DOI: 10.17603/ds2-23tn-fg62
title: Virtual Assessment Report: Hurricane Laura, Luisiana, USA, August 27, 2020
title: in SUMMEER - 27 August 2020 Hurricane Laura

description: The first product of SUMMER’s efforts to research the sustainable materials management of 27 August 2020 Hurricane Laura is this Virtual Assessment Report which is intended to: (1) identify potential environmental and human health risks of the disaster event and post-disaster materials; (2) characterize the debris generated from the flood affected counties across urban and rural areas, including the quantity and composition, using available software such as HAZUS-MH; (3) compare and contrast estimates of debris generation with reported field observations obtained from available sources; (4) identify and assess the major debris disposal pathways utilized by local and state agencies; and (5) identify any opportunities and potential challenges for recovery and reuse of disaster debris materials generated from this event. As this product is based on virtual reconnaissance alone, the VAR does not include detailed field investigative research. The content of this VAR is based on available online data, actual testimony from affected groups, as well as feedback collected from contacts and representatives in the field, when available. The findings, conclusions, recommendations, and opinions stated in this report are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or institutions with which they affiliate.
description: On August 27, 2020, a Category 4 hurricane, Laura, made landfall near Cameron, Western Louisiana. Damage caused by Hurricane Laura in the United States was reported in the states of Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, with Louisiana being the most impacted, specifically in the City of Lake Charles. Hurricane Laura resulted in a total of 27 fatalities in Louisiana and 5 fatalities in Texas. Estimates of total economic losses from the hurricane in Louisiana and Texas range between $4 billion to $12 billion. Resulting damages include impacts to structures, impaired water service, system-wide electrical damage causing sustained power outages, damage to the public transportation infrastructure of Louisiana, and damage to the Gulf of Mexico oil and natural gas production. The amount of debris generated by the hurricane was estimated in this project using the HAZUS-MH tool. The analysis resulted in a total estimate of 1,239,824 tons for brick and wood debris, 64,569 tons for concrete and steel debris, and 10,788,584 tons for vegetative debris. With regards to debris management logistics and resources, the state of Louisiana has 213 approved emergency debris sites, 67 landfill facilities, 12 combustions facilities, and 55 recycling and recovery facilities, 16 of are located across some of the affected parishes in Louisiana. Based on the composition of the debris estimated in this project and the types of debris accepted by the available material recovery facilities, composting vegetative debris and recycling concrete and steel is feasible when sufficient resources are present. Given the sheer magnitude of the debris generated by the hurricane, this event offers an opportunity to advance our knowledge on proper planning for and sustainable management of disaster debris to maximize benefits from the materials through reuse and recycling and to minimize adverse effects on human health and the environment. This project encompasses the products of SUMMEER's virtual response to this disaster event: Virtual Assessment Report (VAR).