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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA.RAINSTORM (DECEMBER 3, 2002)Memorandum From: Date: Re: Mayor and City Council Steve Fi/zgibbon~?ity Manager December 6, 2002 December 3, 2002 Rainstorm Attached are reports from Leslie McMahen, Major Owens and Chief Curran regarding their department activities dudng the rainstorm of December 3, 2002. The report from Major Owens indicates crited~ and required procedures to try to obtain financial assistance for individuals who suffered propeK¥ damage. Also. included in the matedal is information from DD7 regarding rainfall recorded at vadous pump stations by the hour. The Shreveport location downtown received 4.8 inches of rain in one hour between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. and more than'8.5 inches from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and more than 11 inches from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Foley station on the West Side had about 4- inches in one hour and over 7.5 inches in three hours, while Lakeview had over 6 inches in four hours with 3.2 inches coming in one hour. Port Acres, Stonegate and areas around mid-county had rainfall totals through 10:00 a.m. in the 1 to 2 inch range. REMEMBER, I/VE ARE HERE TO SER~/E THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR MEMORANDUM POLICE DEPARTMENT PORT AR THUR TO: W. M. Blanton, Asst. Chief of Police DATE: 12-05-02. As you are aware, on Tuesday, December 3, 2002, the City received extensive flooding due to torrential rains. Rainfall estimates citywide ranged from 6 to 8.5 inches. The majority of the rainfall occurred during the early morning hours and occurred during a very short 1 1/2 to 2 hour time frame Lt. Balsamo, the Day Shift Patrol Supervisor advised that he held over several night shift patrol officers to assist day officers in blocking flooded streets and underpasses until proper barricading was in place. In addition, the night shift dispatchers were held over to assist with the increased call load. Throughout the day, additional personnel not normally assigned to patrol duties were utilized to assist with the call load and any rescue efforts. An initial citywide survey was conducted by Lt. Balsamo and myself, which revealed that the hardest hit areas were the Westside area (areas west of Houston Ave.) and the Lakeview area (areas east of 9th Avenue). The department began receiving calls from some residents within these neighborhoods advising floodwaters had entered their residences. Numerous streets within these neighborhoods were impassable by way of conventional means. Therefore, Public Works Director, Leslie McMahen was contacted and (2) dump trucks were allocated and manned by police officers and public work employees to navigate these flooded areas and transport any citizens who requested or required transportation. In addition, the Fire Department also assisted in transporting any non-ambulatory citizens. The City Transit Department also provided a 15-passenger van to assist with transportation of citizens within the affected areas. Realizing the immediate need for shelter accommodations, the Beaumont Chapter of the Red Cross was contacted and a shelter was immediately set up at the P.A.C.E. Union Hall, 1500 Jefferson Drive for those citizens needing shelter. In addition, a "portable kitchen" was set up by the Port Arthur Salvation Army to assist residents of the Westside. This "kitchen" served approximately (1,000) hot meals, supplied bedding materials and other necessities, such as shoes and candles. Remember, [Fe Are Here to Serve the Citizens of Port Arthur The Carver Terrace Apartment Complex received extensive flooding to approximately 50-55 units, displacing at least 100 tenants. Initially, these tenants requested transportation away from the complex, and the P.A.I.S.D. was contacted and graciously supplied (4) buses and drivers to transport the displaced tenants. However, only a small number of tenants actually left the complex. Therefore, the aforementioned "portable kitchen" was set up to assist these and other citizens of the Westside community. A News Release was sent out to all area media outlets advising residents to contact the Police Department if they received any property damage due to the described flooding. In addition, the Red Cross is currently conducting a detailed city-wide site assessment of flood damaged areas. They will submit the described assessment as soon as possible. So far, the Department has received calls from (14) citizens reporting flood damage to their residences and (I) call regarding damage to a vehicle. This does not include the described flooding in the Carver Ten-race apartment complex, which is under the supervision and administration of the H.U.D. (See Attachment) Clay Kermelly, Regional Liaison Officer for the Department of Public Safety Disaster District Office in Beaumont was contacted regarding proper procedures for filing any flood damage claims. Kennelly emphasized the need for a detailed damage assessment. I also spoke with John Cascio, Emergency Management Coordinator for Jefferson County. Cascio reiterated the need for the damage assessment and also advised that the Red Cross routinely conducts the assessment. I spoke with Sharon Jolly, Supervisor of the Beaumont Chapter of the Red Cross. She advised that their Assessment Team was, in fact, in the process of proceeding with the described Damage Assessment and utilized the standardized reporting forms required by the Department of Emergency Management. This assessment will help determine if our City may qualify for Small Business Administration (SBA) and/or public property assistance. The criteria for this type loan is as follows: (25) or more homes and/or businesses must receive at least a 40% uninsured loss. The application process deadline is (30) days fi:om the end of the flood event. Until the damage assessment is completed it is, of course, unknown if our city will meet the described criteria or our citizens will be eligible for any individual assistance funding. Per F.E.M.A. guidelines, for a Public Assistance Declaration a City must declare losses exceeding $21,000,000 under an actual Disaster Declaration. We do not appear to qualify for these monies, as they require evidence of devastating losses. JO:sz Attachment Remember, We Are Here to Serve the Citizens of Port Arthur Memorandum To' From: Date: Re: Colonel Blanton, Assistant Chief Major John Owens, Deputy Chief December 6, 2002 Status Report on Carver Terrace Flooding On today's date I spoke with Raylene Terrell, Deputy Director of the Port Arthur Housing Authority, in regard to the above issues at Carver Terrace. She advised that she has contacted the Regional HUD Office in Fort Worth and was told that engineers will be here the first of next week to assess the structural damage within the complex. In addition, she also advised that the complex is insured by Mutual of Omaha and they will also be here the first of next week to assess the damage. She stated the Red Cross has supplied the tenants with blankets and mattresses to replace those damaged in the flood. ' JO:sz PORT ARTHUR FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM TO: STEVE FITZGIBBONS, CITY MANAGER CC: STEPHEN L. CURRAN, FIRE CHIEF FROM: LARRY D. RICHARD, ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF FIRE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES DURING FLOOD 12/3/2002 DATE: DECEMBER 5, 2002 COMMENT On December 3, 2002 the Fire Department responded to 28 emergency calls and 3 calls for evacuations. Weather related difficulties that affected the Department were largely associated with impassable flooded streets, which caused longer than usual response times. The majority of calls made on this date were not related to weather (EMS, alarm malfunction, false calls, car fire etc.). Emergency calls that were weather related are as follows: 4037 Procter - Electrical short in refrigerator due to water inside structure. 5500 Hwy 69 - Vehicle off of road. 3001 74 Street - House fire due to fuel fi.om lawn equipment floating on water in garage possibly ignited by hot water heater. In addition to the above emergency responses the Department assisted in the relocation of several residents due to rising water entering their occupancies. Five (5) people were relocated fi.om Carver Terrace by Fire Department vehicle to the Red Cross shelter located at 1500 Jefferson. Fire Department Personnel waded fi.om Terminal Road to a residence at 640 W. 194 Street to assist a paraplegic patient into a City dump track cab for relocation to a family member's home at 1400 Liberty. A call for public service was made to 5000 Gulfway Drive. Fire Department personnel assisted in unloading people needing assistance at the relocation sites. The Fire Department coordinated with Emergency Management (John Owens PD) through the fire dispatch center. The largest problem encountered by the Fire Department was street flooding. Although fire apparatus have higher water clearance than automobiles, water levels of two to tl~ree feet can cause problems with electrical systems on vehicles or enter the engine intakes. The city garage will inspect all fire apparatus that were exposed to deep water. "REMEMBER, WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR" Memo To: Steve Fitzgibbons, City Manager From: Leslie E. McMahen, P.E., Director of Public Works Date: 12/06/02 Re: Rainstorm of December 3, 2002 The following information is provided to document the rainfall event of December 3, 2002 and the preparations made for it, the activity of the Public Works Department during the event and our activity after it was over:. PREPARATION: Since the prediction for the rainfall was only 1" to 2" total for the morning of December 3rd, no extraordinary preparations were made other than to be sure that the usual first response personnel were available if needed during the night or early in the morning. By chance, we had a significant number of filled sand bags on hand at the Public Works Operations Center which was left over fTom our last tropical storm. INITIAL RAINFALL: Light rain began to fall around 3:30 a.m. on December 3r~ but by 5:00 a.m. over 2" of rain had occurred at DD No. 7's Foley, Shreveport and Alligator Bayou pump stations (see DD No. 7 rainfall log). INITIAL RESPONSE: The first of the Drainage Division personnel responded to the torrential rain around 5:00 a.m. on December 3rd to check the City's small pump stations for proper operation. From the DD No. 7 daily event summary for Foley Pump Station (the only one available at the time this report was prepared) showed the first pump coming on there at 4:48 a.m. and the second pump coming on at 4:54 a.m. (see DD No. 7 daily event summary). SECONDARY RAINFALL: The most intense rain fell between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. at DD No.7's Crane Bayou (2.69"), Lakeview (3.21"), Shreveport (4.80"), Foley (3.95") and Alligator Bayou (2.59") pump stations (see DD No. 7 rainfall log). After that, the rainfall rates generally remained highest at those stations through 8:00 a.m. when the rainfall rates slacked off significantly except for a brief spike around 11:00 a.m. at the Shreveport, Foley and Alligator Bayou pump stations and the Rodair Gully · Page 1 rain gauge. Between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., the higher rates of rain (though moderate) shifted to the Port Acres and Stonegate areas. SECONDARY RESPONSE: Approximately 35 Streets and Drainage Division personnel were in the field shortly after 7:00 a.m, on routine rainstorm duty, checking for obvious blockages in culverts, catch basins and ditches in the areas hardest hit by the rainstorm. The Public Works Operations Center was manned beginning at 6:45 a.m. to take calls from citizens and dispatching the calls to superintendents and supervisors. Streets and Drainage crews were out in force until about 5:30 p.m., with a gradual release of crew members up to 9:30 p.m. The Drainage Superintendent stayed until 12:00 midnight with the one Drainage 'employee still on duty checking City pump stations. The latter employee remained on duty until 2:00 a.m. on December 4th. RAINFALL TOTALS: Rainfall totals for these areas with the highest intensity of rainfall are as follows: Crane Bayou Lakeview Shreveport Foley Alligator Bayou ,3:30 a,m. to 10:00 a.m. 4.96" 3:30'&m. to 10:00 a.m. 6.36" 3:30. a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 9.02~' 3i30 a,m. to 10:00 a.m. 7.85" · 3:30 a,m. to 10:00 a~m. 6,73" , .,.,,.~- =~:w mm~ragn~ en uecernuer ;~ . PUMP STATION FORE BAY (INTAKE) LEVELS: ,~JI of DD No. 7's pump station fore bay levels were at equilibrium at 4:00 a.m. on December 3'~. Beginning at 5:00 a.m., ali begin to show a dramatic increase in levels which continued to increase until 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. After that, the levels begin to drop slowly but did not reach equilibrium until 10:00 p.m. on December 34. The records would indicate that the City's drainage system (with a design for a 0.6" i~l.0,h, our rainfall) was getting water'to DD No. 7's-stations (with a removal rate of a per hour rainfall) but that the torrential intensity of the rain that fell simply overwhelmed both systems (see DD No. 7 fore bay level report). ~ COMPARISON RAIN EVENTS: Rain events that could be compared to the event of December 3r~ are the ones that occurred in 1966, 1979 and 1983 but these were ones that occurred prier to the many improvements in the City's and Drainage District No. 7's systems, tt could only be imagined what effect this mere intense storm would have had on the City without the improved drainage systems in place. AREAS OF SIGNIFICANT FLOODING: The area of the dty bounded by Highway 82, Highway 73, Duff Drive and the ship channel was the hardest hit with varying degrees of severity. The area north of Highway 73 had few or no significant problems. Areas that were particularly affected were the avenues in the 4400-4600 · Page 2 blocks of Procter Street and northward from Procter, the area west of Houston Avenue and north of Gulfway Drive, the old town area, and other isolated areas. RESPONSE ACTIVITIES: Calls coming into the Operations Center were logged on our inclement weather report sheets and were dispatched as quickly as they could be. Due to the overwhelming volume, it was impossible to dispatch them all in a timely manner but many were repetitious and in areas where crews were already working. Due to high water, it was not possible to reach ail areas to provide the requested assistance. Barricades were set out beginning at the late a.m. of December 3"~ to keep traffic from moving into the W. 19th/w. 18"/W17th Streets area, San Jadnto/Trinity/Sabine/ Brazos Avenues area and other isolated areas. Numerous sand bags were delivered to residents that could be reached without causing wakes of water from our trucks, primarily on the west side of Houston Avenue, the Lakeview area and other isolated areas. Numerous sand bags were also picked up at the Operations Center by residents with the assistance of employees. Public Works crew members begin working with Police officers in the early p.m. on December 3r~ to asSist in the moving/relocation of people as directed by the officers. Public Works also coordinated with the Police Department and Transit Department to rescue people and transport them to shelters; Public Works staff advised callers of problerns with the drainage, took service requests, advised ef the availability of sand bags, passed along Pol~;e Department contacts and shelter information, maintained contact with DD No. 7 regarding rainfall totals and pump station bay elevations, etc, Solid Waste crews began their routes as soon as the water began to recede and they could move into their areas without causing wakes of water. Crews made numerous special~ pickups called in by dtizens to move large amounts of debris out of ditches or from on top of storm sewer inlets. OBSERVED PROBLEM: It was garbage and/or trash collection day for some of the areas hardest hit, Numerous toters floated and tipped over, spilling their contents which became cutver~t and inlet blocking debris. Trash piles were scattered by the high water, and we had one report of a floating utility pole. We had a late report of Motiva pumping water into the area around W. 19th and Terminal Road and this was noted for investigation after the storm event. Other reports that indicated potential problems were also recorded for investigation afterwards. · Page 3 FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS: The Motiva situation was checked on December 5~ and notations made of pipes which were running under Terminal Road from west to east and emptying into the east ditch of Terminal Road north ofW. 19~h. Another pipe was found in the 600 block of W. 19th that runs between the street and the back of the former Texaco terminal property. It will take further investigation to determine what effect these situations may have had on the flooding conditions further to the east in that area. A visual check of the City's storm sewer system in the area bounded by Terminal Road, UP Railroad, KCS Railroad and West Thomas Boulevard for possible blockages was started December 5~. The work completed down to West Gulfway Drive on that day indicated no line blockages. The large box culvert on West Thomas will also be checked. A visual check will be made ef the City's storm sewar system in the area bounded by "13~ Avenue", Procter Street, Pecos Avenue and 10~ Street for possible blockages. The large storm sewer down "13~ Avenue" from 7th Street to Del Mar Pump Station will be checked also. The Zwolle Ditch system from Dallas Avenue to DD No. 7's "Central Pump Station" w~l be cleaned. We will look into the possibility of opening up an old 48" pipe under the old water plant (and going to the "Central Pump Station" fore bay) that had to be plugged when the plant was in operation. Prier to the rain event, field w(~ had been done in the area west of the KCS tracks and north of Gulfway Drive to begin documenting ground elevations, street elevations and storm sewer facilities for the purpose of determining a possible sotution to the flooding in the area. · Page 4 8gl8_Total R~dn_Hour 8908_Totzd Rzln_Hour 8KI?_TOt~! R~In_Hou r I~_Total Rain_Hour j 2/S/oz. ~02 Rain_Hour B~Z2_T ~al Rain_Hour 1~21_T~l Rid~_Heur 6820_ToMI R~in_Hour ~ ll..T((aJ R~i._H~wr ~16_To~! Raln_Hm~r 8915_TMMRMn_HQur 891Z_Tot~tRaln_H(mr igO~_"rotal Rain_Ho.r 8g~T_T~al 8~O$_Taml Ral~..Ho.r Lt~l_To'el Rain_Hour 8906_Total Raln_Hcar I 8SQ~_T~id Rdn_Ho.r 8~I_TQ~I! Raln_Haur S~B~1~d e~l~_T~] R~t_l~our · J~_To~Z R~t_Hour ~21_Toe~ Ra~n_Ho~r ~ZO_To~ 8NS_To~d Rain_Hour ~12._T~ztml I~in_H~zr 8~_Tot~l R~bt~Hour Ir~7_Totm4 Rm]~Hc~ur S~01_T~d Rmb_Hour Al. 12/u$/02 23: 53 ¥3.3/. Daily Event Summary Co~s?a · ~t~on ActlveTime ' ' e - Acl~J'tme ~15.Elco2 (80 kgmp) Y:31:15 121'~002 11:45:37 12/3/2002 15:4~:08 1572 891S.Elec~ (80 kgmp) 11:4?:24 12/'3/2002 12.:12:47 12/3/2002 15:4~:08 Daily Event Summary Rq~ort For: #Name? C?~ ~1 ' Descr~ #.on AetiveTime e Aelt ~ne. 8915.D,etro~t ~ (90 k,glllp) 4:48:06 12./3r'~002 1 'f;48:29 12/3/2002 5;:51:24 1531 8915.Deb'oit #1 (90 kgmp) 11:51:39 12./3/2002 12:53:34 12/3/2002 15:4~:0;S 1531 8915.Deb'olt #t (g0 ~mp) 12:~5 1~0~ 17:~;42 1~ 15:~:08 1531 ~t5.~ ~ (90 kgmp) 17:42:57 1~0~ 18~:45 1~ 2:43:1o 1531 ~15.De~ (~ ~,,p) 18~;51 1~0~ 18~:~ 1~0~ 2:43:10 1531 8915.D~ ~ (~) 19:33:0~ 1~1 ~15.De~1 (~ k~p} 21:16:~ 1~ ~:~:~ 1~4~2 2:~:10 1531 8915.D~ ~1 (~ ~) 23:~;o7 I~Z ~;~Z;~I 1~ 2:43:10 Daily Event Summary' Report For: ~Name? Code 1532 1532 1532 1532 1532 Descr~, tlon Actlvel~me 8915.DetT~t #3 (90 ~mp) 4:55:51 6915,~o~ ~ (~ k~p) 11:49:49 U915.De~o~ ~ (~ ~) 12:~:25 ~15.D~ (~ kgb) ~I 5.~ ~ (90 ~mp) 6~15.D~ (~ ~) .20:39:49 6915.~ (~ ~p) 21:31:37 a~.Oe~ (~0 ~) ~:15:~ 8915.D~ ~ (90 ~mp) ~:1 ~5,O~t ~ (~0 kgmp) 2~:07:~5 12/3/20~ 11 ;48:07 1 2/3/2002 12i55:47 12/"JrZoo2 17:26:42 12/3/2002 19:~3:01 12/3/2~2 20:10:02 12./3f2002 20:14':'4 12J3/2002 20:41:16 12/~,Z002 Zt ;03:Z9 12/3~002 22:13:$2 12/'~2002 22:16:49 12/3/20o2 22:26:44 12/'J~ 23:16;1 $ Ack Tbn~ 1 ~02 6:51:24 12r'-~2002 1 $;48:0~ 12/3/2002 15:48:0! 12/4,'2002 2:43:1fi 12/4r2002 243:10 17./4/'2002 2:43:10 12./4/2002 2:43:10 12/4/2002 2:43:10 12/4/2002 2:43:10 12/4/2002 2:43:10 17J4/2002 2:43;10 From page lA Kelley s~id he Believed, tlmugh he had no ~rfl~cial re- fall tot~ more than e/ght ar e several alon~ the seawall. they. shoUld stay ~ .. for . through the h~_=h water. passable for anyth/ni other any trouble gettin~ tbnn~h the ~eep water, but it doea c~- numerous ~r~cks and people The ~aln ~gan sl~ ai~r The ra/n~, K~TV Channel 4 meteorolo/~t Dina Melaccn said, evolve~ from an a~ea of unexpected low pressure/n the Gulf of Mexico and the combin~t~)n of tropical moi~ ~ morning by surprise," ha . sai& 'We ~t/~l rain today, they kave been taken down hie," ~he ~!! 'Yeu ~u~t call as possible.' Intern Massages s£$.oo / Hour N~ Cb~e~ ~ ~o~. 28 Schools remain .open, buses operating, despite flooding ~y MARY MEAU~ '- forma~io~ a~d community r.e~ la~ons for ~e ~s~, saJ~ Scenes from Tuesday'. ]~eavy rainfall and subse- quent flooding showed vehi: cle and debris damage aha displaced several SoutheaSt Text-; from their homes. The sights included car~s struggling to move v,~rougn deep Waters on Jefferson Driv~ in front of Memorial High School aS waves of flood waters rolled across the road- way~.thick pries of leaves and debris; old tires aud even a basketball were laid up on d~ier laud in the. 4000 block of procter Street sifter the first wave of rains subsided around noon. Against the backdrop of floodwaters, some 9~ea stat- den~S in the Port Arthur In- dependent School District still attehded claSses. Janet distr~ct buses transported students who wanted to at- tend classes to school, but later than usual because of the h~gh wats~. A tout'of three schools in the distr~ct ~med at letting the public ~iew conditions of the schools before an an- ticipated bond election showed an orchestra pit at Thomas Edison Middle School filled with about 3 inches of water. Cline said water was seen o~ the floor at DeQueen Elementary School and Woo&ow Wilson Middle School as well. ' For those seeking Shelter from the rising water, the American Eed Cross, in con- junction with city officials, set up a shelter at the Oil, Ch~m~2L and Atomic Work: Cli] &~vectoz of oublic in' S~e FLOODINO, page 8A , OOD G ~mm ~ge lA · another ~d you le~n ~om asa ~ve Tu~Y m~. elu~ me~2o~ ~d situation," he sai& ~We have ex~a pat~ola out.? ~ey are · and they absolutely have to, contact the~police and weY~ make arrangemen~ to make Sharon Jolly, o~ce for the Beaumont ARC, smd ' a~ies he, to to trickIe inte the shelter around ~id-a~erncc~ a f~w le~ and we h~e 28 people lsiL' JoIly said. · The Red Cross will offer tern' .porar~ shelter and a meal to ~We're pretty prepared ai- t~on~h you're ~ev~ .really p~- p~. for a d~astor, she t~Sed as set.ce s-~m-l" are lowed in the shelter. ~e have supplies and voluntee~ c~ hand to aasist thoas who have had te waters,* J~on Sellers, execu- .t~ve dlre~r of the Beaumont Red CrosS, said. %Ve ~re en~ couraging those affected to please come to the shelter where we will Be able to pro- vide ~hem with a dry pla~e to stay and help tl~m w/th their emergency.disasteF needs.' · To assist tu identifying af- foctod areas, the American Red CroSs Beaumont Chapter has set up phone b-,,Ir~ for to report damage. F~ cap call 832-1644 for information.