PRESS RELEASE DETAIL
For release: IMMEDIATELY
Release Date: 07/08/2017
City-Parish to conduct final flood debris removal pass July 10 – August 11
BATON ROUGE, La. — City-Parish debris removal crews will begin their final debris removal pass across East Baton Rouge Parish on Monday, July 10. The purpose of this pass is to address any remaining debris collection needs for residents impacted by the August 2016 flooding. Debris removal operations are set to conclude on Friday, Aug. 11. The actions are in alignment with the six-month extension for eligible flood debris removal activities Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome secured earlier this year in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Per the terms of this extension, all debris removal operations in eligible areas served by the City-Parish must cease by Aug. 13 in order to qualify for federal cost-share reimbursements.
In addition to the areas City-Parish debris removal crews have serviced since the aftermath of the August 2016 flooding — which include city limits within the City of Baton Rouge and unincorporated areas of East Baton Rouge Parish — this final pass will include the removal of eligible flood debris at residential addresses located along state highways throughout East Baton Rouge Parish. In April, Mayor-President Broome announced the expansion of the City-Parish’s debris removal program to include all residences along state highways in East Baton Rouge Parish, recognizing that many residents living along state highways were still in need of debris removal support following last year’s devastating flooding event.
City-Parish officials are urging all residents still in need of debris removal to move these materials curbside as soon as possible. Residents can also continue to request debris removal by contacting the Department of Environmental Services at 225-389-4865. Eligible items include anything in the home that was damaged as a result of the August 2016 flood such as furniture, flooring, insulation and sheetrock.
Per standing FEMA policies, construction and reconstruction waste materials are ineligible for FEMA reimbursement and thus will not be collected by City-Parish debris removal crews, as the disposal of any such materials is the responsibility of the homeowner and/or contractor. These ineligible items include boxes, containers of sheetrock mud, and cut-off pieces of wood or sheetrock. Homeowners who opt to repair their homes themselves can dispose of these materials by either placing them in their garbage receptacles if they will fit or by transporting the materials to the North Landfill, located at 16001 Samuels Road.
Once debris removal operations conclude, residents will be responsible for the disposal of any remaining flood debris. East Baton Rouge Parish residents can bring their flood debris to the North Landfill and dispose of it at no charge by showing proof of residence such as a driver’s license or utility bill.
Since August 2016, City-Parish crews have collected nearly 1.97 million cubic yards of flood debris, representing one of the largest-ever flood debris removal efforts of its kind. For more information and to track the progress of these debris removal efforts through this final collection pass, go to http://gis.brla.gov/debris