescent City Connection Bridge. The Mississippi River safety zone extends from Mile Marker 11 to Mile Marker 98. Select oyster beds have been closed until further notice as a precaution. More than 500 vessels have been cleared, inspected and/or decontaminated since the operations began. More than 139,000 gallons of oil/water mix has been recovered to date. More than 2,000 responders are currently deployed throughout the region in response to this incident. 3 tugs, 159 work boats, 4 barges, 20 skimmers, and 13 vacuum trucks are on scene helping with the cleanup. Approximately 155,000 feet of containment boom has been deployed. Work continues on lightering the barge with the barge projected to be cut in half on 5 August 2008 and lifted on 6 August 2008. ACTIONS BY THE PARISHES: Orleans Parish: All water intakes are open and water quality testing is ongoing. All water samples received back are showing that the water is well within acceptable levels. All ferries have been operational since 29 July 2008 with the exception of the Algiers Ferry which remains closed. The Parish continues to monitor the situation. Orleans Parish requested and received 50 mobile radios from GOHSEP for use in the incident.
Plaquemines Parish: (DECLARED 23 July 2008) All water intakes are open and water quality testing is ongoing. All water samples received back are showing that the water is well within acceptable levels. The Dalcour intake is open to assist in fire-fighting efforts if needed. Booms are in place to protect the water intakes. The parish submitted a Declaration of a State of Emergency. The parish requested and received 22 pallets of water. The parish has also requested and received additional booms for their water intakes through the USCG. Water samples have been taken and the results are pending. If the results are positive, the Parish will be able to activate their system and be independent of the assistance from Jefferson Parish later tonight. The Parish has coordinated with its adjacent parishes in the region for fire fighting support in case of a structural fire. The parish, in conjunction with St. Bernard Parish, requested and received the GOHSEP Mobile Command Unit (MCU) to assist with this incident. St Bernard: (DECLARED 23 July 2008) All water intake valves were open as of 1840 hours, 30 July 2008 after being closed as a precautionary measure against the additional release that occurred 30 July 2008 from the barge. Water quality testing is ongoing with all water samples received back showing that the water is well within acceptable levels. The parish requested additional booms for use around the Domino Sugar Refinery intake valves. St. Bernard Parish submitted a Declaration of a State of Emergency. The parish requested and received cleanup materials needed around the intake valves. The parish also requested and received 44 pallets of bottled water. Information has been provided to its citizenry to keep them informed of the situation. The parish, in conjunction with Plaquemines Parish, requested and received the GOHSEP Mobile Command Unit (MCU) to assist with this incident. Jefferson Parish: The parish continues to monitor the situation. All water intakes are open. All water samples taken so far have shown water quality well within acceptable levels. The Parish has shut off the flow from Jefferson Parish water supply and is totally independent. The Mayor of Gretna has provided the citizenry of Gretna information on the situation. ACTIONS BY THE STATE/OTHER AGENCIES: US Coast Guard: The USCG continues to man its Unified Command and Incident Command Post in Belle Chasse. A safety zone is still in place on the Lower Mississippi River from Mile Marker 97 to the mouth of the Mississippi River extending the entire width of the river. A process has also been started to allow some vessels into the safety zone. A decontamination plan for vessels has been published and is being utilized for this incident. The USCG has coordinated with contractors for cleanup material for the affected parishes. The Coast Guard is also checking for and assisting with wildlife that may have been affected by the oil spill. The Coast Guard has requested and received structural plans of the greater New Orleans Bridge to assist with plans for the removal of the barge piece. The USCG has published and distributed a Demobilization Plan for this incident. DEQ: Continue to process water and air samples as needed DOTD: DOTD inspected the Greater New Orleans Bridge and determined it safe after part of the barge lightly struck the fenders that protect the bridge stanchions. DOTD also provided structural plans for stanchion so that final plans can be made on the removal of the nearby barge piece.
LSP: HAZMAT continues to assist in monitoring air quality and is prepared to assist as needed. DHH: Assisting with ensuring water samples are being processed for testing and providing results to the affected parishes. LDWF: Will provide enforcement of the oyster bed closures. GOHSEP: Continue to monitor the situation and assist as needed. GOHSEP is coordinating with all affected parishes in assessing potential resource requirements. GOHSEP has conducted 5 conferences calls with the affected parishes, the USCG Unified Command and concerned State agencies. GOHSEP has also conducted a conference call with FEMA Region VI concerning this incident and a special conference call on river traffic issues with the Coast Guard. At this time, there are no conference calls scheduled by GOHSEP for this incident, but calls will be conducted as needed. GOHSEP sent its Mobile Command Unit vehicle to the USCG Incident Command Post location to support St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parish. Additionally, GOHSEP provided 50 mobile radios to Orleans Parish to assist with communications efforts. No further assistance is requested from the State at this time. 2. TROPICAL WEATHER: General: As of 1400 hours, CDT 6 August 2008, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is tracking five tropical systems in the Atlantic-Caribbean-Gulf of Mexico basin. None of these systems pose a threat to Louisiana at this time. The Ascension EOC, along with GOHSEP will continue to monitor and report all tropical activity. The attachment shows the location of four of the waves from left to right on the map in the order they are listed below.
Gulf of Mexico: A tropical wave is over south Mexico along 95/96W south of 21N moving west at 23 mph. Caribbean: A tropical wave is along 72/73W south of 21N, moving west at 17 mph. Atlantic: An area of low pressure is located at about 53/54W south of 19N moving west at about 11-17 mph. A tropical wave is located at 35/36W south of 20N moving west at about 23 mph. There is also a small area of showers and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave located just east of the central Bahamas, or about 72W and 22N. It is moving west at about 10-15 mph. Conditions are not favorable for significant development but it could produce periods of showers over portions of the Bahamas and southern Florida during the next day or two. This system is not shown on the attached graphics. 3. LOUISIANA WEATHER: Southwest Louisiana: Seasonal weather is projected through Friday with a 30% chance of thunderstorms tonight, a 20% chance tomorrow, and a 20-40% on Friday. Hazardous weather: No hazardous weather forecasted. Southeast Louisiana: Seasonal weather is projected through Friday with a 30% chance of thunderstorms tomorrow and a 30-50% chance Friday. Hazardous weather: No hazardous weather is forecasted. Central Louisiana: Seasonal weather is projected through Friday with a 30% chance of thunderstorms tonight, a 20% chance tomorrow and a 20-40% chance on Friday. Hazardous: No hazardous weather forecasted. Northern Louisiana: Seasonal weather is projected through Friday with a 20% chance for thunderstorms Thursday night and a 20-40% chance on Friday. Hazardous Weather: An isolated thunderstorm or two may become severe with damaging wind gusts mainly during the late afternoon. No hazardous weather forecasted for Thursday and Friday. 4. FIRE: Data coming soon. 5. MEDICAL: Data coming soon.
6. TERRORIST ACTIVITY: None. National Threat Level: Yellow (Elevated). Transportation Safety Administration: Orange (High). 7. CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, NUCLEAR, EXPLOSIVE: None.