"...the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) stated that while the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimated in July 2008 that it had funded about 16,900 home demolitions, an estimated 6,100 homes remained to be demolished around the New Orleans area. Further, it is estimated that when the demolition and renovation of damaged property in the New Orleans area resulting from Hurricane Katrina are completed, more than 100 million cubic yards of disaster debris will have been generated.1 This is more than twice the amount of disaster-related debris generated in 1992 by Hurricane Andrewâ"the event that prior to Hurricane Katrina had resulted in the greatest recorded amount of disaster-related debris in U.S. history."
GAO Report: Hurricane Katrina: Continuing Debris Removal and Disposal Issues
GAO has a new report out on debris management from Hurricane Katrina. The cover letter reads in part:
"...the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) stated that while the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimated in July 2008 that it had funded about 16,900 home demolitions, an estimated 6,100 homes remained to be demolished around the New Orleans area. Further, it is estimated that when the demolition and renovation of damaged property in the New Orleans area resulting from Hurricane Katrina are completed, more than 100 million cubic yards of disaster debris will have been generated.1 This is more than twice the amount of disaster-related debris generated in 1992 by Hurricane Andrewâ"the event that prior to Hurricane Katrina had resulted in the greatest recorded amount of disaster-related debris in U.S. history."
That is a bunch of debris! More details can be found in the GAO report, to include hazardous material issues.
"...the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) stated that while the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimated in July 2008 that it had funded about 16,900 home demolitions, an estimated 6,100 homes remained to be demolished around the New Orleans area. Further, it is estimated that when the demolition and renovation of damaged property in the New Orleans area resulting from Hurricane Katrina are completed, more than 100 million cubic yards of disaster debris will have been generated.1 This is more than twice the amount of disaster-related debris generated in 1992 by Hurricane Andrewâ"the event that prior to Hurricane Katrina had resulted in the greatest recorded amount of disaster-related debris in U.S. history."
