Disaster Response

hurricane Sandy ruins
damage of hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, LA

USACE Omaha District – Hurricane Katrina Response - Transportation and Disposal of Hazardous Waste, New Orleans, LA

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, assisted in restoring health and normalcy to New Orleans and the surrounding region. We worked hard to remove dangerous and hazardous materials from homes destroyed in the hurricane. Before these homes could be razed and rebuilt, we helped to remove abandoned firearms and ammunition, mercury switches, household chemicals and other sensitive materials, which may have contaminated waterways and soil or endangered demolition workers by providing household hazardous waste (HHW) technicians and site supervisors to operate the HHW collection site for the USACE Orleans Parish. HHW was first removed from damaged structures prior to demolition. Waste was sorted, packaged, prepared for shipment and proper disposal.