Hurricane Floyd Daily Response and Recovery Update
Department of Environment and Natural Resources • September 30, 1999 • 1600 hours
Current Situation:
DAQ: State Vet's office has requested approval to burn cardboard boxes used to transport the hogs to the burn sites. There is a liner in the boxes (possibly plastic) which DAQ was concerned about being burned. DAQ was told that the liners will not be burned with the carcasses. DAQ representative will be at the Jones County site. The Wallace burner will cease operations today (to be confirmed). Reports indicate that the vegetative debris from Floyd is approximately 10% of that from Fran.
DCM: No change. [Some beach restrictions in place.]
DEH: Utilizing volunteers to call sites with permits (NPDES and other more significant non-discharge permits). A recommendation for spraying for mosquitoes in Eastern NC was submitted to Bill Holman from A. Dennis McBride, and "pyrethrum" was the recommended pesticide. Spraying is tentatively planned to begin on Sunday in Pitt, Lenoir, Martin, and Jones Counties. The Air Force is scheduled to be in NC on Monday to begin spraying in Nash and Edgecombe Counties. Other counties such as Craven, Carteret, and Pamlico have already contracting locally for mosquito spraying as a result of Hurricane Dennis.
DFR: Recovered 141 caskets thus far. DFR water movement expert evaluating Princeville flooding for potential major water removal operation. Teleconference on "Information to assist landowners in damage assessment and recovery from Hurricane Floyd" is scheduled for October 14, 9:00 until 12:00, at ECSU, ECU, NCSU, UNC-P, UNC-W, and the Vernon James Research and Extension Center. Major cleanup at Claridge Nursery on hold awaiting dry weather; damage appraisal continuing. Blueberry Hill zone office sustained major flood damage.
DLR: Two more dam failures reported, and two others found to be severely damaged. New totals: 32 failed; 79 overtopped; 56 damaged.
DMF: Tissue samples taken this week are currently being processed in Charleston, SC.
DPR: Six parks remain closed and ten parks are open with limited facilities. All other parks (18) are open with normal operations. Damage assessments recorded at $1.1 million (approx $620,000 in facility damage; approx $537,000 in resource damage). Some facilities have not been evaluated due to continued flooding or inaccessibility. Falls Lake at record level of 263.96 feet at 8:00am today.
DSW: Working with DSW and DLR to evaluate the structural integrity of all animal waste lagoons affected by floodwaters. FRO has completed evaluations of animal waste lagoons. Other regions affected by recent rains should have evaluations completed by middle of next week.
DWM: Begun mapping out regional waste flow options and capacity. Numerous drums have floated out of an unknown Virginia site and into the Chowan River at the VA/NC border. Division is pursuing financial assistance in pumping out damaged septic tanks that may be presenting a public health threat and for providing portable toilets. Initial HHW collection sites will be located in Nash, Bertie, Wilson, and Jones Counties. Currently approved 47 sites for temporary staging and transfer, chipping, or burning in 19 counties.
DWQ: Fifty farms are currently flooded. 14 municipal treatment plants are flooded or inundated with water.
DWR: No change.
DPPEA: Still working on mobile home recovery (estimated 1,000 to 2,000 condemned mobile homes). Have been tasked by DEM's Disaster Debris Taskforce to find out: 1) how mobile home recovery was handled after Fran; 2) who should administer the contract (DENR or DEM); and 3) what contractors can do the work. Feds will only cover 75% of cost of disposing of condemned mobile homes. The total cost is estimated to be at least a couple of million dollars.
CSC: Today's staff at the Customer Service Center consisted of 3 to 5 staff to handle phone calls. In the future, up to 12 phone lines, 12 computers, and 16 volunteers will be established as needed. Seven calls received as of 1:35 today. Two complaints received today.
Operational Priority:
Animal Operations
Dam Integrity
Drinking Water
Waste Disposal
Restrictions
Disposal methods
Inspections
Assessments
Re-permitting
Damaged high hazard dams
Animal waste lagoons
Lower water levels
Testing
System backups
Systems/plants operational
Temporary measures
Garbage collection
Site selection
Contingencies in place and executed
These priorities expected to remain during the next 72 hours
DCM: 1) On-going assessment of coastal damage requiring permits; 2) establishment of post-hurricane setback lines; 3) work with DOT, other state and local agencies on permits needed for infrastructure repair; 4) field phone calls from property owners seeking permit information; and 5) review hazard mitigation opportunities.
DFR: Emergency support; resource evaluation and mitigation; and rehabilitation of Claridge Nursery Bladen Lakes State Forest, and Blueberry Hill zone office.
DLR: Continue monitoring damaged dams and attempt to lower water levels. Complete animal waste lagoon inspections.
DPPEA: Focusing on the HHW collection effort and mobile home recovery.
DPR: Prevent additional seepage into basement of Yorkshire Center and curtail septic system usage. Demobilize Bethel ranger force by 1200, Oct. 1. Close incident command unit at 1700, Oct. 1, as emergency response phase ends and long term recovery begins.
Operational Status:
DAQ: Monitoring equipment being relocated from Wallace to Jones.
DCM: Field staff working on assessment, setback determination and permitting. Central office set up rotating phone staff to answer public questions during work hours.
DEH: Coordinating efforts on mosquito control/spraying efforts. Continuing public outreach.
DFR: Staff at Local Staging Areas (LSA's): 29 at Kinston and 22 at Tarboro. 64 other staff members assigned to various regional, local and district operations.
DLR: Re-inspecting the damaged high hazard category dams in Sampson, Pitt, and Wayne Counties.
DMF: Marine patrol remains on-call to support local law enforcement, if required. Working with Shellfish Sanitation to identify possible regional labs to perform follow-up toxicological analyses of seafood tissue samples.
DPR: Deployed 38 rangers to Tarboro (Edgecombe Co.) and Bethel (Pitt Co.) in response to State EOC requests for state law officers to assist local police. Six additional rangers have been deployed to Bethel for an additional five days of 24-hr police patrol.
DSW: Regional staff continue to work in coordination with LQ and WQ to complete the assessments of animal waste lagoons.
DWM: Working with DOT and contractors on safety issues and separation of HHW. Working on HHW collection sites. Hazardous waste staff is checking on potential hazardous waste from farm supply and garden centers.
DWQ:
DWR: Discussing emergency navigation dredging issues with Corps of Engineers.
DPPEA: Staff assignment: 1 on mobile homes, 1 on composting, 4 at Customer Service Center, 3 on HHW, and 2 in the Response Center.
CSC: The Customer Service Center has compiled six briefing books (six more to be developed). Working to secure interpreter for the Latino Community.
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