Association of Conservation Engineers 2011 ConferenceAssociation of Conservation Engineers 2011 Conference

Disaster Debris Removal Operations

October 26, 2011

Presenters

Keith Forrester, Debris Monitoring Operations ManagerO 8 f i i d b i it i ti th h t th

ese te s

• Over 8 years of experience managing debris monitoring operations throughout the United States following some of the largest debris generating natural disasters in recent history.

• Worked extensively on programs to remove dangerous leaning trees, hazardous hanging limbs and st mp remo al in some of the largest parks impacted by debris generatinglimbs, and stump removal in some of the largest parks impacted by debris generating events in the last decade, including programs in Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas.

Nicole Counsell, Senior Grant Consultant • Over 5 years of experience managing grant programs administered by FEMA, HUD, FHWA

and the NRCS.• Substantiated over $3 5 Million in FEMA PA funding to monitor and document the removal ofSubstantiated over $3.5 Million in FEMA PA funding to monitor and document the removal of

over 10,000 standing dead trees throughout the City of Galveston that were killed as a result of saltwater inundation after Hurricane Ike in 2008.

• Extensive experience in managing and supporting special debris removal programs including sand removal, vessel recovery, and private property debris removal.

Company Overview

Established 2011Limited Liability Corporation

Established 1953Corporation

Established 1999Limited Liability CorporationLimited Liability Corporation

ServicesDebris Monitoring

Grant AdministrationHousing

Corporation

ServicesFull-Service EngineeringEnvironmental ConsultingConstruction Management

Limited Liability Corporation

ServicesArchitecture

Interior DesignMaster Planning

OfficersJon Hoyle, President

Nate Counsell, Vice-President

OfficersHenry R. Seawell, III, Chairman

James H. Shumock, CEOJohn H. Baker, III, President

Bob Keyser, COO

OfficersJim Clarke, Vice-President

Sandy McArthur, Vice-President

Introduction to Thompson Consulting Services

► Headquartered in Lake Mary FloridaLake Mary, Florida

► Team of industry renown disaster response and recovery consultants

► Ten additional offices located throughout the Southeast

Introduction to Thompson Consulting Services

► Full service emergency response and disaster recovery consultancy

p g

recovery consultancy

► 50 years of combined staff experience in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from:for, responding to, and recovering from: Tornados Hurricanes

Fl d Floods Earthquakes Ice Storms Rock Slides

► Supports federal, state, and local governments

Presentation Overviewese tat o O e e

► Importance of Debris Management Planning

► Debris Management Operations Overview Planning Response Response Recovery Mitigation

► Unique Challenges for Conservation Districts

Case Study – Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural y pResources

► Questions

Importance of Debris Management Planning

► Weather/climate related disasters are unpredictable, d t ti d tl

po ta ce o eb s a age e t a g

devastating, and costly

Importance of Debris Management Planningpo ta ce o eb s a age e t a g

► The U.S. has experienced 110 weather/climate related di t th t 31 i hi h th lldisasters over the past 31 years in which the overall damages and costs have reached or exceeded $1 billion1.

► The total standardized losses for the 110 events exceed► The total standardized losses for the 110 events exceed $750 billion1.

► Approximately 70-80% of all disaster related costs are► Approximately 70 80% of all disaster related costs are associated with debris management

► On average, vegetative debris (trees, brush, and limbs) g g ( )may run as high as 70% of the total amount debris generated from a disaster incident.

1 Source: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) Chronological List of U S Billion Dollar Events1. Source: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) Chronological List of U.S. Billion Dollar Events

Importance of Debris Management PlanningImportance of Debris Management Planning

► Depending on the severity of the disaster incident f ffthe following elements can be affected by debris

removal operations Impacts on local economypacts o oca eco o y

Strain on staff and resources

Threat to public health and safety

Restoration of government services

Impacts on government revenues

► Debris removal operations typically span 6 to 18 months

Disaster Recovery Timeline

Debris Management Operations Pl iPlanning

► Assessment of hazards and vulnerabilities

► Establishing and understanding debris management roles and responsibilities

► Debris quantity estimation by hazard and waste stream► Debris quantity estimation by hazard and waste stream

► Identify available land for debris management sites (DMS)

► Prepare template public information materials (set out procedures, p p p ( p ,hazards / safety, etc.)

► Stakeholder regulatory coordination (environmental, health and safety etc )safety, etc.)

► Development of a disaster debris management plan (DDMP)

► Procurement of stand-by response contractorsy p

Debris Management Operations RResponse► Emergency roadway clearance

► Time and materials documentation► Time and materials documentation

► DMS setup and initiation

► Truck certification► Truck certification

► Debris removal programs Right-of-Way (ROW) Leaner, hanger and stump removal Private property debris removal (PPRD) Parks and recreational areas

► Debris reduction and disposal

► FEMA Category A&B project worksheet development

► Data management and invoice reconciliation

Debris Management Operations RRecovery

► Permanent work / reconstruction projects Road systems and bridges Parks and recreations Water control facilitiesWater control facilities Utilities

► FEMA Category A&B close out and Category C&G project work sheet development

Debris Management Operations Miti tiMitigation

► After-action report and improvement matrix p pdevelopment

► Documentation of improvements► Grant program research and application

development

Debris Management Operations Technology & TrendsTechnology & Trends

► TechnologyAutomated Debris Management Automated Debris Management System (ADMS)

Geographic Information Systems and reverse geo codingand reverse geo-coding

Data QA/QC Digital photography

► Trends Direct Federal Assistance Requests Self-enforced monitoring Self-enforced monitoring Pre-event contracting

AL Department of Conservation & Natural ResourcesCase Study► April 2011 Tornados | FEMA-DR-1971

Impacted states: AL, AR, LA, MS, GA,TN, VA, KY, IL, MO, OH, TX, OK Estimated 343 tornadoes, 321 deaths of those 240 occurred in AL EF-5 hit northern AL; impacted metropolitan areas included Tuscaloosa,

Birmingham, and Huntsville

► Parks Affected

Lake Guntersville

Buck’s Pocket

Wind Creek

AL Department of Conservation & Natural ResourcesCase Study► Debris Management Operations

Vegetative debris collected 108 000 CYD Vegetative debris collected – 108,000 CYD Root ball removal - 2400 Workforce – peak of 30 inspectors averaging 14 – 16

► Unique Considerations Mapping and GIS

T i Terrain Safety Historical/preservation areas Wildlife Inclement weather Eligibility challengesEligibility challenges

AL Department of Conservation & Natural ResourcesCase Study► Best practices and lessons learned

Safety

Case Study

– Proper staffing for the proper programs– Proper pre-event plans for safety

• Proper blazing of trails - entrance signs, tree markings, posts on the way, trail exits• Shelters for tourists/employees• Shelters for tourists/employees• Early warning sirens• Hazard mitigation for safety

Documentation – Diligently monitor staffing and resources utilized for debris removal

operations; eligible costs will be scrutinized – Maintain proper documentation of post event volunteer hours

D t h li d t St t d d t d– Document man hours applied to State owned and rented areas – Verify contractor time estimates which directly affect the monitoring portion of

billing– Capture pre-event photo documentation of improved areas – easiest way to p p p p y

prove that an area was maintained before any event.

AL Department of Conservation & Natural ResourcesC St dCase Study► Best practices and lessons learned continued

FlexibilityFlexibility

– FEMA interpretation of guidelines can be quite different from the applicants. Remember, it’s the applicants responsibility to understand regulations and drive their recovery.

– FEMA rotations – approved activities may change based on FEMA staff assignments.

– Conservation districts have unique needs and challenges that may not beConservation districts have unique needs and challenges that may not be understood by all parties involved in recovery efforts.

ROW Debris RemovalO eb s e o a

Before AfterBefore After

Campground Debris Removal

Before BeforeBefore Before

Campground Debris Removal

Before Before

Ca pg ou d eb s e o a

Before Before

Campground Debris RemovalCa pg ou d eb s e o a

After AfterAfter After

Day Use Area Debris Removalay Use ea eb s e o a

Before AfterBefore After

Hazardous Stump/Rootball Extractiona a dous Stu p/ ootba t act o

Before AfterBefore After

Trail Debris Removala eb s e o a

Trail Debris Removala eb s e o a

QUESTIONS?

Nicole CounsellThompson Consulting Services nscounsell@thompsoncs.net(321) 338 5003

Keith Forrester Thompson Consulting Serviceskforrester@thompsoncs.net(573) 741 9077 (321) 338-5003(573) 741-9077