Domain: Government
Question:
I am a resident of Florida and need debris removed from my business and my residence. What is the debris removal process for disaster response? Review prior response in the state of Florida and consider best practices incorporating cost recovery and debris removal time. What are the requirements to obtain debris removal funding, and how can I leverage them to expedite disaster recovery? What do you need for faster debris removal operations? How does it affect reimbursement? Can you provide recent examples of how faster debris removal was done? Meanwhile, what if I also have waterways to worry about? How do waterways and ROW fall under the debris removal process? Are there any considerations I need to be aware of when working with waterways and ROWs? Plus, what information do applicants need for the debris removal process? Give me an approachable answer. What can help them through the process? What must an applicant provide? How does the Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) work? What are the PPDR requirements? What is an emergency purchase? How does the state of local emergency purchasing authority process work? Disasters begin and end at the local level. How can my local government purchase items quickly? What are the three options for emergency purchase for Lee County?

Expected points in a correct answer:
Describes the Public Right-of-Way debris removal process for mainland and bridge-connected areas by explaining that it requires easily accessible public right-of-way and follows the steps of set-out, monitored collection, debris management site, and final disposal
Describes the Bridgeless Barrier Islands debris removal process for locations such as Cayo Costa, North Captiva, and Useppa by explaining that it involves no public right-of-way, collection on unimproved paths, and follows the steps of transporting workers and equipment to islands, monitored collection, debris staging, barge loading, transport from islands, offload, debris management site, and final disposal
Identifies at least one best practice for cost recovery (e.g., state partnership eliminating county costs, state assumption of waterway debris removal)
Specifies funding requirements based on PAPPG v4 for at least two categories (private roads/gated communities, private property, or commercial property)
Provides Hurricane Milton (2024) numeric data: 556,113 cubic yards removed with estimated cost of 23.6 million (42.43 per cubic yard)
Provides Hurricane Irma (2017) key metrics: 1.7M cubic yards, 111 days, 15,315 cubic yards/day, 37.2 million cost (21.88/cubic yard)
Provides Hurricane Ian (2022) key metrics: 6.5M cubic yards, 204 days, 31,863 cubic yards/day, 149.8 million cost (23.05/cubic yard)
Explains that state agencies can assume waterway debris removal responsibility, meaning the county may bear no cost when the state handles waterway debris, as demonstrated during Hurricane Ian
Explains that waterway debris removal is particularly relevant for barrier islands and marine environments where standard land-based debris removal processes do not apply
Lists at least three requirements that applicants must provide (e.g., documentation of debris removal, monitoring records, equipment certification, rights of entry, hold harmless agreements)
Explains that debris removal from private property is property owner's responsibility, but FEMA may determine PPDR eligible if debris is so widespread it threatens public health/safety or economic recovery
Lists at least three PPDR requirements (e.g., specialized FEMA authorization, documentation of immediate threat, rights of entry, hold harmless agreements, public interest determination)
Defines emergency purchase as procurement authority activated during state of local emergency allowing expedited acquisition without following normal procurement timelines.
Describes the Current Model (County Manager Authority) emergency purchase option for Lee County, in which emergency purchasing authority starts with the County Manager, the first ratification goes to the Board for approval within 45 days, and ratifications continue to the Board until the emergency response is complete
Describes Option 1 (Board Chair Authority) emergency purchase option for Lee County, in which emergency purchasing authority starts with the County Manager, the first ratification goes to the Board within 45 days, and emergency purchase orders after 45 days are signed by the Chair as Board designee until the emergency response is completed
Describes Option 2 (Board of County Commissioners Authority) emergency purchase option for Lee County, in which emergency purchasing authority starts with the County Manager, the first ratification goes to the Board within 45 days, and emergency purchase orders after 45 days are approved by the full Board in Special Meetings
Lists at least two avenues to expedite disaster recovery (e.g., proactive FEMA communication, pre-positioned contracts, proper documentation, contract flexibility)
Illustrates emergency purchasing in practice by describing the Crowder-Gulf debris removal contract approval on October 18, 2022 (20 days after Hurricane Ian)
Explains that subsequent amendments to the Crowder-Gulf contract added locations and services without requiring full Board re-approval each time, demonstrating flexibility as needs evolve
States that commercial property debris removal is generally ineligible for FEMA reimbursement because commercial entities are expected to have insurance, with exceptions for catastrophically/extensively damaged areas
States at least two requirements for all emergency purchases (e.g., written justification, signatures prior to requisition entry, maximum cost benefit measures)
States that in large commercial areas (such as shopping centers, industrial facilities, and manufacturing sites) debris removal remains the responsibility of commercial entities and FEMA will not allow reimbursement for that removal
Identifies at least one best practice for time efficiency (e.g., streamlined authorization, pre-positioned contracts, collection rate improvements)
States that public right-of-way debris is eligible for FEMA reimbursement
States at least two requirements for ROW debris reimbursement eligibility (e.g., must be easily accessible, collection must be monitored, or requires documented collection)
States that FEMA updated PA policy (September 2022) eliminated size requirements for removal of hazardous trees, limbs/branches, and stumps
States that eligible vegetative debris includes items damaged to the extent that they pose an immediate threat
States that vegetative debris is ineligible if the hazard existed prior to the incident
States that Hurricane Ian's collection rate was 108% faster than Hurricane Irma's collection rate
States that commercial property owners are not permitted to deposit debris from commercial property in public rights-of-way
States that County is required to follow all Federal requirements even during emergency procurement
Mentions Thompson Consulting Services as the debris monitoring contractor (RFP210330BJB, Board approved March 1, 2022)
Provides examples of recent PPDR practice from hurricanes (e.g., noting that Ian and Milton had no requests for private property debris removal, focus on public ROW)
Explains benefits that emergency purchasing authority provides (e.g., immediate contract execution, rapid amendments, shorter advertising times, streamlined processes)
States that FEMA requires applicants to retain documentation supporting the determination of immediate threat, including the specific location of the hazardous debris
States that FEMA requires applicants to retain photograph or video documentation of the debris posing an immediate threat, and provide it when requested
States that during Hurricane Milton, FEMA/State waived preapproval for gated communities, islands, and commercial properties
States that during Hurricane Irma, the County requested and received FEMA authorization for specific private road addresses
tates that Hurricane Ian's faster removal was achieved through pre-positioned contracts, FEMA categorical exemptions for catastrophically damaged areas, and state assumption of outer island/waterway debris at no cost to county
States that vegetative debris is ineligible if the vegetative object/debris is in a natural area and does not threaten or extend over improved property or public-use areas such as trails, sidewalks, or playgrounds
States that the evolution from case-by-case authorization (Irma) to categorical waivers (Milton) significantly reduces administrative delays
States that the State of Local Emergency (SOLE) allows for emergency procurement and shorter advertising times, citing Boca Grande Road Repairs as an example
States that for private roads/gated communities, applicants must document and obtain FEMA authorization for specific addresses
States that for private property debris removal, applicants must obtain rights of entry and hold harmless agreements before work begins
States that the PPDR requirement includes that the work must be in the public interest and not merely benefit an individual or limited group
States that for commercial property, an exception to general ineligibility exists for "Catastrophically/Extensively Damaged" areas, and approval must be obtained before work begins unless a waiver is granted
Mentions that the Crowder-Gulf contract (RFP220362BJB) was Board approved October 18, 2022, and that amendments added locations including barrier islands (North Captiva, Cayo Costa, Useppa)
States that Thompson Consulting Services provides invoicing and equipment certification procedures and ensures FEMA compliance documentation
States that the mainland/bridge-connected process involves larger loads and less frequency, while the barrier island process involves smaller loads and higher frequency and many weather delays