Hurricane Floyd Daily Response and Recovery Update
Department of Environment and Natural Resources • November 2, 1999 • 1600 hours
Current Situation:
CSC: For the period, September 30, 1999 through November 2, 1999, the CSC has received about 300 hurricane-related calls. The number of hurricane related calls has decreased dramatically during the past week with an average of only 2 to 3 hurricane related calls received each day. However, the number of regular CSC calls has increased dramatically to an average of 20 to 25 regular calls each day for the past week.
DAQ: The disposal of vegetative debris by burning in air curtain burners continues. There is no time estimate of when this project will be wrapped up. Air monitoring for particulate continues to be at a higher frequency than normal.
DCM: DCM staff continues to assist coastal property owners that have concerns about repairing or rebuilding damaged structures. Staff members are also helping property owners to obtain permits for temporary erosion control measures such as sandbags and dune construction.
DEH: There is no change in the status of community water supplies since the last report. The State Public Health Laboratory has updated reports on 4949 bacteriological samples and 204 nitrate samples in counties affected by Hurricane Floyd. Of the 4949 samples, 1409 tested positive for coliform and 283 tested positive for E. coli. Of the 204 nitrate samples, there were 8 positives (> 10/l as N). These samples are cumulative totals from September 17, 1999 through November 1, 1999. Public Health Zone Coordinators continue to coordinate recovery activities and volunteers in the affected counties.
DFR: DFR personnel had been expected to continue hay shipments this week, however, all hay shipments for this week have been canceled. Shipments of hay are expected to resume next week. Monitoring for water quality on potentially flood affected forestry sites is continuing. DFR personnel are still evaluating young reforestation projects to determine how many were drowned and need to be replanted. Claridge Nursery continues to work on infrastructure repairs including drainages and roads. Work to remove sandbars from orchards continues. Sand is being stockpiled for use in repairs to roads and agricultural fields. Stabilization work on eroded areas has begun. Evaluation of damages to forestland and reforested areas will continue over the coming months as some damage from flooding will take time to be evident. An updated projection will be provided by the end of November.
Soil and water engineers have completed field survey work on eroded areas and are in mapping phase.
DLR: No change.
DMF: Effective Friday, 10/29/99, all those waters from ICWW Marker #48 to the South Carolina state line, which includes Shallotte River, have returned to the status in existence immediately prior to the August 31, September 15 and October 18, 1999 temporary closures associated with Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd and Irene. Effective Saturday 10/30/99, all those waters in New Hanover and Brunswick Counties have returned to the status in existence immediately prior to the August 31, September 15 and October 18, 1999 temporary closures associated with Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd and Irene.
DPPEA: 1. Mobile Homes: The mobile homes bids were due Monday 11/1/99 at noon. Over the next several days, Emergency Management will review the bids and several contractors (an estimated 5) will be selected. It is expected that approximately 2500-3000 mobile homes will be handled through this contract. Several counties including Martin, Beaufort, Wayne, Jones, Craven and Pamlico are refusing to do condemnations for this contract or for any county demolition project because of liability concerns. The counties must condemn the homes locally to be included in the state contract. FEMA's "Environmental Checklist", which covers issues such as Environmental Justice, Historic Sites, Endangered Species and work done in flood plains or wetlands, is raising concern with this and other contracted work. Mainly, the concern is with the time that it will take to complete the requirements. Emergency Management and FEMA will likely debate exemptions before the mobile homes contract is in place.
DPR: No change.
DSW: The initial evaluation of animal waste lagoons that were possibly compromised by Hurricanes Floyd and Dennis has been completed. The Division continues to work with other state and local agencies to assist with the repair of damaged structures and facilities. The Division of Soil and Water Conservation continues to cooperate with the Division of Water Quality in monitoring animal operations. Survey work on three damaged flood control structures in Wayne County has been completed. Survey of a fourth structure will begin this week. The initial survey of the Division of Forest Resources' nursery at Goldsboro has been completed. Two people are working in the field on these Floyd related projects. That number will be adjusted as existing projects are completed. Operation review staff members are also pursuing their normal duties. There are no health or safety issues at this time.
DWM: The Division of Waste Management conducted Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events in Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, and Wayne counties on October 30, 1999 A total of 476 households participated in the collection events, which collected 50,757 pounds of material at a cost of $48,942. In addition, the Department of Agriculture collected and will dispose of pesticides brought to these four events. On October 23, 1999, Household Hazardous Waste Collection events held in Carteret, Edgecombe, Lenoir and Pitt counties collected 15,709 pounds of material from a total of 121 households at a cost of $37,681. The Department of Agriculture collected and will dispose of approximately 6,300 pounds of pesticides brought to these four events. An Emergency Management Representative is talking with flood-affected counties to investigate whether they are interested in hosting temporary HHW collection areas. A Solid Waste Section Representative is discussing permitting procedures with counties interested in establishing temporary HHW collection areas. There has been no change in status of Superfund sites. A total of 40 sites have been identified in the flood areas that have either been flooded with known effects or releases, have been flooded with possible effects or releases or the status of the site is unknown.
DWQ: No change.
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
Mobile Home Recovery
Household Hazardous Waste
These priorities expected to remain during the next 72 hours
CSC: Because of the dramatic decrease in the number of hurricane related calls, there have been no volunteers helping to staff the CSC.
DAQ: No change.
DCM: No change.
DEH: No change.
DFR: No change.
DLR: No change.
DMF: No change
DPPEA: Mobile home recovery and other duties as assigned.
DPR: No change.
DSW: No change.
DWM: No change.
DWQ: No change.
Operational Status:
CSC: CSC usually has one volunteer on standby available to assist if needed
DAQ: No change.
DCM: No change.
DEH: No change
DFR: No change.
DLR: No change.
DMF: No change.
DPPEA: 1 staff member assigned to mobile homes and 2 staff members on field assignment.
DPR: No change.
DSW: Initial assessments have been completed. The Division of Water Quality is providing this information.
