Army Corps of Engineers actively supports Hurricane Ike recovery

Nearly 1,000 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees are actively supporting emergency response and recovery throughout Texas and Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Ike to:

• Support immediate emergency response priorities;
• Sustain lives with temporary emergency power, water and ice, and other needs; and,
• Set conditions for recovery by assessing and restoring coastal protection and navigation infrastructure.

Initial reports indicate no major damage to coastal levees and seawalls. Detailed aerial and visual inspections of flood protection structures along coastal Texas and Louisiana will provide further information about any damages incurred and needed repairs.

One of the Corps’ highest priorities is to survey Houston's channels and ports in order to quickly return the nation's second largest port to full commercial capacity. As part of the Texas Joint Hurricane Response Team, the Corps is partnering with the Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association and the shipping industry to survey and open the coastal waterways.

There are 17 survey boats at work conducting hydrographic and side scan sonar surveys within the Corps' Galveston District area of responsibility to quickly reopen these waterways that are so critical to the nation's economy and industry. Seven survey vessels are being activated to carry surveys along the Calcasieu River.

Initial navigation surveys from Corpus Christi to Freeport were completed on Sept. 14. The Corpus Christi Ship Channel reopened Monday, Sept. 15. Continuing high tides of seven to 10 feet above normal and sea conditions have prevented navigation surveys from being accomplished in the Houston, Galveston and Sabine areas. (more)

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