Office of Coast Survey - United States Coast Pilot

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Results of OCS
Emergency Hydrographic Surveys
Hurricane Season 2005

Emergency Hydrographic Surveys Supporting Reopening Ports and Waterways

Emergency Hydrographic Surveys In Support of Reopening Ports and Waterways - Click on image for larger graphic

The Office of Coast Survey (OCS) provided emergency hydrographic services for the port areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. These services were performed, primarily, by OCS's Navigation Response Teams (NRTs). Determination of areas is based on requests from the United States Coast Guard (USCG), United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and local Port Authorities. Emergency services included performing side scan sonar surveying for updating U.S. Government Navigational Charts, conducting hazardous obstructions surveys (utilizing diving operations), electronic navigation capture, data collection and mapping support capabilities. On a 'normal' workday, the NRTs work in pre-planned areas throughout the national waters. In time of emergency, selected NRTs deploy to the emergency area.

First Hand Accounts

Below are links to first hand accounts of the impact NOAA's Office of Coast Survey emergency hydrographic services have had on the Gulf areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Click on the image for the full article.

In an on-line discussion, a citizen asks Commerce Secretary Gutierrez: "How is the federal government helping businesses restart their operations along the Gulf Coast?"

"Less than two weeks after Katrina made landfall, ports along the Gulf coast and channels on the Mississippi River are once again navigational and safe for ship traffic......."

"AAPA Praises Katrina Response: Kurt Nagle, President and CEO of American Association of Port Authorities has issued a robust defense of the response by federal authorities to the Hurricane Katrina disaster....."

"In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation along the U.S. Gulf Coast this month......"

"The Coast Guard, the Corps of Engineers, and NOAA should especially be commended for their vital and timely assistance provided to ports by surveying channels, identifying any obstructions, reinstalling aids to navigation, and providing emergency dredging. These agencies worked quickly and cooperatively to reopen the channels."

E-mail from Presiding Officer, Houston Pilots

E-mail from Port of Lake Charles

NOAA News September 15, 2005

Hurricane Katrina Response Activities

NOAA's National Marine and Aviation Operations (NMAO) also deployed the NOAA hydrographic survey vessels THOMAS JEFFERSON and NANCY FOSTER to help in this response effort. OCS contracted for hydrographic services to survey the entrance of the Mississippi River. Various staff members from Office of Coast Survey deployed to these vessels to assist with performing the necessary services.

An image of completed surveys. Click image for larger graphic.

The Navigation Response Teams surveyed several miles of the Mississippi River. The side scan surveys of the Lower Mississippi were a key factor in the decision of the USCG Captain of the Port of New Orleans to reopen the river to project depth on September 11.

Louisiana
Emergency Response Team in Cocodrie, LA

The NRTs also completed surveys of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway surrounding New Orleans, Port Fourchon, Biloxi and Pensacola. Surveys completed in Gulfport, Mississippi enabled the USCG cutter to enter on a law enforcement mission. These surveys were among the first completed.

NRT members working on survey data

To support the Navigation Response Teams and our efforts in the region, OCS's two Gulf Region Navigation Managers, Tim Osborn and Alan Bunn, were on site to provide coordination with river pilots, USCG, USACE, and industry as shipping comes back on line.

West
Western Gulf Nav Manager works with NRT6 to prepare for day of surveying

NOAA SHIP NANCY FOSTER completed surveys of approximately 3 square nautical miles in the approaches to Mobile, Ala. The THOMAS JEFFERSON and NANCY FOSTER also spent time in Pascagoula resetting tide gauges destroyed by Katrina.

The hydrographic data services provider completed surveys of the Mississippi River as well, including the river's Gulf Outlet channel.

OCS NRTs and survey personnel chronicled the environment of the areas in which they performed emergency hydrographic survey work in response to Hurricane Katrina.

Please click here to view a photograph slide show (in PDF).

Please click here to view short movie footage of Gulfport.

NOAA's National Geodetic Survey has posted aerial photography from areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane Rita Response Activities

NRT 1 en route to survey in Cameron Parish

NOAA's NMAO also deployed NOAA Ship THOMAS JEFFERSON to contribute to the response activities for this effort.

Gulf
Gulf Coast

OCS' Hurricane Rita response began daily with a morning conference call between OCS Silver Spring and the various responders in the field. Prior to landfall, the calls centered around an examination of the overnight changes in the track and intensity of the hurricane, and the impact any changes could have to the overall response plan.

NOAA and US Coast Guard working together
US Coast Guard and NOAA working together in Gulf

Once landfall was made, the discussion transitioned to the status and location of the deployed Navigation Response Teams (NRT) launches, the status and location of deployed NRT and OCS personnel, and the status of accommodations and ramps that can be used by the NRTs. There was also a report on any NOAA ships that are available for response if needed and their location. The calls also included a review and discussion of the actions taken the previous day to support the response, actions planned for the coming day, transportation and supply conditions in the areas that may be surveyed, and a discussion of anticipated support needs and how to obtain it. The meeting concluded with a discussion of coordination with other offices and agencies. As necessary, representatives from other parts of NOAA's Ocean Service (NOS) - such as Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) and National Geodetic Survey (NGS) - joined these calls.

Navigation Response Vehicles Ready to Go

OCS also participated in a daily conference call with the NOAA Incident Command Center (ICC). The ICC is NOAA’s central coordination post for Hurricane Rita predictions, preparation, and response. All NOAA offices involved in hurricane response were represented and reported what their offices accomplished, what was learned, problems encountered and the possible solutions. These calls ensured NOAA consolidated coordination and awareness of other government agency efforts. At the conclusion of the ICC conference call, ICC personnel briefed other government agencies and Congressional staff.

Stranded Ship in Cameron Parish

NRT 4 surveyed the channels in the vicinity of Galveston and Houston. They found a few minor shoaling contacts yesterday in the Inner and Outer Bar Channel. They are expected to finish surveying their assigned waters today. NRT4 worked with the Army Corps of Engineers to respond to this area.

Wrecked Ship in Cameron Parish

NRT 6 surveyed the channels from Sabine Pass to Port Arthur, as well as the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) west from Sabine Lake.

A childs chair in the debrisfield in Calcasieu Parish
A childs chair in the debris field in Calcasieu Parish

NRT 1 surveyed from the I-10 bridge in Lake Charles to within 13 miles of the jetties at Calcasieu Pass, including a side channel to a LNG terminal, and it’s turning basin. They found several small wrecks in the turning basin. NRT1 also worked with CO-OPS and the Eastern Gulf Navigation Manager to establish tide gauges in the area.

Damaged Homes

Lake Charles Area