Airborne Mapping of Chemical Plumes in the Aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

1. National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, 2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 3. Los Alamos Natl. Lab. Homeland Security Center, 4. Research a nd Technology Consultants, 5. Tetra Tech EM, Inc, 6. Northrop Grumman-TASC, 7 The Aerospace Corporation ABSTRACT Infrared airborne spectral measurements were collected over the Gulf Coast area during the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These measurements allowed surveillance for potentially hazardous chemical vapor releases from industrial facilities caused by storm damage. Data was collected with a mid-longwave infrared multispectral imager and a hyperspectral Fourier transform infrared spectrometer operating in a low altitude aircraft. Signal processing allowed detection and identification of targeted spectral signatures in the presence of interferents, atmospheric contributions, and thermal clutter. Results confirmed the presence of a number of chemical vapors. All detection results were immediately passed along to emergency first responders on the ground. The chemical identification, location, and vapor species concentration information were used by the emergency response ground te ams for identification of critical plume releases and subsequent mitigation. Keywords: Infrared Airborne Mappi ng, Plume Hazards, Hurricane Aftermath, Signal Processing, Remote chemical identification, Remote sensing infrared spectroscopy. 1. INTRODUCTION The threat to this country and citizenry from natural disasters as well as the destructive acts of individuals or members of fanatical orga nizations (e.g. terrorist, racist, idealist, religious, etc.) is real with the potential consequences dire. Sadly, during Hurricanes Ka trina and Rita in the summer of 2005, America has again been forced to recognize that its citizenry, infrastructure, and industrial foundations are vulnerable making this a critically important homeland-security issue. In a disaster situation, regardless of the cause, the ability to perform timely/effective actions is necessary to identify the dangers to life, infrastructure, and property. Minimizing these dangers becomes paramount in importance to consequence management. D ealing in the most effective way with these dangers including emergency first response, minimizing the loss of life, treating the injured, and repairing the damage to property and infrastructure ultimately becomes the responsibility of the lead federal/civil organizations, state, local, and the commercial sector. Since 2001, through over 60 missions, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Airborne S pectral Photometric E nvironmental C ollection Technology (ASPECT) Program has been providing timely “24/7” hazardous chemical and radiological, as well as other relevant emergency response resource deployment information to first responders. The U.S. EPA ASPECT Program, by example, has demonstrated that this capability can be provided in a timely and cost effective manner, while at the same time generating small business opportunities in the areas of sensor development and integration, equipment maintenance, commercial aviation and associated support facilities at regional sites throughout the United States.