FEMA Updates Search, Find, and Secure Columbia Accident Activities
Release Date: February 17, 2003
Release Number: 3171-26
» 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) announced today that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has issued a release requesting farmers and ranchers in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana to stay alert for potential Space Shuttle Columbia material on their property.
"Farmers and ranchers and their employees who work on or own property from 60 miles either side of a line from San Francisco, California to Lafayette, Louisiana have been requested to be on the lookout for the material," said Dave Drachlis of NASA. This area includes northern California, southern Nevada, Texas, New Mexico and southern Louisiana.
Federal Coordinating Officer Scott Wells gave the following incident update.
- Space Shuttle Columbia materials resting in fields and on ranches may not resemble typical aircraft components. Pictures of typical shuttle material may be viewed at the following website: www.nasa.gov/columbia/COL_debris_pix.html Individuals discovering what they believe may be shuttle materials are asked to call toll-free 1-866-446-6603.
- FEMA reported that 77 percent of sites in Texas and 99 percent of sites in Louisiana where Shuttle material had been reported have been cleared.
- The Southern Area Incident Command 'Blue Team' has set up a 'Base Camp' in Nacogdoches. The Nacogdoches team is made up of about 350 people at present and is expected to increase to 680 over the next several days. Two additional teams, each consisting of about 700 members, are in the process of being deployed to Palestine and Hemphill, Texas.
- The 'Blue Team' is made up of representatives from NASA, FEMA, EPA, Texas Forest Service, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Corps of Engineers, Nacogdoches County, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and interagency crews and personnel from Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida and New Mexico.
Last Modified: Monday, 14-Apr-2003 09:36:46