Hurricane Ike

EPA Response Update

Citizens should be careful when cleaning up after storm damage. Household chemicals should be separated for proper disposal. Contact your local officials for specific information in your community.

EPA continues to survey Hurricane Ike storm damage using ASPECT aircraft and helicopters. Orphan containers are being secured, collected and removed by response teams. View photos and a video.
EPA response personnel have teamed up state and federal responders in many areas including Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, and Lake Charles in Louisiana; and in Houston, Austin, Pasadena, Beaumont, and Galveson in Texas.
EPA information on safe drinking water, private well precaution, generator safety and many more helpful topics is available.
Listen to or broadcast safety information in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Report oil and chemical spills to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.

Hurricane Gustav

EPA Response Update

EPA is deploying teams to survey Hurricane Gustav storm damage. EPA's ASPECT aircraft conducted a fly-over to gather information. View photos and videos.
EPA is focusing its efforts on drinking water and waste water systems, and responding to chemical spills. No significant spills have been reported.
Information regarding drinking water, private wells, portable generator safety, and precautions for returning home are being distributed through federal, state and local partners. Copies are available.
EPA and LDEQ have deployed five additional wastewater assessment teams to help in restoring systems quickly.

General Hurricane Information

Learn what to do

Information about keeping food and water safe, private water wells, mold, debris and other environmental issues that arise when a disaster happens.

During major disasters, EPA may be called upon by FEMA to offer assistance to state and local governments in response to a release of hazardous materials from a major disaster or emergency. In addition, EPA manages responses to emergencies involving the release of oil or hazardous substances. Each year thousands of oil and chemical spills are reported. Most of these are handled by local police, firefighters and industry first responders. EPA responds to several hundred large spills a year.

Learn about EPA's response resources

Learn about EPA's emergency response teams and about specialized equipment that we can deploy to collect information about chemical spills and pollutants emitted during a disaster.