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Aerial views of debris and damage left in the wake of Sandy in Long Beach , N.Y., outside of New York City. Following the hurricane, a nor’easter struck the area causing more damage and additional flooding. Photo courtesy of FEMA.

Disaster debris removal in urban environments presents officials, city agencies and debris removal contractors with a mix of advantages and challenges. IBTS spoke with New York City Department of Sanitation Deputy Commissioner (DSNY) Vito Turso about his experience navigating debris removal after Hurricane Sandy.

The following tips and best practices provide guidance for large cities to navigate the challenges debris removal presents to urban areas.

Plan to have the equipment you think you’ll need in a place where you will be able to use it.

• During planning, anticipate the type of equipment you’ll need based on the likely types of disaster and geographic factors in your area. For example, in sites that may handle large amounts of vegetative waste it is helpful to identify where equipment such as chippers and grinders may be obtained or readily available locally or on a shared basis with other municipalities
• Stage that equipment where it is readily accessible and as safe as possible from the impact of the disaster. Flood-prone areas, for example, should stage equipment on high ground.
• Include equipment sharing in mutual aid agreements.

Have a plan for alternate debris management sites.

• Have multiple debris management sites identified to avoid implementing emergency contracts during recovery.
• If you do have to use emergency contracts, ask your city commissioner for assistance and bring in lawyers to coordinate the legal aspects of the contracts to ensure compliance and prevent escalating costs.

Know where your fleet is. 

• Make sure GPS systems are properly installed and maintained in debris removal vehicles at all times. DSNY, for example, has hand held devices and “a GPS room” connected to automatic vehicles system (AVLS) in trucks.
• Debris removal and disposal activities must be monitored to receive Public Assistance reimbursement from FEMA.

Maintain communication with local and state elected and appointed officials.

• “They add an additional layer of outreach, and if needed, bureaucracy,” Turso says. Coordinate with the Governor’s office and elected and appointed officials from surrounding municipalities to determine the need for mutual aid to assist with debris removal.
• The governor’s office can assist with road closures and debris removal when regional actions need to be implemented.

Station a permanent communication’s liaison from the local department responsible for debris removal in the office of emergency management (OEM).

• “DSNY has a representative stationed at OEM permanently,” explains Turso. “Communication flows from DSNY, OEM or the mayor’s office. With a permanent office at OEM, communication is easier to implement.”

Employ available data and technology to provide early warning for severe weather systems.

• Provide as much advance notice as possible to set plans in place as soon as possible. DSNY, for example, has an in-house meteorologist who uses three different weather services.
• Adjust debris removal plans based on the prediction — stage equipment, assess resources and implement mutual aid agreements if needed.

Resume normal collection as soon as possible.

• Sandy response lasted a year, but DSNY was back in business the following day, doing day-to-day collection and activities in unaffected areas. This gives residents hope that the recovery process is underway and signifies the start of a return to normalcy.

Have a plan to keep cars off streets.

• Use public service announcements before severe weather hits to notify residents that on-street parking will be restricted afterwards.
• During a storm, use social media, radio and news media to notify residents when they need to move cars from streets, and also when travel bans are implemented.
• Work with the governor’s office to get the word out regionally.