Katrina Hits Home

Hurricane Katrina has left the Gulf region with environmental wreckage that is unprecedented in its severity and scope. On behalf of the more than 40,000 members worldwide, AIChE extends its condolences to the victims of the hurricane, and to our 2,500 members who were directly impacted.

The work of recovery and reconstruction is moving forward steadily, and news is unfolding faster than we at AIChE can print it. At press time, electricity has been restored to nearly all of Mississippi. More than 73% of affected drinking water systems in Louisiana have been restored and 78% are restored in Mississippi. Major gasoline pipelines are now in operation, the breaks in the levees have been closed, the pumps are running, and the water in New Orleans is receding by the hour. However, challenges will continue to emerge as the months pass.

"The breakdown in communications took everybody by surprise," said Anthony Fregosi, current Chair of the New Orleans Local section of AIChE. "With mobile phones and landlines not operating, e-mail has been the only form of telecommunication for many of the local section members," he said. Since Tulane Univ., which has been hosting AlChE's New Orleans section website, is still out of commission, Fregosi is hoping to secure a webpage on the Baton Rouge local section's site through which he can disseminate information (e-newsletters, meeting information) to the 350 or so section members who have dispersed since hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on their lives.

"Several members' homes are completely inundated with water, and in many cases, spouses and children have relocated to other cities or states, while members work in yet another location," he explained. "Some members have not been allowed to return to salvage what is left of their property."

Against this backdrop, several chemical companies on the Gulf Coast are providing a broad range of resources.services, as well as onsite temporary housing for displaced employees. Many of these firms, including refineries, are up and running at or near full capacity.

"Adequate housing is a foreseeable problem," said Fregosi. "With so many folks coming to New Orleans to lend a hand, or mobilize reconstructive efforts, along with returning citizens who may have lost their home, this dilemma will only worsen." Near New Orleans, Biloxi, and other cities, police and firefighters, and the other workers who are rebuilding these cities, are sleeping on ships brought into the Port of New Orleans - and more ships are on their way to the region.

Fregosi surmises that several members are involved in recovery efforts beyond their own facilities, but it could be weeks or months before the New Orleans section is able to coordinate efforts of its own.

Universities open their doors

Engineering universities joined hundreds of others across the country and overseas in offering help to more than 100,000 university students displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Tulane University was among those hit hardest. President Scott Cowen announced at the beginning of the Labor Day weekend that its 13,000 students would not be able to return this fall. Georgia Tech has led the way in terms of offering assistance on several fronts. When all of the shelters from New Orleans to Atlanta were filled to capacity, Georgia Tech allowed the American Red Cross to take several hundred evacuees to its Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The university is also offering admissions to some Tulane students.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is accepting up to 100 students who were enrolled at Tulane and Xavier Universities. In addition, RPI is waiving the entire semester's tuition, fees, and room and board for students enrolling in its new Gulf Coast Visiting Scholars program and has established a website, www.rpi.edu/Katrina, for those who are interested.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported that it has about 90 students from Gulf Coast areas affected by the hurricane. Further, more than two dozen universities in the United Kingdom have offered to accept American students from the hurricane zone. They have posted the openings on a British Council website www.britishcouncil.org/usa-hurricane-katrina.htm.

Making it personal

While the response to hurricane Katrina has uncovered some communication breakdowns, it has also revealed the amazing generosity and effectiveness of America's corporate and private charitable efforts (Box). Within two weeks of the disaster, Americans had already contributed more than $600 million to the relief initiatives. Others have opened their homes to the survivors, donated blood, and organized groups of volunteers to implement wireless communication systems, offer expertise, or deliver supplies. Professional scientific and engineering societies are providing many forms of assistance to help the Gulf Coast regain eguilibrium. Visit Argonne National Laboratory's website, www.anl.gov/special/katrina_relief.html for a comprehensive list of such organizations.

Individuals who do not belong to a professional organization, but wish to put their technical expertise to good use can contact their local chapter of The American Red Cross via www.redcross.org/donate/volunteer. This charity has an ongoing need for engineers who are trained in disaster response and ready for deployment. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA; www.fema.gov) also needs engineers, but only those who have pre-registered and trained with the agency will be included in the disaster response teams.

In a similar vein, the USA Freedom Corps has created an information clearinghouse, available at www.usafreedomcorps.gov, through which it is working with partners in the non-profit and national service community to inform Americans how they can help in the Katrina relief effort. The Corps also ensures that all aid, including volunteers and private giving, is collected and delivered in an effective manner.

Generous Corporate Gestures

The chemical community response to Hurricane Katrina was quick and generous. There are many who have given money, supplies and services, and continue to help the impacted communities as the need arises. A tew of the many donations made include those of the GE family, which is contributing more than $22 million in cash, products and services; and ExxonMobil Corp., which has pledged $500,000 each to the Red Cross Houston Area Chapter and the new United Way Katrina Relief Fund. This $1 million grant is part of the $7 million ExxonMobil has committed to Hurricane Katrina. Moreover, Johnson & Johnson has announced an initial cash contribution of $5 million, Merck has donated more than $7.2 million in medicines and vaccines, and Amgen announced it is providing an initial cash contribution of $2.5 million. Additional corporate contributions are listed at www.aiche.org/Katrina.

At present, AIChE is seeking opportunities for our members to donate their technical expertise when communities and organizations are ready for this assistance. If you know of any opportunities for such volunteers, please contact Sarah Fewster [saraf@aiche.org and (212) 591-7257] so we can share this news with our members.

As CEP goes to press, Hurricane Rita, currently a category five storm, is moving towards the coast of Texas. On behalf of our 40,000 members, AIChE offers its care and concern to all those in the affected regions.