Hurricane Ike Damage and Need Assessment

Gulf Coast Bird Observatory

GCBO Headquarters, Lake Jackson, Brazoria County

Hurricane Ike left us with quite a mess to clean up but fortunately our building and all staff members are fine.  We evacuated to various locations staying with friends and family until the Lake Jackson emergency management team said it was safe to return on Tuesday.  The city is operating on limited power and homes and business are without electricity. After meeting to assess our work situation, staff began the clean up process by creating huge piles of debris and chain sawing down the large trees (6) that had been snapped at the trunk and toppled over the drive and trails and making new plans for our obligated field research projects.

Unfortunately, our endangered species biologist's truck was totaled by a tree fall while he was riding out the storm in Houston.  Ben’s insurance has provided him with a loner vehicle and is processing his claim. Since the vehicle was totaled, he will have to locate and purchase a new truck. The GCBO boat that Ben used to access Wolf Island for his Piping Plover study also took a tree fall which broke the trailer frame-it is no longer usable. So... we must replace a trailer for a 14 ft. aluminum boat.

Needs:

· ~40 hours of volunteer time to clear trees and debris from trails

· Rental of a industrial chipper to make use of wood chips repairing trails - $200

· Electrician to safely replace and reset toppled outdoor light fixture - $100

· Replacement research boat trailer for Plover beach study- $450

· Plover beach study Field staff & trailer evacuation costs - $275

· Total dollars needed LJ Headquarters & Sanctuary = $1025

Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary and Birdscape, Brazoria County

Our bird sanctuary on Quintana Island did not fare well with the winds and storm surge from Ike.  Fortunately the observation tower is still standing as are the signs and benches-though they have been tossed around. The wooden entry fencing is a gnarled mess.

The Ebony and Oak trees weathered the storm well and surprisingly, both water features are still recognizable but not working. All the large hackberry trees were destroyed and now litter the water features and trails making them unsafe and inaccessible. At this point we do not know how much of the vegetation will die from the salt water immersion that it received.  In a few weeks, we will know more. 

Needs:

· ~80 hours of volunteer time to clear trees and debris, rebuild trails, plantings

· Rental of a industrial chipper to make use of wood chips repairing trails - $200

· Electrician to safely restore power to tower and ponds - $200

· Contracted debris and tree removal and chipper truck- $5000 (for 8 hrs)

· Topsoil to replace washed out areas and trails - $500 (32 cubic yds)

· Replace downed wood rail fencing, contracted - $1200 (60 linear feet @20/ft)

· Supplies for irrigation and equipment fuel - $200

· Replacement shrubs/trees for losses - $768 (48 5-gal @ $16 ea)

· Total dollars needed Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary = $8068

Smith Point Hawk Watch, Chambers County

After a site visit this week, John Arvin reports that the destruction at Smith Point is incredible but that the hawk watch tower is still standing.  The debris was up to the lower level of the tower so he was unable to actually climb it and see if it is still solid.  He was happy to report that Joe and Annette Whitehead, the couple who have provided housing and support to our hawk watchers for many years, are fine after riding out the storm. 

We regret that due to damage and debris from Hurricane Ike, the Smith Point Hawk Watch is cancelled for the remainder of this season.  We ask that people do not attempt to access the area until further notice.  The amount of debris in the area containing parts of houses, appliances, wood with nails, dead animals, etc. make entry dangerous at this point.  Based on our previous experience assisting our Louisiana site partners cleaning up after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, this debris field surrounding the tower, in some places 4 to 6 feet deep must be considered hazardous waste, and thus will have to be professionally cleared and disposed of – not an inexpensive task.

After fleeing to Dallas to ride out the storm, Kevin and Bob our seasonal field staff, have gone south and are helping out at the Hazel Bazemore Hawk Watch in Corpus Christi. This storm wiped out all housing possibilities for the field staff and we don’t know what we will do for next fall. Perhaps if we could get a donated 27 ft travel trailer, and funds to run sewer and water lines to the lot adjacent to the tower, we could have a way to operate the 2009 season.

Needs:

· Contracted debris removal and disposal- $20,000 (estimated)

· Field staff (2) & trailer evacuation costs - $800

· Total dollars needed Smith Point Hawk Watch = $20,800

Monetary donations can be made via the Just Give button on our website at www.GCBO.ORG or by mailing a check to Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, 103 West Hwy. 332, Lake Jackson, TX 77566. You may make your donation to the general fund or to a specific project/site. All donations are fully tax-deductible and will be acknowledged, in writing upon receipt.