News Releases from Headquarters

EPA Hurricane Irma Update for Wednesday, October 4, 2017

WASHINGTON (October 4, 2017)— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to coordinate closely with local, state, tribal, and federal partners in response to Hurricane Irma.

EPA has approximately 40 personnel involved in response efforts as of October 3, 2017. EPA personnel have integrated into unified operations with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and continue to conduct land-based assessments in the inland zone of Monroe County. EPA has completed assessments in Marathon, Islamorada, Boca Chica, Pine Keys, and the Naval Air Station Key West.

To date, the EPA Container Recovery Group has collected 126 items including drums, oil containers and propane tanks. The collected items are being temporarily stored at the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport. 

Additionally, Landfill Technical Specialists continue assistance with debris management. To date, the team has visited 10 Disaster Debris Management Sites and three Florida Department of Transportation staging areas.  

EPA’s water teams, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, have completed their assessment of local water infrastructure. A total of 2,227 assessments of drinking water and wastewater facilities were conducted.

For information and updates from EPA, visit: www.epa.gov/hurricane-irma

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