June 15 Deadline Set For Private Property Debris Removal Requests
Release Date: May 30, 2006
Release Number: 1604-372
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BILOXI, Miss. -- June 15, 2006 will be the cutoff date for submitting hurricane-related debris removal requests by qualifying private residential and commercial property owners in Jackson, Hancock and Harrison counties according to state and federal recovery officials.
The deadline for new submissions is an extension of the previous Feb. 28, 2006 deadline and is based on numerous requests in those counties for possible assistance after an extensive survey of affected areas.
The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) jointly orchestrate and monitor debris operations while ensuring guidelines are followed for debris removed from public and private lands and waterways.
Primary criteria for possible commercial/private property debris removal assistance require:
- The structures were damaged by the disaster;
- The structures were determined to be structurally unsound and pose an immediate threat to the public; and
- The work is completed within the Aug. 28, 2006 mission assignment deadline for such emergency work.
Structures condemned as safety hazards before the disaster are not eligible for demolition and resulting debris removal. Structures that are currently habitable but may be at risk, e.g., on a failing slope, are not eligible for demolition under agreed guidelines.
In addition, all new submission requests will be evaluated by state and local officials before applying for possible reimbursement through FEMA's Public Assistance (PA) program. Strict documentation will be required from the applicant to establish any requested demolition is an immediate threat to public health and safety. A FEMA inspection team will inspect each property submitted and determine eligibility based on the structural integrity of the unit.
Officials emphasized that some of the submitted properties will not meet FEMA criteria. In those cases, the applicant will be required to comply with their codes and standards and remove the identified hazard using their own funds.
PA assists local governments by reimbursing 100 percent of approved debris removal costs caused by Hurricane Katrina until June 30, 2006, which marks the end of the United States Corps of Engineers debris removal mission. After that date the program will reimburse 90 percent of debris removal and the costs of emergency protective measures. State and local governments will split the remainder.
FEMA funding of debris removal is scheduled to end Aug. 28.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 30-May-2006 15:03:07