The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $1.56 million to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the collection and proper handling of hazardous materials in orphan drums and containers.
The funding is being awarded as a result of damaged that occurred during Hurricane Ike in September 2008. Subject to the ebb and flow of tides, approximately 5,000 containers were washed away into the inner tidal zone and identified for recovery and disposal in Galveston, Houston, and Beaumont.
"The orphan drums, containing potentially hazardous materials, were captured, removed from the environment, and disposed of safely," according to Bert Bowen, FEMA’s environmental and historic preservation advisor.
FEMA assumed 100 percent of the project costs to Texas. The obligated funds are a portion of $602 million in total Public Assistance disaster funds sent to the state since September 2008.