Texas and Hurricane Ike

The challenges mother nature presents to DOT’s

Charlotte KuceraTxDOT Environmental Affairs Division

Some facts about Texas

• Population 20,851,820

• 256 counties

• 94% of Texas land is privately held

- 2.5% Federal

- 3% State

- 0.5% Local

N. California Forest Service Land

Texas Public Lands

http://www.texasep.org

Some facts about TxDOT

• 80,000 centerline miles~41,000 Farm or Ranch to Market miles

• 1.1 million acres of ROW

• Almost 50, 000 bridges

• 30 international bridges

• 665 picnic areas

• 100 rest areas

TxDOT and Resource Agencies

• 25 TxDOT Districts• 5 Coastal Districts

• Four USACE offices• Four USFWS offices• One NMFS habitat office• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department• Texas General Land Office

TxDOT Districts

Hurricane Ike

Ike Facts

• Ike made U.S. landfall at Galveston, Texas, on September 13 at 2:10am CDT

• Category 2 hurricane with winds of 110 mph• The 2:00 am National Hurricane Center advisory

cited tropical storm and hurricane force winds extending 275 miles and 120 miles, respectively, from the center.

• Storm surge projected at Category 4 height

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Ike

Hurricane Ike shortly before landfall, September 13, 1:07am

Houston/Galveston Radar

Green line is Hurricane Ike track

http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/ike/photo-comparisons/galveston.html

http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/ike/photo-comparisons/bolivar.html

IH 45 Galveston Causeway, Galveston, TX

IH 45 Galveston Causeway, Galveston, TX

SH 87 Bridge at Rollover Pass, Gilchrist, TX

Barge on SH 73, Port Arthur, TX

SH 146

Kemah to Seabrook, TX

TxDOT Primary Response

TxDOT Secondary Response

• Nov. 20th, 2008 Texas Governor Perry directs TxDOT to assist in debris recovery

• TxDOT continues to assist hardest hit areas with maintenance forces

• TxDOT secures 3 contracts for emergency debris removal services

• 3 oversight contractors secured through emergency purchase order

FEMA Green Book

• Department of Homeland Security

• Federal Emergency Management Agency

• Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

• Environmental Considerations and Contacts

• FEMA-1791-DR-TX

• FEMA-3294-EM-TX

EPA Container Recovery Plan

• Hurricane Ike Response

• Guidance Plan for the Recovery of ESF-10 Containers in the Coastal Marshes of the State of Texas

• Unified Command

- USEPA-USCG-TGLO-TCEQ

• Coordinated with the USACE, USFWS, NMFS, TPWD, etc.

TxDOT Debris Removal Plan

• Based on both the Green Book and the EPA Plan

• Calls for site specific scoping and coordination of debris removal activities

• Pairs environmental specialists with contractor representatives

• Permits are secured by other Texas state agencies for work done on public land

• Permits are secured by TxDOT or a County for work done on private land

Galveston Island State Park, Galveston, TX

SH 124, Beaumont, TX

Hurricane Ike Aftermath

Charlotte Kucera

TxDOT Environmental Affairs Division

ckucera@dot.state.tx.us