OCPR Performance During Hurricane/Flood Fights (Disasters Averted)

October 29, 2008Jerome “Zee” ZeringueGovernor’s Office Coastal Activities

CPRA Presentation

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CPRA est. 2005

Act 367June 2008

OCPRJuly 2008

Gustav & IkeSept. 2008

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"Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storm." Charles Caleb Colton

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Protect me from knowing what I don't need to know.  Protect me from even knowing that there are things to know that I don't know.  Protect me from knowing that I decided not to know about the things that I decided not to know about.  Amen. 

Lord, lord, lord.  Protect me from the consequences of the above prayer.

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2008 Hurricanes: a test of new organization

September 1, 2008 September 12, 2008

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2008 Hurricane Response: Emergency Response

Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP)Emergency Operations Center:

• Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration Desk

• Staffed by OCPR employees formerly from DNR and DOTD

• Addressed issues related to flood protection & restoration

• Coordinated resources among state agencies, Louisiana National Guard, USACE, Levee Boards

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2008 Hurricane Response: Emergency Response

Daily Conference Calls:

• USACE updates on federal flood protection system• Local Levee Boards and Parishes updates on non-federal

flood protection system• Coordination and positioning of resources: Pumps,

Sandbags, Generators, Fuel, Heavy Equipment, Etc.

• Air and ground surveys were coordinated with local, state, and federal leaders.

Sen. David Vitter

Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet

Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District President Anthony Alford

Jerome Zeringue (GOCA)

State Sen.Reggie Dupre, Jr.

Jerome Zeringue (GOCA)

Dave Fruge (OCPR)

On-the-Ground Response to address levee overtoppings and breaches

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Lesson Learned – Moving ForwardThe levee districts want to have people that know their levees at the EOC

Have extra supplies in district or stockpiled depots replacement of sand bags was a problem

Pumps

Need our own communication system

Training new flood fighting measures that will be used should be reviewed and test ahead of time

“How to fight a breach/flood fighting techniques” and other topics to the Levee Safety School

Schedule training through GOHSEP on Web EOC

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“It’s Like I’m Flyin”Poo Poo Broussard

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Calcasieu River

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Cameron, LA

Lake Charles, LA

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Lessons Learned• Integrating lessons learned with future program implementation

Where did Coastal Landscape Features contribute to risk reduction?

• No storm surge reduction with shore-perpendicular navigation channel

A2=9.8ft

No bufferNo reduction

A2=9.9ft

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Lessons Learned• Integrating lessons learned with future program implementation

Where did Coastal Landscape Features contribute to risk reduction?

• Landscape features can contribute to storm surge reduction

Barataria Basin

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Suzie Bayou at L. HermitageRd near Deer Range, LA

Naomi Diversion Canal nearNaomi, LA

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Lessons Learned

Mashriqui, H.S., J.N. Suhayda, and B.R. Couvillion. 2008.

50-years future master plan landscape• Future landscape with

ecosystem restoration suggests potential reductions in storm surge of 3-4 ft in some areas

50-years No Increased Action

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POST Hurricane Ike

Lessons Learned

• Structures built after Hurricane Rita to new building standards survived Hurricane Ike with minimal damage.

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Lessons Learned

• In areas where flooding will still be an issue in the future with planned restoration activities, non-structural (improved building codes, elevated structures, etc) can be effective at reducing damage from flooding events.

Texas Post-Ike

Louisiana Post-Ike

Grand Isle, LA Post-Ike

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Lessons Learned

• we can build more resilient structures and protective systems that can allow us to continue to live in areas adjacent to our working wetlands

• future projections suggest that with planned ecosystem restoration initiatives, we have the possibility to decrease the magnitude of storm surges in some areas

• Flood Protection and Ecosystem Restoration Conference• Comprehensive Planning and Planning Resources for communities• Understanding Coastal Hazards and Flood Risks• Predictive Modeling• Maintaining and Enhancing Flood Protection Systems

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Accomplishing the impossible means only that the boss will add it to your regular duties-- Author Unknown