Chemical and microbiological characteristics of Katrina floodwater and sediment

DSTR 25

John H. Pardue, jpardue@lsu.edu1, KT. Valsaraj, valsaraj@lsu.edu2, WM. Moe, moemwil@lsu.edu1, and Louis Thibodeaux, thibod@lsu.edu3. (1) Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, (2) Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, (3) Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Hurricane Katrina, rated as a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, made landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast near New Orleans, Louisiana, (USA) on Monday, August 29, 2005. The storm brought heavy winds and rain to the city and several levees intended to protect New Orleans from the water of Lake Pontchartrain were breached. Consequently, up to 80% of the city was flooded with water reaching depths in excess of three meters in some locations. Research described in this paper was conducted to provide an assessment of contaminants present in floodwaters shortly after the storm and to characterize water pumped out of the city into Lake Pontchartrain once dewatering operations began several days after the storm. Follow-up sediment sampling weeks after dewatering will also be discussed in light of the hazards of resettling. Chemical results will be discussed in context of residential risk-based standards and the relationship to resettling after flooding. Lessons learned applicable to other areas after flooding will discussed.
 

Recovery from and Prevention of Natural Disasters
8:30 AM-10:30 AM, Wednesday, 13 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Room 300, Oral

Recovery From & Prevention of Natural Disasters

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006