FEMA Updates Search, Find And Secure Activities For Columbia Emergency [4:00 p.m. Release]
Release Date: February 6, 2003
Release Number: 3171-09
» More Information on Texas Loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia
» More Information on Louisiana Loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia
Lufkin, TX -- The massive effort to search, find and secure materials from the space shuttle Columbia will continue despite cold temperatures and a steady rain across much of the search area, Deputy Director Michael Brown of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said today.
"Poor visibility will hinder some air search operations but ground searchers will be in the field," said Brown. "The search teams understand the importance of this mission to public safety and the Columbia investigation."
Brown stressed that private citizens should not attempt to recover shuttle material due to the potential danger from toxic substances. Officials announced the arrest of two Texas residents for theft of shuttle material and offered amnesty through 5 p.m. Friday to others who may have removed material without notifying authorities.
Brown announced the following information updating the search:
- FEMA will re-locate the Disaster Field Office in Lufkin Friday to a new location. This new structure will house officials coordinating the documentation and collection of shuttle material with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and state and local agencies.
- NASA has scheduled three memorial services for the shuttle astronauts Saturday in Lufkin, at the Naval Air Station (JRB), Fort Worth and Barksdale Air Force Base near Shreveport, La.
- The state of Texas has activated 800 National Guard troops to work the search area. In addition 353 Department of Public Safety personnel and 140 forest service workers are in the field. The Commission on Environmental Quality has 23 teams deployed.
- Louisiana has 174 searchers in the field and has recovered 115 pieces of material.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has collected 1,106 bags of material from 60 search teams working out of the Lufkin area. The agency has deployed 370 persons to help with the collection of hazardous material.
- FBI Evidence Recovery Teams are assisting searchers in seeing that material collected is handled according to proper procedures in a consistent manner.
- The U.S. Coast Guard has 38 members of its Gulf, Pacific and Atlantic Strike Teams providing safety supervision to searchers operating on the water and in the field.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 04-Jun-2003 21:09:51