September 23, 2005

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DOT stages equipment in preparation for Rita

Large electrical generators are being staged to provide power, emergency vehicles are being safely stored on ships and a vessel designed to serve as a floating gas station are all on standby to support rescue and recovery operations in the wake of Hurricane Rita, Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta announced Friday, Sept. 23.

"We are doing what needs to be done to support local efforts to rebuild and recover after Hurricane Rita," Mineta said. "We are prepared to deploy ships and generators to help teams save lives, restore basic services and begin the reconstruction process."

Specifically, the Department of Transportation was taking the following steps as of Friday to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the states of Texas and Louisiana as Hurricane Rita approached.

Trucks and supplies

Delivering thirteen refrigerated trailers, one tanker of diesel fuel, seven trucks of tarps, five trucks of plastic sheeting, six trailers filled with cots, one trailer filled with tents, 62 trailers filled with MREs, one trailer filled with medical cargo and one filled with sleeping bags to FEMA staging areas in Texas. The DOT will also deliver at least two trailer-loads of water a day until further notice.
During the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, the DOT sent supplies to staging areas in both Texas and Louisiana. Many of these supplies remain available to support Hurricane Rita relief operations as well.

Highway repair

Temporarily suspending repair work on Interstate 10 Twinspan bridges between Slidell, LA, and New Orleans so crews can secure equipment in advance of Hurricane Rita. The contractor will be given an extra day to complete the project for every day work is delayed by weather.
Engineering teams are already on the ground in Texas and Louisiana to support state and local efforts to assess key roads and bridges and begin planning emergency repairs if needed.

Ports and shipping

Using two Ready Reserve Vessels, the SS Cape Vincent and the SS Cape Victory, docked at the Port of Beaumont to shelter more than 70 of the city's emergency vehicles so once the storm passes they can be unloaded and immediately deployed.
Preparing the SS Potomac, a pipeline vessel currently at the Port of Orange in Texas, to serve as a floating gas station to provide fuel for emergency and relief operations along the Texas and Louisiana coasts as needed.

Oil pipelines

Working to arrange delivery of large electrical generators to Mississippi to provide emergency power if needed to resume pipeline operations once Hurricane Rita passes.

Trains and Equipment

Discussing the possibility of using railroad locomotives as portable power sources should emergency and rescue crews need temporary electricity and provided the tracks are passable.

Airlifts

Provided four large civil aircraft to support the evacuation of over 4,250 mostly elderly or sick people from Beaumont by special airlift, including 250 people this morning, in anticipation of Hurricane Rita.
Supported the evacuation of over 1,500 people by air from Houston
Commercial airlines temporarily halting service later today at both Houston-Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental until after Hurricane Rita passes.

Buses

Providing over 800 buses in response to requests from Texas and Louisiana officials to help to support evacuation efforts.

Mineta added that more equipment and resources can and will be made available to support evacuation, relief and recovery operations as needed by FEMA, state and local officials.

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