THE KATRINA DISASTER AND ike300 On the 29th August 2005, Hurricane Katrina shot a devastating trail of carnage across the southern states of America. Ike was called on to do what it does best surveying and capturing data from a safe position that will be used to rebuild Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Over a two-week period ike was used by Engineering Infrastructure Intelligent Reachback Centre (EI2RC) to conduct training for the Federal Emergency Support team A (FEST-A), who are assisting the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) in capturing the precise location of features in the disaster zones and their geospatial relationship to each other. Given a disaster has occurred these features are more than likely altered or obstructed.

During the first week of collecting information, FEST-A used ike to find a temporary housing site in St. Helena Parish. Due to a lack of infrastructure support this site was rejected. ike was then used to conduct damage assessments of critical infrastructure. FEST-A documented damage at 17th Street Canal breach and London Avenue. FEST-A then proceeded to document Home and Marina damage on Lakeshore Drive. During the second week FEST-A then proceeded to use ike to collected preliminary data for HAC site at Carruth Boy Scout Camp in Port Allen, Louisiana and St. Martin High School, Ocean Springs. From here onwards ike300 was used in New Orleans to conduct site assessments and document damage of levees and canals. ike was also used to collect infrastructure damage around Long Beach, Mississippi. ike produces a number of benefits. For example the data can be collected from up to a kilometre away, avoiding the need to get amongst the unstable buildings to do so, thus minimizing risk to the safety and well being of data collectors. Gaining this information gives an insight into the possible dangers that may hinder reconstruction efforts. Having this data is crucial to accurately assessing the damage and the planning process of rebuilding.

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