By Ted Fischer
October 31, 2005

MWMA addressed concerns about cities and their ability to be prepared for natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and most recently Wilma, during a plenary session on Debris Management, during the 2005 Fall Summit.

Public Works Director, Peter Spatara of West Palm Beach, (FL) and Bureau Chief of Solid Waste Management, Michael Carroll of Orlando were on hand to discuss the best plan for preparation and clean up once storm damage has been done. “Cover your bases, make sure you have everything in place while you still have the ability to get organized,” remarked Spatara. “Everything needs to be checked before a natural disaster can cripple your community.”

Spatara explained to the attendees that it is very important to make sure contracts are in place, a plan has been tested and evacuation routes have been planned along with city and county leaders. He also stressed having a debris staging area so that if devastation was to occur there would be a place that citizens and contractors can go to dump yard waste and debris during the clean up process. Spatara also stressed the importance of communication amongst city employees, solid waste services, police, fire and contractors. “You also want to make sure you have food, portable toilets and ice in your contracts because you want to make sure your employees are taken care of; they are your most valuable resource. Also make sure your employees have time to protect their homes and their families. You need them to be on task when times get rough and if they are worried about their own families, it isn’t going to make things any easier on you or them.” Spatara went on to talk about the idea of establishing a chain of command, and preparing a timeline as well as making sure citizens are aware of the impending danger.

Carroll followed Spatara with a presentation that involved debris removal and clean up after a natural disaster. “When a disaster strikes, make sure you know what is necessary for clean up. Make sure you know all of FEMA’s rules if you are looking for clean up reimbursement,” he said. Carroll said clean up is more then just picking up a pile of sticks. “Natural disasters are no picnic. Make sure you have plenty of friends to help out once the damage has been done,” he said. He also said that it is very important to continue city services as usual. “If you have been placed in charge of clean up, then make sure there is someone who can do your position to cause the community little or no disruption to what they have come to rely on you for.”

For more information on Debris Management, panelist presentations can be found on the MWMA website at usmayors.org/uscm/mwma.