Protecting Life, Property and Your Federal Reimbursement

As the economy churns slowly forward, local jurisdictions routinely find their taxpayer bases shrinking, budgets tightening and projects postponed. Compounding the economic situation, disaster events can devastate budgets as debris removal alone oftentimes comprises 60-70% of total recovery costs. The federal government faces similar dire economic constraints leaving FEMA strapped for funding and unable to expeditiously provide the financial relief required at the local level. How can departments around the country systemically prepare for and mitigate the impact of a disaster on their bottom-lines?

In 2009, as the economy sunk deeper into recession, severe flooding demolished bridges and deposited debris into critical flood control measures in Geneva County, Alabama. Without a debris plan in place, Geneva County lacked the financial and operational resources to effectively recover. Even today, the recovery is still evident as 5 bridges remain impassable and federal reimbursement looms heavy on the County budget.

With the Geneva residents struggling to find alternative transportation routes and the budget busted, Justin Barfield, County Engineer, realized the need to plan for future disaster events. After contracting with the Joint Venture GenCon Associates and Byrd Brothers Emergency Services, the parties collaborated on a comprehensive Disaster Debris Management Plan for the County. Serving as a repository of information, the plan’s goal was three-fold:

1. To protect County lives and improved property,
2. To maximize federal and state reimbursement, and
3. To realize reimbursement more rapidly.

Having completed 174 federally funded disaster projects, Byrd Brothers cultivated both the technical expertise and expansive performance history to fully prepare and respond to unique disaster events nationwide. Utilizing their expertise, in addition to the guidance from Mr. Barfield and GenCon Associates, Byrd Brothers developed and instituted a County-specific Disaster Debris Management Plan based on the experiences and knowledge gained over 14 years responding to federally funded disasters. Emphasizing a rapid, efficient response and transparency throughout the recovery process, the Plan included:

• Assessing the County’s Risk
• Establishing Roles and Responsibilities of County departments and external agencies
• Identifying County debris zones, immediate needs facilities, emergency routes and disposal locations
• Outlining Operational Plans
• Developing a Public Information Strategy
• Implementing a Cost Tracking and Recordkeeping Plan

With the County Disaster Debris Management Plan cemented, Mr. Barfield now possesses the vehicle necessary to protect County lives and improved property and safeguard the budget from future disaster events.

The County Disaster Debris Management Plan also provides a critical competitive advantage when applying to State Emergency Management and FEMA for approval by eliminating burdensome paperwork at the outset of the disaster and expediting Immediate Needs Funding. In addition to identifying various alternative grant programs based on disaster outcomes, the Plan complies with the FEMA Pilot Program (in Congress for approval) for additional 5% cost-savings, regular-time paid and a waiver of the Duplication of Benefits. Lastly, with sufficient lead time, Byrd Brothers identified additional cost saving measures for the County, including reduction in tipping fees, landfill capacity utilization and recycling plans. These enumerated benefits represent significant cost-savings providing the breathing room to a strapped County budget.

What is the cost to Mr. Barfield’s bottom- line today? Nothing. The planning and development of a County-specific Disaster Debris Management Plan is duly apart of the comprehensive relief and recovery efforts. Conversely, what are the savings to Mr. Barfield’s bottomline in the future? Significant. By taking a proactive approach to disaster debris management, Mr. Barfield systematically mitigated risk to the County’s residents and budget while realizing significant cost saving opportunities. As economic and disaster-related issues impact local jurisdictions around the country, Byrd Brothers Emergency Services offers the PREP Model – Prepare, Respond, Execute and Procure – to empower local leaders and emergency managers with the tools and knowledge to protect lives and improved property, maximize federal and state reimbursement and realize that reimbursement more rapidly.