tennessee task force one response to hurricane katrina

8/8/2019 Tennessee Task Force One Response to Hurricane Katrina

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Tennessee Task Force One Tennessee Task Force One

Response t o Response t o

Hurricane Katr ina Hurricane Katr ina New Orleans, LANew Orleans, LA

Au ust/ Se t ember 2005 Au ust/ Se t ember 2005

FEMA US&RFEMA US&R

TNTN--TF1 is 1 of 28 FEMATF1 is 1 of 28 FEMAUrban Search andUrban Search andRescue Task Forces.Rescue Task Forces.

For major hurricanes,For major hurricanes,FEMA normally sendsFEMA normally sendsthe closest 3 Taskthe closest 3 TaskForces to a staging areaForces to a staging areawithin 4within 4--6 hours of the6 hours of theexpected point ofexpected point ofimpact.impact.

ActivationActivation

As Hurricane KatrinaAs Hurricane Katrinagrew in strength, FEMAgrew in strength, FEMAactivated TNactivated TN--TF1 andTF1 andMOMO--TF1 as Type IIITF1 as Type IIITask Forces and TXTask Forces and TX--TF1TF1as Type I Task Force.as Type I Task Force.

Type III Task ForcesType III Task Forcesare a light TF with 28are a light TF with 28persons for quickpersons for quickresponse.response.

Type I Task Forces areType I Task Forces are

the full 70 person TF.the full 70 person TF.

Staging at Shreveport, LAStaging at Shreveport, LA

TNTN--TF1 left Memphis onTF1 left Memphis onSaturday, August 27, 2005,Saturday, August 27, 2005,arriving in Shreveportarriving in Shreveportabout 4:30 am on Sunday.about 4:30 am on Sunday.

TNTN--TF1 held plansTF1 held plansmeetings with the FEMAmeetings with the FEMAIncident Support TeamIncident Support Team(IST) and the other(IST) and the other TFsTFs..

TNTN--TF1 also conductedTF1 also conductedrefresher training on GPSrefresher training on GPSand water rescue safety.and water rescue safety.

FEMA also activated OHFEMA also activated OH--

TF1 and INTF1 and IN--TF1 to go toTF1 to go toMeridian NAS, MS.Meridian NAS, MS.

Category 5 HurricaneCategory 5 Hurricane

On August 28,On August 28,

Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina

reached Category 5reached Category 5

level with winds oflevel with winds of175 mph and175 mph and

pressure of 902pressure of 902 mbmb,,

the 4the 4thth lowestlowest

pressure recorded.pressure recorded.

LandfallLandfall

Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrinamade landfall nearmade landfall nearBuras, LA (S.E. ofBuras, LA (S.E. ofNew Orleans) at 6:10New Orleans) at 6:10

am CDT on Monday,am CDT on Monday,August 29, as aAugust 29, as aCategory 4 HurricaneCategory 4 Hurricanewith winds of 140with winds of 140mph.mph.

Katrina remained aKatrina remained ahurricane for 100hurricane for 100miles inland.miles inland.



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Headed to New OrleansHeaded to New Orleans

On MondayOn Monday

morning, Hurricanemorning, Hurricane

Katrina struck theKatrina struck the

gulf coast.gulf coast.

TNTN--TF1, MOTF1, MO--TF1TF1

and TXand TX--TF1 headedTF1 headed

to Baton Rouge toto Baton Rouge to

prepare to go toprepare to go to

New Orleans.New Orleans.

New OrleansNew Orleans

TNTN--TF1, MOTF1, MO--TF1TF1and the IST movedand the IST movedinto New Orleansinto New Orleanslate Monday night.late Monday night.

Apparently, thereApparently, therewas nowas nocommunication withcommunication withthe New Orleansthe New Orleansgovernment at thisgovernment at thistime.time.

New OrleansNew Orleans

TNTN--TF1 and MOTF1 and MO--TF1TF1

spent the night inspent the night in

the parking lot ofthe parking lot of

the Sam’s Clubthe Sam’s Club

Warehouse onWarehouse on

Airline Rd. nearAirline Rd. near

Metairie.Metairie.

Sam’s ClubSam’s Club

TNTN--TF1, MOTF1, MO--TF1TF1

and the FEMA ISTand the FEMA IST

operated out of theoperated out of the

Sam’s Club parkingSam’s Club parking

lot on Tuesday.lot on Tuesday.

There was noThere was no

facilities or utilitiesfacilities or utilities

available.available.

Missouri Task Force OneMissouri Task Force One

MOMO--TF1 worked withTF1 worked withTNTN--TF1 for much ofTF1 for much ofthe deployment.the deployment.

TNTN--TF1 has workedTF1 has workedwith MOwith MO--TF1 before,TF1 before,particularlyparticularlyHurricane Isabel inHurricane Isabel inVA in 2003 andVA in 2003 andHurricane Dennis inHurricane Dennis inMS in 2005.MS in 2005.

Type III Org ChartType III Org Chart The Type III TaskThe Type III Task

Force includes 2Force includes 2Search and RescueSearch and RescueReconaissanceReconaissanceTeams.Teams.

Each Search andEach Search andRescue TeamRescue Team

includes aincludes amanager, 2 caninemanager, 2 caninesearch specialists,search specialists,a technical searcha technical searchspecialist, 2 rescuespecialist, 2 rescuespecialists, aspecialists, astructural engineer,structural engineer,a haza haz--matmatspecialist, aspecialist, amedical specialist,medical specialist,a safety officer,a safety officer,and a logisticsand a logisticsspecialist.specialist.



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Search/Rescue Team BriefingSearch/Rescue Team Briefing

A Search andA Search and

Rescue Team isRescue Team is

briefed prior tobriefed prior to

beginningbeginning

operations onoperations on

Tuesday morning.Tuesday morning.

Texas Task Force OneTexas Task Force One

TXTX--TF1 arrived inTF1 arrived in

New Orleans fromNew Orleans from

Baton Rouge onBaton Rouge on

Tuesday morning.Tuesday morning.

FEMA ISTFEMA IST

The FEMA ISTThe FEMA ISTestablished operationsestablished operationsinitially under the fuelinitially under the fuelcanopy at Sam’s Clubcanopy at Sam’s Clubon Tuesday.on Tuesday.

This location becameThis location becamevery active by the endvery active by the endof the day.of the day.

TNTN--TF1 personnelTF1 personnelassisted the IST, whichassisted the IST, whichwas virtuallywas virtually

overwhelmed.overwhelmed.

CommunicationsCommunications

Radios were the mainRadios were the mainway to communicateway to communicatebetween thebetween the TFsTFs andandFEMA.FEMA.

TF & ISTTF & ISTCommunicationsCommunicationsSpecialists establishedSpecialists establishedadditionaladditionalcommunications,communications,including repeaters onincluding repeaters ontall buildings.tall buildings.

Rescue OperationsRescue Operations

Rescue OperationsRescue Operationswere initiated onwere initiated onTuesday in the northTuesday in the north

central (Lakeview)central (Lakeview)area of New Orleans,area of New Orleans,using the Iusing the I --1010overpass near the westoverpass near the westII --610 interchange610 interchangewhere it was underwhere it was underwater.water.

Victim TransportVictim Transport

Due to a lack ofDue to a lack of

ambulances or otherambulances or other

means ofmeans of

transportation,transportation,pickups were oftenpickups were often

used to transportused to transport

the evacuees to athe evacuees to a

triage area.triage area.



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II --10/I10/I --610 Boat Ramp610 Boat Ramp

The E. and W.The E. and W.

bound lanes ofbound lanes of

II --10 as well as10 as well as

an off rampan off ramp

served as boatserved as boat

ramps toramps to

launch boatslaunch boats

and bring backand bring back

victims.victims.

II --610 Command610 Command

FEMA established aFEMA established a

forward commandforward command

on Ion I --10 at I10 at I --610.610.

TNTN--TF1 set up aTF1 set up a

forward operatingforward operating

area at the boatarea at the boat

ramp to supportramp to support

operations, includingoperations, including

victims.victims.

FloodingFlooding

Example of theExample of the

flooding in theflooding in the

Lakeview area inLakeview area in

north central Newnorth central New

Orleans.Orleans.

Flood DamageFlood Damage

In addition to theIn addition to the

flooding, theflooding, the

hurricane piled uphurricane piled up

cars and othercars and other

items. Many ofitems. Many of

these becamethese became

obstacles for theobstacles for the

boats.boats.

Levees Divide NeighborhoodsLevees Divide Neighborhoods

Some leveesSome levees

obstructed access toobstructed access to

otherother

neighborhoods.neighborhoods.Small boats wereSmall boats were

pulled over thesepulled over these

levees to access thelevees to access the

back neighborhoods.back neighborhoods.

Transferring EvacueesTransferring Evacuees

Smaller boats wouldSmaller boats would

bring the victims tobring the victims to

the levee, wherethe levee, where

they werethey weretransferred intotransferred into

larger boats forlarger boats for

transport back totransport back to

the Ithe I --10 overpass.10 overpass.



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Flood VictimsFlood Victims

There wereThere were

hundreds of victimshundreds of victims

in the floodedin the flooded

neighborhoods thatneighborhoods that

had to be rescued.had to be rescued.

Sadly, a largeSadly, a large

number of themnumber of them

were children.were children.

BoatsBoats

Search & RescueSearch & Rescue

Teams had toTeams had to

overcome manyovercome many

obstacles to accessobstacles to access

the victims.the victims.

Smaller, flat bottomSmaller, flat bottom

boats worked bestboats worked best

around the damagedaround the damaged

houses.houses.


Flood damage wasFlood damage was

extensive.extensive.

Triage Area on ITriage Area on I --1010

A Triage Area wasA Triage Area wasestablished on Iestablished on I --10 a little10 a littleways from the boatways from the boatlaunches.launches.

Victims were moved to thisVictims were moved to thislocation for further treatmentlocation for further treatmentand transport.and transport.

On Tuesday, transport ofOn Tuesday, transport ofvictims was very limited duevictims was very limited dueto limited local resources.to limited local resources.

On Wednesday, moreOn Wednesday, more

ambulances and bussesambulances and bussesbecame available.became available.

Displaced VictimsDisplaced Victims

Many victimsMany victims

displaced by thedisplaced by the

floods had no wherefloods had no where

to go. Many wouldto go. Many wouldaccumulate underaccumulate under

overpasses untiloverpasses until

they were evacuatedthey were evacuated

later.later.

FEMA Incident Support TeamFEMA Incident Support Team

(IST)(IST)

FEMA establishedFEMA established

their IST inside thetheir IST inside the

Saint’s TrainingSaint’s Training

Facility.Facility. It had no utilities orIt had no utilities or

facilities, sofacilities, so

generators andgenerators and

portable lighting hadportable lighting had

to be set up.to be set up.



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FEMA IST BriefingsFEMA IST Briefings

Several briefingsSeveral briefings

were held each daywere held each day

to review progressto review progress

and establishand establish

objectives for theobjectives for the

next day.next day.

Daily IST BriefingsDaily IST Briefings

Daily IST BriefingsDaily IST Briefings

were scheduled towere scheduled to

review situationreview situation

status, planning,status, planning,

and operations.and operations.

US&R TF AssignmentsUS&R TF Assignments

Each day, the ISTEach day, the IST

would assignwould assign

different areasdifferent areas

(Divisions) to each(Divisions) to each

Task Force.Task Force.

Resources were veryResources were very

limited and oftenlimited and often

had to be obtainedhad to be obtained

in the field.in the field.

FEMA Search GridsFEMA Search Grids

The City wasThe City was

divided intodivided into

Branches andBranches and

Divisions toDivisions to

allow forallow for

organized gridorganized grid

searches.searches.

Hazard AreasHazard Areas

Certain areas wereCertain areas wereidentified as havingidentified as havingspecial hazards tospecial hazards toovercome beforeovercome before

being searched.being searched. Most of the areasMost of the areas

had the basichad the basichazards of shooting,hazards of shooting,looting, andlooting, andcontaminants.contaminants.

Flood MapFlood Map

Maps wereMaps were

obtained from theobtained from the

US GeologicalUS Geological

Survey regardingSurvey regardingapproximateapproximate

flooded areas.flooded areas.



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New Orleans BurningNew Orleans Burning

Many large firesMany large fires

could be seencould be seen

throughout Newthroughout New

Orleans.Orleans.

Due to flooding andDue to flooding and

limited water supply,limited water supply,

these fires werethese fires were

difficult for the Firedifficult for the Fire

Dept. to extinguish.Dept. to extinguish.

Displaced Victims on IDisplaced Victims on I --1010

On Friday, a convoyOn Friday, a convoyof 134 US&Rof 134 US&Rvehicles moved tovehicles moved tothe N.W. area ofthe N.W. area ofNew Orleans. ThisNew Orleans. Thisroute went on Iroute went on I --1010near thenear theSuperdome. ThereSuperdome. Therewere manywere manydisplaced victimsdisplaced victimsalong the road.along the road.

Route ObstructionsRoute Obstructions

The convoy had toThe convoy had to

overcome severalovercome several

obstructions,obstructions,

including a largeincluding a large

flooded area thatflooded area that

prohibited someprohibited some

vehicles fromvehicles from

passing.passing.

Looted AreasLooted Areas

On Friday, most of theOn Friday, most of the

US&R Task Forces,US&R Task Forces,

including the CAincluding the CA

swiftwaterswiftwater teams,teams,

worked the areas alongworked the areas along

ChefChef MenteurMenteur on theon the

N.E. side of NO.N.E. side of NO.

This area had been theThis area had been the

site of much looting andsite of much looting and

shootings.shootings.

Nursing HomesNursing Homes Nursing Homes were hardNursing Homes were hard

hit, as most residentshit, as most residentscouldn’t escape on their own.couldn’t escape on their own.

This nursing home had 15+This nursing home had 15+fatalities and about 50 livingfatalities and about 50 living

occupants. They wereoccupants. They weremedically triaged and thenmedically triaged and thentransported by helicopter totransported by helicopter tomedical care. A Nun and anmedical care. A Nun and anLPN were trying to take careLPN were trying to take careof them by themselves whenof them by themselves whenthe building started flooding.the building started flooding.They took care of them for 5They took care of them for 5days.days.

Friday, September 2Friday, September 2

On Friday, TNOn Friday, TN--TF1TF1

conducted search andconducted search and

rescue in therescue in the DownmanDownman

area. Another sectionarea. Another section

of Iof I --10 where it was10 where it wasflooded was used as aflooded was used as a

boat launch point.boat launch point.

Many of the victimsMany of the victims

found were looting orfound were looting or

did not want to leave.did not want to leave.



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Coast GuardCoast Guard

The Coast Guard wasThe Coast Guard was

also conducting rescuesalso conducting rescues

by helicopter in thoseby helicopter in those

areas accessible toareas accessible to

helicopters.helicopters.

More other militaryMore other military

helicopters also came inhelicopters also came in

to assist.to assist.

They did an excellentThey did an excellent

job!job!

Downtown FloodingDowntown Flooding

Example ofExample of

flooding inflooding in

downtown neardowntown near

Superdome.Superdome.

Food and Meals to VictimsFood and Meals to Victims

The military establishedThe military established

a Helipad on our campa Helipad on our camp

parking lot to loadparking lot to load

helicopters with foodhelicopters with food

((MREsMREs) and water to) and water to

drop to victims.drop to victims.

FridayFriday – – 2100 Sorties2100 Sorties

SaturdaySaturday – – 3400 Sorties3400 Sorties

Helipad Air ControlHelipad Air Control

The military establishedThe military established

a temporary Air Controla temporary Air Control

Tower to coordinate theTower to coordinate the

hundreds of helicoptershundreds of helicopters

landing.landing.

There was reportedlyThere was reportedly

300 helicopters working300 helicopters working

in New Orleans.in New Orleans.

MealsMeals

Meals were virtuallyMeals were virtuallynonnon--existent for theexistent for thefirst several days,first several days,other thanother than MREsMREs,,

which we ran low on.which we ran low on. FEMA arranged forFEMA arranged for

meals to be providedmeals to be providedin the Saint’s Trainingin the Saint’s TrainingFacility after severalFacility after severaldays.days. MREsMREs were stillwere stillused in the field.used in the f ield.

Sunday, September 4Sunday, September 4

On Sunday, TNOn Sunday, TN--TF1,TF1,

MOMO--TF1 and the CATF1 and the CA

SWR Teams wereSWR Teams were

flown to theflown to theChalmette area.Chalmette area.

The CA Boats had toThe CA Boats had to

be loaded onbe loaded on

Chinooks.Chinooks.



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SecretarySecretary ChertoffChertoff and Dir.and Dir.

BrownBrown

DHS SecretaryDHS SecretaryChertoffChertoff and FEMAand FEMADir. Brown met ourDir. Brown met ourteam at the helipadteam at the helipadas they were aboutas they were aboutto load onto theto load onto thehelicopters.helicopters.

New Orleans MayorNew Orleans MayorNaginNagin was withwas withthem but didn’tthem but didn’tmeet responders.meet responders.


Flood DamageFlood Damage Flood DamageFlood Damage

Landing Zone in ChalmetteLanding Zone in Chalmette

A Landing Zone wasA Landing Zone wasestablished in theestablished in t hefield near thefield near theChalmette NationalChalmette NationalMonument to bringMonument to bringin thein the TFsTFs..

St. Bernard FireSt. Bernard FireFighters assisted.Fighters assisted.

The CA boats had toThe CA boats had tobe transported bybe transported bytruck to the floodtruck to the floodareas.areas.

Forward CommandForward Command --

ChalmetteChalmette

TNTN--TF1 establishedTF1 established

a Forward Commanda Forward Command

in the Chalmettein the ChalmetteNational Memorial toNational Memorial to

coordinate all thecoordinate all t he

teams working inteams working in

the area.the area.



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Chalmette CommunicationsChalmette Communications TNTN--TF1 assisted the ISTTF1 assisted the IST

to establish a repeaterto establish a repeaterin the Chalmette area toin the Chalmette area toassure radio comm.assure radio comm.with the teams.with the teams.

TNTN--TF1 Comm.TF1 Comm.Specialists also used aSpecialists also used aflag pole to provide anflag pole to provide anenhanced antenna forenhanced antenna fordirect communicationsdirect communicationswith the teams. Thiswith the teams. Thisenabled us to helpenabled us to helpcoordinate several CAcoordinate several CASWR Teams.SWR Teams.

Division AssignmentsDivision Assignments

Chip Sneed of TNChip Sneed of TN--

TF1 coordinated OpsTF1 coordinated Ops

with the otherwith the other

teams.teams.

All Task ForcesAll Task Forces

worked very wellworked very well

together.together.

FloodingFlooding -- ChalmetteChalmette St. Bernard Parish Fire Dept.St. Bernard Parish Fire Dept.

St. Bernard FireSt. Bernard Fire

Fighters established anFighters established an

EOC in their FireEOC in their Fire

Station in Chalmette.Station in Chalmette.

They had generators,They had generators,

food and water. Theyfood and water. They

had begun searchinghad begun searching

their neighborhoodstheir neighborhoods

and assisted us whenand assisted us when

we arrived.we arrived.

Petroleum Plant nearPetroleum Plant near

ChalmetteChalmette

A Petroleum PlantA Petroleum Plant

on the E. end ofon the E. end of

Chalmette releasedChalmette releasedthousands of gallonsthousands of gallons

of oil into the water.of oil into the water.

Oil Covered NeighborhoodsOil Covered Neighborhoods

Oil covered many ofOil covered many of

the neighborhoodsthe neighborhoodsand could be seenand could be seen

where the waterwhere the water

was subsiding.was subsiding.



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Contaminated WaterContaminated Water

Oil and otherOil and other

contaminants cancontaminants can

be seen in thebe seen in the

water.water.

Personnel andPersonnel and

equipment had toequipment had to

be decontaminatedbe decontaminated

afterwards.afterwards.

Boat Rescue TeamsBoat Rescue Teams

SwiftwaterSwiftwater RescueRescue

Teams searchingTeams searching

neighborhoods forneighborhoods for

victims.victims.

Hurricane Damage and FloodsHurricane Damage and Floods Natural Gas LeaksNatural Gas Leaks

Several largeSeveral large

natural gas linesnatural gas lines

had been brokenhad been broken

and were flowingand were flowing

in the floodedin the flooded

areas.areas.

Helicopter TransportHelicopter Transport

Helicopters oftenHelicopters often

had to be used tohad to be used to

access areas.access areas.

Large helicopters,Large helicopters,i.e. Chinooks, hadi.e. Chinooks, had

to carry boats,to carry boats,

whilewhile BlackhawksBlackhawks

andand HueysHueys flewflew

rescuers.rescuers.

Landing ZoneLanding Zone -- ChalmetteChalmette

Rescue teamsRescue teams

loadingloading

supplies on asupplies on ahelicopter inhelicopter in

Chalmette.Chalmette.



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Flying back to CampFlying back to Camp

TNTN--TF1 PersonnelTF1 Personnel

on Chinook headedon Chinook headed

back to Camp afterback to Camp after

long day’s work.long day’s work.

End of a Long DayEnd of a Long Day

TNTN--TF1 PersonnelTF1 Personnel

return to campreturn to camp

after a long day.after a long day.

Monday, September 5Monday, September 5

TNTN--TF1 and MOTF1 and MO--TF1TF1

searched ansearched an

Industrial area onIndustrial area on

the S.E. end of Chefthe S.E. end of Chef

MenteurMenteur on the N.E.on the N.E.

side of the City.side of the City.

Search by VehicleSearch by Vehicle

Vehicles were usedVehicles were used

to locate victims into locate victims in

areas whereareas where

flooding was less.flooding was less.

SWAT personnelSWAT personnel

accompanied searchaccompanied search

teams for security.teams for security.

New Orleans Fire DepartmentNew Orleans Fire Department

Due to lack ofDue to lack ofcommunications,communications,some New Orleanssome New OrleansFire Stations beganFire Stations began

operatingoperatingindependently asindependently astheir own firetheir own firedepartment. Theydepartment. Theyobtained supplies toobtained supplies toallow them toallow them toremain in operation.remain in operation.

EvacueesEvacuees

TNTN--TF1 personnelTF1 personnel

assisted inassisted in

transporting manytransporting many

evacuees to triageevacuees to triage

and treatmentand treatment

areas.areas.

It was heartbreakingIt was heartbreaking

to see how manyto see how many

children there were.children there were.



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Military SupportMilitary Support

The Military wasThe Military was

continuously bringing incontinuously bringing in

troops. This reallytroops. This really

made a difference inmade a difference in

getting the city undergetting the city under

control and evacuated.control and evacuated.

More troops wereMore troops were

coming in when wecoming in when we

departed on Tuesday,departed on Tuesday,

September 6.September 6.

TNTN--TF1TF1 – – Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina

August 27 – September 6, 2005 Approx. 800-1000 Rescues

tennessee task force one response to hurricane katrina

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