Tennessee Task Force One
„ TN-
Response to
Hurricane Katrina
New Orleans, LA
August/September 2005
Activation
„ As Hurricane Katrina
grew in strength, FEMA
activated TN-
TN-TF1 and
MO-
MO-TF1 as Type III
Task Forces and TX-
TX-TF1
as Type I Task Force.
„ Type III Task Forces
are a light TF with 28
persons for quick
response.
„ Type I Task Forces are
the full 70 person TF.
Category 5 Hurricane
„ On August 28,
Hurricane Katrina
reached Category 5
level with winds of
175 mph and
pressure of 902 mb,
mb,
the 4th lowest
pressure recorded.
FEMA US&R
TN-TF1 is 1 of 28 FEMA
Urban Search and
Rescue Task Forces.
„ For major hurricanes,
FEMA normally sends
the closest 3 Task
Forces to a staging area
within 4-
4-6 hours of the
expected point of
impact.
Staging at Shreveport, LA
„ TN-
TN-TF1 left Memphis on
Saturday, August 27, 2005,
arriving in Shreveport
about 4:30 am on Sunday.
„ TN-
TN-TF1 held plans
meetings with the FEMA
Incident Support Team
(IST) and the other TFs.
TFs.
„ TN-
TN-TF1 also conducted
refresher training on GPS
and water rescue safety.
„ FEMA also activated OH-
OH-
TF1 and IN-
IN-TF1 to go to
Meridian NAS, MS.
Landfall
„ Hurricane Katrina
made landfall near
Buras, LA (S.E. of
New Orleans) at 6:10
am CDT on Monday,
August 29, as a
Category 4 Hurricane
with winds of 140
mph.
„ Katrina remained a
hurricane for 100
miles inland.
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Headed to New Orleans New Orleans
„ On Monday „ TN-
TN-TF1, MO-
MO-TF1
morning, Hurricane and the IST moved
Katrina struck the into New Orleans
gulf coast. late Monday night.
„ TN-
TN-TF1, MO-
MO-TF1 „ Apparently, there
and TX-
TX-TF1 headed was no
to Baton Rouge to communication with
the New Orleans
prepare to go to
government at this
New Orleans. time.

New Orleans Sam’s Club

„ TN-
TN-TF1, MO-MO-TF1
and the FEMA IST
„ TN-
TN-TF1 and MO-
MO-TF1 operated out of the
spent the night in Sam’s Club parking
the parking lot of lot on Tuesday.
the Sam’s Club
Warehouse on „ There was no
Airline Rd. near facilities or utilities
Metairie. available.

Missouri Task Force One Type III Org Chart

„ The Type III Task
Force includes 2
Search and Rescue
„ MO-
MO-TF1 worked with Reconaissance
TN-
TN-TF1 for much of Teams.
Each Search and
the deployment.
„
Rescue Team
includes a
„ TN-
TN-TF1 has worked manager, 2 canine
with MO-
MO-TF1 before, search specialists,
a technical search
particularly specialist, 2 rescue
Hurricane Isabel in specialists, a
structural engineer,
VA in 2003 and a haz-
haz-mat
Hurricane Dennis in specialist, a
medical specialist,
MS in 2005. a safety officer,
and a logistics
specialist.

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 Search/Rescue Team Briefing Texas Task Force One

„ A Search and
Rescue Team is
„ TX-
TX-TF1 arrived in
briefed prior to
New Orleans from
beginning
Baton Rouge on
operations on
Tuesday morning.
Tuesday morning.

FEMA IST Communications

„ Radios were the main
„ The FEMA IST way to communicate
established operations between the TFs and
initially under the fuel FEMA.
canopy at Sam’s Club „ TF & IST
on Tuesday. Communications
„ This location became Specialists established
very active by the end additional
of the day. communications,
„ TN-
TN-TF1 personnel including repeaters on
assisted the IST, which tall buildings.
was virtually
overwhelmed.

Rescue Operations Victim Transport

„ Due to a lack of
„ Rescue Operations
were initiated on ambulances or other
Tuesday in the north means of
central (Lakeview) transportation,
area of New Orleans, pickups were often
using the I-
I-10 used to transport
overpass near the west the evacuees to a
I-610 interchange triage area.
where it was under
water.

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Boat Rescue Teams Many Rescues
„ Boats were obtained
from various „ TN-
TN-TF1 rescued
sources, including about 300 victims
private citizens (with on Tuesday.
FEMA contract) and MO-
„ MO-TF1 and TX-
TX-
area Sheriffs.
TF1 had similar
„ Small teams in boats results.
would rescue victims
and bring them back
to the overpass.

Hurricane Damage TN-

TN-TF1 BOO at Zephyr Center
„ On Tuesday night, the
„ New Orleans had FEMA Teams were
suffered much relocated to the
damage, in addition parking lot behind the
to the flooding. Zephyr Baseball
Stadium.
Routes had to be
found to get around „ Again, there were no
utilities or facilities.
the flooding and
The conditions were
damage. “austere.”

TN-
TN-TF1 BOO Wednesday, August 31
„ On Wednesday, TN-TN-
„ We wanted TF1, MO-
MO-TF1, TX-
TX-TF1,
everyone to know and FL-
FL-TF1 continued
that TN-
TN-TF1 was rescues, primarily
there so we from the I-
I-10 at I-
I-610
renamed the overpass.
streets at camp to „ Boats used were
Elvis Presley and government boats or
Beale. EPA contractors.

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 I-10/I-
10/I-610 Boat Ramp I-610 Command

„ The E. and W. „ FEMA established a

bound lanes of forward command
I-10 as well as on I-
I-10 at I-
I-610.
an off ramp „ TN-
TN-TF1 set up a
served as boat forward operating
ramps to area at the boat
launch boats ramp to support
and bring back operations, including
victims. victims.

Flooding Flood Damage

„ In addition to the
„ Example of the flooding, the
flooding in the hurricane piled up
Lakeview area in cars and other
north central New items. Many of
Orleans. these became
obstacles for the
boats.

Levees Divide Neighborhoods Transferring Evacuees

„ Some levees „ Smaller boats would

obstructed access to bring the victims to
other the levee, where
neighborhoods. they were
Small boats were transferred into
pulled over these larger boats for
levees to access the transport back to
back neighborhoods. the I-
I-10 overpass.

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 Flood Victims Boats
„ There were „ Search & Rescue
hundreds of victims Teams had to
in the flooded overcome many
neighborhoods that obstacles to access
had to be rescued. the victims.
Sadly, a large „ Smaller, flat bottom
number of them boats worked best
were children. around the damaged
houses.

Flood Damage Triage Area on I-

I-10
„ A Triage Area was
established on I-I-10 a little
ways from the boat
„ Flood damage was launches.
extensive. „ Victims were moved to this
location for further treatment
and transport.
„ On Tuesday, transport of
victims was very limited due
to limited local resources.
„ On Wednesday, more
ambulances and busses
became available.

FEMA Incident Support Team

Displaced Victims (IST)
„ FEMA established
„ Many victims their IST inside the
displaced by the Saint’s Training
floods had no where Facility.
to go. Many would
„ It had no utilities or
accumulate under
facilities, so
overpasses until
generators and
they were evacuated
portable lighting had
later.
to be set up.

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 FEMA IST Briefings Daily IST Briefings

„ Several briefings „ Daily IST Briefings

were held each day were scheduled to
to review progress review situation
and establish status, planning,
objectives for the and operations.
next day.

US&R TF Assignments FEMA Search Grids

„ Each day, the IST
„ The City was
would assign
divided into
different areas
Branches and
(Divisions) to each
Divisions to
Task Force.
allow for
„ Resources were very organized grid
limited and often searches.
had to be obtained
in the field.

Hazard Areas Flood Map

„ Certain areas were
„ Maps were
identified as having
special hazards to obtained from the
overcome before US Geological
being searched. Survey regarding
„ Most of the areas approximate
had the basic flooded areas.
hazards of shooting,
looting, and
contaminants.

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New Orleans Burning
„ Many large fires
could be seen
throughout New
Orleans.
„ Due to flooding and
limited water supply,
these fires were
difficult for the Fire
Dept. to extinguish.
Route Obstructions
„ The convoy had to
overcome several
obstructions,
including a large
flooded area that
prohibited some
vehicles from
passing.
Nursing Homes
„ Nursing Homes were hard
hit, as most residents
couldn’t escape on their own.
„ This nursing home had 15+
fatalities and about 50 living
occupants. They were
medically triaged and then
transported by helicopter to
medical care. A Nun and an
LPN were trying to take care
of them by themselves when
the building started flooding.
They took care of them for 5
days.
Displaced Victims on I-
I-10
„ On Friday, a convoy
of 134 US&R
vehicles moved to
the N.W. area of
New Orleans. This
route went on I-I-10
near the
Superdome. There
were many
displaced victims
along the road.
Looted Areas
„ On Friday, most of the
US&R Task Forces,
including the CA
swiftwater teams,
worked the areas along
Chef Menteur on the
N.E. side of NO.
„ This area had been the
site of much looting and
shootings.
Friday, September 2
„ On Friday, TN-
TN-TF1
conducted search and
rescue in the Downman
area. Another section
of I-
I-10 where it was
flooded was used as a
boat launch point.
„ Many of the victims
found were looting or
did not want to leave.
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 Rescue Boat Teams CA Swiftwater Boat Teams
„ For security, boat „ Although water safety
teams worked in trained, the FEMA US&R
Teams are not fully
groups and had equipped for water
some police rescue, such as boats.
officers with „ The California Task
them. Forces are also
Swiftwater Rescue
„ About 15 victims Teams through their
were removed State. All 8 CA TFs
from this area. brought out their 14-
14-
person SWR Teams.

Security Police Protection

„ Many of the areas that
were worked, especially
„ One area worked
on Friday, were the near Downman was
scenes of much looting the sight of much
and shootings. criminal activity.
„ Police Officers helped
provide protection. „ For our protection,
„ These New Orleans police snipers were
Police Officers had lost brought in when we
their homes and were were to leave the
living in a makeshift
shelter with other area.
officers.

FEMA IST Forward Command Communications

„ At times, FEMA „ Radio towers and
established a repeaters were also
forward operations set up to enhance
command on the our radio
high overpass to communications.
allow good radio „ This mobile repeater
communications was established on a
with all teams high overpass.
working in the area.

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 Coast Guard Downtown Flooding
„ The Coast Guard was
also conducting rescues
by helicopter in those
areas accessible to „ Example of
helicopters. flooding in
„ More other military downtown near
helicopters also came in Superdome.
to assist.
„ They did an excellent
job!

Food and Meals to Victims Helipad Air Control

„ The military established
„ The military established
a Helipad on our camp
a temporary Air Control
parking lot to load
Tower to coordinate the
helicopters with food
hundreds of helicopters
(MREs)
MREs) and water to
landing.
drop to victims.
„ There was reportedly
„ Friday – 2100 Sorties
300 helicopters working
„ Saturday – 3400 Sorties in New Orleans.

Meals Sunday, September 4

„ Meals were virtually
non-
non-existent for the „ On Sunday, TN-
TN-TF1,
first several days, MO-
MO-TF1 and the CA
other than MREs,
MREs, SWR Teams were
which we ran low on. flown to the
„ FEMA arranged for Chalmette area.
meals to be provided „ The CA Boats had to
in the Saint’s Training be loaded on
Facility after several
Chinooks.
days. MREs were still
used in the field.

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 Secretary Chertoff and Dir.
Brown Flood Damage
„ DHS Secretary
Chertoff and FEMA
Dir. Brown met our
team at the helipad
as they were about
to load onto the
helicopters.
„ New Orleans Mayor
Nagin was with
them but didn’t
meet responders.

Flood Damage Flood Damage

Forward Command -
Landing Zone in Chalmette Chalmette
„ A Landing Zone was
established in the
field near the „ TN-
TN-TF1 established
Chalmette National a Forward Command
Monument to bring in the Chalmette
in the TFs.
TFs.
National Memorial to
„ St. Bernard Fire
Fighters assisted. coordinate all the
„ The CA boats had to teams working in
be transported by the area.
truck to the flood
areas.

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Chalmette Communications Division Assignments
„ TN-
TN-TF1 assisted the IST
to establish a repeater
in the Chalmette area to
assure radio comm. „ Chip Sneed of TN-
TN-
with the teams. TF1 coordinated Ops
„ TN-
TN-TF1 Comm. with the other
Specialists also used a
flag pole to provide an
teams.
enhanced antenna for „ All Task Forces
direct communications worked very well
with the teams. This
enabled us to help together.
coordinate several CA
SWR Teams.

Flooding - Chalmette St. Bernard Parish Fire Dept.

„ St. Bernard Fire
Fighters established an
EOC in their Fire
Station in Chalmette.
They had generators,
food and water. They
had begun searching
their neighborhoods
and assisted us when
we arrived.

Petroleum Plant near

Chalmette Oil Covered Neighborhoods

„ A Petroleum Plant „ Oil covered many of

on the E. end of the neighborhoods
Chalmette released and could be seen
thousands of gallons where the water
of oil into the water. was subsiding.

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Contaminated Water Boat Rescue Teams

„ Oil and other

contaminants can
„ Swiftwater Rescue
be seen in the
Teams searching
water.
neighborhoods for
„ Personnel and victims.
equipment had to
be decontaminated
afterwards.

Hurricane Damage and Floods Natural Gas Leaks

„ Several large
natural gas lines
had been broken
and were flowing
in the flooded
areas.

Helicopter Transport Landing Zone - Chalmette

„ Helicopters often
had to be used to „ Rescue teams
access areas. loading
„ Large helicopters, supplies on a
i.e. Chinooks, had helicopter in
to carry boats, Chalmette.
while Blackhawks
and Hueys flew
rescuers.

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Flying back to Camp End of a Long Day

„ TN-
TN-TF1 Personnel
„ TN-
TN-TF1 Personnel
return to camp
on Chinook headed
after a long day.
back to Camp after
long day’s work.

Monday, September 5 Search by Vehicle

„ TN-
TN-TF1 and MO-
MO-TF1 „ Vehicles were used
searched an to locate victims in
Industrial area on areas where
the S.E. end of Chef flooding was less.
Menteur on the N.E. „ SWAT personnel
side of the City. accompanied search
teams for security.

New Orleans Fire Department Evacuees

„ Due to lack of „ TN-
TN-TF1 personnel
communications, assisted in
some New Orleans transporting many
Fire Stations began evacuees to triage
operating and treatment
independently as areas.
their own fire
department. They „ It was heartbreaking
obtained supplies to to see how many
allow them to children there were.
remain in operation.

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 TN-
TN-TF1 – Hurricane Katrina
Military Support
„ The Military was
continuously bringing in
troops. This really
made a difference in
getting the city under
control and evacuated.
„ More troops were
coming in when we
departed on Tuesday,
September 6.

August 27 – September 6, 2005 Approx. 800-1000 Rescues

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