Hurricane Impacts on Native Communities
Hurricane Katrina Tribal Status Report
September 1, 2005 – morning
No injuries or deaths were reported from the reservations impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
Chitimacha Tribe – LA
The Chitimacha Tribe reported that they have several hundred tribal members who live in the New Orleans area. Many of these members are returning to the reservation to seek shelter due to loss of their homes. As a result the Tribe has set up a shelter and is expecting need housing for several hundred people for en extended period of time. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PBCI) immediately volunteered to help with logistical and clean-up issues. Currently the Nashville Area Office (NSAO) has cots, blankets and pillows en-route to PBCI from the Trans Am program. A load of cots was also taken down from the NSAO. PBCI will be acting as a staging area for equipment and supplies and assist in transportation to the Chitimacha Reservation. PBCI will be using their emergency response trailers and a police escort to get the supplies to Chitimacha.
Coushatta Tribe – LA
The tribe may need to open a shelter but as of this morning, that had not taken place.
Tunica Biloxi Tribe – LA
The tribe has opened a shelter at the Mari Center and already had 450 people there before the storm. They had some concerns over food and ice for the people at the shelter but were able to work through the local Red Cross office for assistance.
Jena Band of Choctaw – LA
The tribe may need to open a shelter for overflow from the Tunica Biloxi Tribe but as of their last report, they were not requesting assistance. There was a need for some small generators for some tribal members in the Mobile area, but the PBCI were able to meet the need with generators that NSAO had supplied to them immediately after Hurricane Dennis.
Mississippi Band of Choctaw – MS
MBCI opened two shelters. The hospital was reported to be in full operation yesterday. There are still areas without power. Yesterday afternoon NSAO received a request for small generators for special needs patients. That request has been met and generators are on their way and should arrive at MBCI this afternoon. There was also a request for two larger generators to provide relief for some sewer lift stations that have lost power. NSAO has sent two medium sized generators along with the small generators. The tribe will be swapping the medium size generators with some larger ones on site (which will be moved to the lift stations) to meet the local need.
Seminole Tribe – FL
Reporting in the recovery stage and not in need of our assistance, The Seminole Tribe sent several law enforcement officers to Mississippi via PBCI to assist in patrol activities for impacted tribes.
Miccosukee Tribe – FL
Power was restored late Sunday afternoon and the tribe is not requesting additional assistance.
Poarch Band Of Creek Indians – AL
The PBCI are not requesting assistance. They are in fact rendering assistance to other tribes.
General Statement
Activity for the NSAO has increased over the last few days, as tribes have been able to get out into the communities and assess damage. Several tribes, who initially indicated they thought everything was ok, later found needs for assistance. This is not a criticism, but a “heads up” for those who might be in similar situations in the future. In spite of the fact that the NSAO had multiple contact numbers (office phone, cell phone, home phone, tribal police, etc.) for key tribal officials, communications went down on all of those systems and there was no communication available with several tribes for a day or longer. This shows the critical need for independent communications systems during emergency situations. The NSAO has purchased several satellite phones for our staff to use during emergency operations. We will be encouraging the tribes to do the same. We will also be looking into HF radio systems and developing networks of volunteer amateur licensed radio operators (Hams) throughout the Area. Should you need further detail or information my contact information is given below.
Captain B. Kevin Molloy, Nashville Area Office Emergency Management Officer,
IHS National Emergency Operations Coordinator
Cellular 615-308-7157, Office 615-467-1504, bruce.molloy@ihs.gov