Disaster Debris

Natural disasters can generate a substantial amount of debris. The following resources provide information on planning, management, and disposal of disaster debris:

Visit our Disaster Debris page, the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Debris web site, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Debris Management web site.

EPA's Planning for Natural Disaster Debris (PDF) (94 pp, 1.9MB, About PDF) | Fact Sheet (PDF) (1 pg, 73K, About PDF) - This document is an update of “Planning for Disaster Debris” published by the EPA in 1995 (document EPA530-K-95-010). It's designed for local communities (including cities, counties, tribes, etc.) who are encouraged to create disaster debris management plans. Information is included on:

Recommended components of a disaster debris management plan.
Management options for various debris streams that might be found after a natural
A collection of case studies that highlights how several communities prepared for and managed debris generated by recent natural disasters.
Federal, state, and local resources to consult in planning for natural disasters.

Generating Biomass Fuel From Disaster Debris," by Rhodes Yepsen, Biocycle, July 2008
This article describes the opportunities for utilizing biomass generated after disasters. Debris from natural disasters is plentiful and currently underutilized, but organizations and business are working on the logistics for increasing beneficial use.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers several resources on disaster debris and related issues:

Learning From the Northridge Earthquake
Preparing for the "Big One": Saving Lives Through Earthquake Mitigation in Los Angeles, California:
- Section One, Overview of Existing Mitigation Programs
- Section Six, The Remaining Challenge

Disaster Debris

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