UPDATE 4: Coast Guard continues to support Hurricane Ida recovery efforts

 

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Heartland Contact: 8th District Public Affairs 618-225-7866 uscgida@gmail.com Eighth District online newsroom

UPDATE 4: Coast Guard continues to support Hurricane Ida recovery efforts

 

 

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NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard continues to respond to impacts to the waterways and assess the environmental threats across Southeast Louisiana Thursday, post-Hurricane Ida.

In partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), the Coast Guard is continuing efforts to re-open waterways impacted by Hurricane Ida in the areas of Bayou Lafourche, Houma Navigation Canal, and portions of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

Obstructions to the affected waterways are being identified and removed to restore the area to pre-storm conditions.

To date, 25 obstructions comprised primarily of fishing vessels, crew vessels, and offshore supply vessels have been identified in the Bayou Lafourche channel. Additionally, 30 submerged targets have been identified in the Houma Navigation Canal. Fifteen of those targets in the Houma Navigation Canal have been cleared or removed. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to coordinate operations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to identify and remove waterway obstructions.

The Coast Guard also continues to receive and investigate all reports made to the National Response Center (NRC).

Coast Guard crews are working to identify and prioritize threats to the environment and navigable waterways through overflights and surface inspections of areas impacted by the storm.

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans oversees 1,082 total aids to navigation in their area of responsibility. Of the 1,082 aids, 384 have been identified as damaged or are offline to date as a result of Hurricane Ida. Aids to navigation teams have restored or have made temporary corrections to 277 of those aids, which is 72% of those identified.

The Coast Guard is working closely with the State of Louisiana, Environmental Protection Agency, and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, to respond to reports of pollution.

To date, the Coast Guard has assessed 2,259 out of 2,464 reports of pollution. Of the reports, there are:

• 1,217 reports that have been closed or transferred to appropriate jurisdictions,
• 326 reports where the reports were unverified as there was no remaining evidence of pollution on-site,
• 602 reports where the Coast Guard is actively supervising the mitigation efforts that are being carried out by responsible parties,
• 23 reports are under investigation by the Coast Guard.

These numbers will change as the environmental response teams continue to assess and reprioritize targets. Anyone who sees pollution is encouraged to contact the NRC at 1-800-424-8802.

Those who have uncompensated removal costs or damages resulting from an oil spill to the navigable waters or the threat of an oil spill to the navigable waters may be entitled to compensation from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. Please contact 1-800-280-7118 to see if you are eligible for a claim. 

Port conditions change based on weather forecasts, and current port conditions can be viewed on the following Coast Guard homeport webpages:

• Sector Mobile, Alabama Port Directory page.
• Sector New Orleans Port Directory page.
• Sector Houston-Galveston Port Directory page.
• Sector Corpus Christi, Texas Port Directory page.
• Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, Texas Port Directory page.
• Marine Safety Unit Houma, Louisiana Port Directory page.

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-USCG-