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Hurricane Katrina Aftermath Reports

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

  • Three Alabama counties, Baldwin, Mobile, and Washington, have been placed on fire alert. According to state forestry officials, these counties were the most impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The fire alert has been issued for several emergency reasons that include:
    • Much of this area does not have basic services such as water, power, and telephones, making it difficult or impossible to report, respond to, and extinguish fires.
    • Smoke from multiple fires will be a problem especially for those who have no power and are leaving windows open in their homes.
    • The fuel shortage is making it difficult for Alabama Forestry Commission firefighters and fire departments to respond to fires.
  • Alabama NRCS is working with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to enlighten them on NRCS programs that are available to help in emergency situations. These agencies will be referring local sponsors to NRCS for debris removal in non-navigable streams.
  • The Alabama State Staff Forester, State Conservationist, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, and the Public Affairs Specialist joined a teleconference on 9/13/05 conducted by the Forest Service regarding timber damage.
  • The NRCS delivery vehicle for assistance will be the Emergency Watershed Protection Program.  Issues identified:
    • Cash flow for small mills is a problem. Is there provision for low interest loans to these small operators to enable them to hold lumber for longer periods of time?
    • Relaxing the weight limits on log trucks during this emergency period is helpful. Departments of transportation have the authority to do this. It would be helpful if states were consistent with the weight limits.
    • The relaxation of the weight limits needs to be for an extended period of time, i.e. 18 months.
    • States need to encourage contractors to abide by the weight limits that are established
    • States should hold landowner meetings to listen to their needs as well as provide an avenue to transmit information



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