FEMA Updates Search, Find, And Secure Activities Relating To Columbia Accident
Release Date: February 12, 2003
Release Number: 3171-19
» More Information on Texas Loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia
» More Information on Louisiana Loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia
Lufkin, TX -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to work with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state agencies in Texas and Louisiana and other organizations involved in the ongoing recovery effort to make federal resources available.
"We have had tremendous cooperation from state and federal agencies, with more than 2,500 personnel involved in the recovery effort. We continue to support NASA and make federal resources available to them. This effort exemplifies the true American spirit and highlights the compassion and willingness to help those involved in the federal, state, local and volunteer arenas," said Scott Wells, FEMA federal coordinating officer.
Wells announced the following information -
- Space shuttle material recovery effort today is centered in eastern
Texas and western Louisiana.
- More than 1,600 recovered items have been transported to Barksdale
Air Force Base, Shreveport, Louisiana. The recovered pieces will ultimately
be sent to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida for shuttle reconstruction.
- NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe reported early this week that approximately
12,000 pieces of Columbia debris from Columbia have been collected along
a 500-mile swath between Fort Worth, Texas and the Texas-Louisiana border.
- Although there have been reports of potential shuttle material finds
in 27 states and eight jurisdictions outside the United States, no confirmed
material has been recovered west of Fort Worth, Texas. There have been
179 reports of material from California and 105 have been closed. Of
the 162 reports in Arizona, eight have been closed and of 12 reports
in New Mexico, four have been closed.
- To assist with recovery efforts, searchers are using Civil Air Patrol volunteers, airborne radar and other assets. The United States Navy is making assets available to EPA to assist in the search of the waters of Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn reservoirs.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 26-Mar-2003 09:16:14