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Hurricane Katrina Aftermath Reports

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Alabama currently has 24 employees assisting with various phases of recovery in the state. Three other groups of employees will assist after completion of damage assessments and mission clarification is complete that will total as many as 60 employees of varying disciplines and skills to assist with debris removal, clean-up, emergency contracting, etc.
Last week the Alabama NRCS State Conservationist:
- Surveyed the damage in Mobile, Baldwin, and Washington Counties.
- Looked at cropland, timber, pecan orchards, and Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) sites.
- Met with district supervisors and producers
Alabama State Staff Forester is working with the U.S. Forest Service and the Alabama Forestry Commission to analyze and coordinate clean-up of forestland damage.
Alabama had an emergency FAC meeting with Rural Development and Farm Service Agency to discuss hurricane Katrina damages. They talked about how to use the various programs and what flexibilities could be requested to aid producers.
The pecan crop in south Alabama has been lost.
Cotton in the hurricane area has about 50 percent damage.
Many trees along the coast have damage from salt water and wind.
The District Conservationists in Baldwin and Mobile Counties have met with the County Commissions and city officials to put together plans to for exigency requests for EWP assistance.
As a result of canopy loss and timber damage, there will be an increase in invasive species, such as cogongrass and popcorn trees.
Assistance with fencing repair is the most frequent request that field offices are getting as a result of the hurricane.
NRCS has talked with the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The Corps wants to make use of the EWP authority to help with wet debris removal in non-navigable streams in Alabama.
Beginning Monday, September 17th, NRCS will have representatives meet each Monday with the Corps to report where the most pressing needs exist.