MOBILE, Ala. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District has deployed two survey vessels to survey the waterways in support of the Hurricane Ian and USACE’s Jacksonville District.
USACE is working in partnership with the local, state, and federal response to Hurricane Ian. More than 800 USACE personnel and contractors are deployed and engaged, coordinating with local, state, and federal partners in the affected areas.
The Mobile District’s survey vessels Blackwater and Seminole have been deployed in support of commercial waterways.
“When hurricanes and tropical storms comes through an area, the Coast Guard closes all commercial waterways until USACE can get new surveys showing the channel conditions,” said Waylon Register, USACE Mobile District’s Panama City site manager. “Since there’s no way to know if the channel has been filled in with debris or sediment until surveys are completed. This means that cargo, including fuel, cannot enter and leave affected ports and terminals until the channels are reopened, so it’s highly critical that these surveys are completed as quickly as possible. Until then waterborne commerce is ground to an expensive halt.”
The survey teams are currently enroute to the Tampa and East Coast areas.
“The crews are trailering their boats today and are expected to arrive sometime this evening. Given traffic and unknown road conditions it’ll probably take longer than usual to make the trip,” said Register. “We don’t expect them to get started surveying until tomorrow morning. They should be able to have those channels cleared by the end of the day tomorrow if sea conditions are favorable.”
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With an area of operation across Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and northern Florida, and a vast military region that includes operations across Central and South America, the Mobile District’s award- winning teams of engineering, construction, regulatory and emergency management professionals are nationally recognized for their leadership in delivery of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ civil works and military programs missions to the Nation.
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