NRCS Recovery Efforts from Hurricane Rita

Updated 12/14/2005

News Release

Claude Ross
USDA NRCS EWP Program Manager
101 S. Main Temple, Texas 76501
Phone: 254.742.9800
Fax: 254.742.9939

Temple, TX – Hurricane Rita made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on September 24 near the Texas-Louisiana line. Parts of the east Texas received 15 or more inches of rain with very high winds. The results were localized flooding, downed power lines and fallen trees. As a result of the damage, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field offices are closed in Anahuac, Beaumont, Liberty, Kountze, Woodville, Jasper, and Livingston.

“Our first concern is the health and safety of the citizens in the counties affected by Hurricane Rita,” states NRCS State Conservationist Larry Butler.

“We have NRCS personnel equipped and assisting local government officials with assessments related to natural resource issues,” he continues.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is working with state and Federal emergency response teams, including FEMA, to monitor effects of Hurricane Rita and to identify the immediate threats to life and property. Inaccessible roads and fuel shortage in the area are making travel and damage assessment difficult.

The NRCS is responsible for administering the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program, which was created by Congress to respond to watershed impairments caused by floods, drought, earthquakes, windstorms and other natural disasters.

NRCS is USDA's lead technical agency for conservation programs. While commonly known as a natural resource conservation agency that works primarily with farmers to reduce soil erosion and improve water quality, NRCS also repairs watershed damages that affect life and health through the EWP Program.

The purpose of the EWP program is to help communities in times of natural disasters. All projects undertaken must be sponsored by a legal subdivision of the State such as a city, county, soil and water conservation district or a flood control district. When potential projects are identified, NRCS staff works with sponsors to prepare damage survey reports as the first step in providing EWP assistance.

Funding may be provided through EWP to project sponsors for work such as removing debris from streams, protecting destabilized streambanks, establishing cover on critically eroding lands, repairing conservation practices, and the purchase of flood plain easements. The program is designed for the installation of recovery measures. The measures that are taken must be environmentally, socially and economically sound.

“If your area has suffered severe damage and may qualify under the EWP program, local authorities are encouraged to request assistance,” states Butler. “City and county governments are the most common sponsors of EWP projects.”

Addresses and contact information can also be obtained at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ewp

State NRCS Headquarters address is:
State Conservationist
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
101 South Main St.
Temple, Texas 76501
 

All applications should be submitted as soon as possible after the event.

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NRCS Recovery Efforts from Hurricane Rita   (74.5 KB)

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