PROGRESS REVIEW OF 1999 SUSTAINABILITY PLANS

Project 1

Project Title: Disaster Debris Management/Deconstruction Initiative

Agency: Division of Emergency Management

Projected Initiation & Completion Dates: Begins in March 1999 and will be ongoing.

Contact:

Mark Munden, Infrastructure Support Coordinator,
(919)733-0795

Actions Necessary for Implementation: Immediately following a disaster and to compliment the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) acquisition projects, the debris management section will assist local governments in the reduction of municipal waste streams by encouraging source reduction, reuse, and recycling. This program will expand existing debris management coordination under the State Emergency Response Team, by creating a Disaster Debris Management Steering Committee. This committee will include Solid Waste Management, Pollution Prevention & Environmental Assistance, Recycling Marketing, Department of Transportation, Habitat for Humanity, NC National Guard and a Duke University Deconstruction expert. This committee will create a Adebris flow@ for both immediate post-disaster clearance and structural buyouts under HMGP.

Anticipated Environmental Sustainability Benefits: Will reduce, reuse and recycle source waste rather than pure landfill disposal. Deconstruction experts will work with local planners, code enforcement officials and state agencies to utilize the majority of materials gained through the debris flow process.

1999 Progress Review and Plans: Hurricane Floyd devastated eastern North Carolina in September of 1999 as a major flooding event which damaged most of the potential salvageable building materials. Reuse and recycling of these contaminated materials has restricted their use for future building activities, however, deconstruction is continuing where possible.The Division, in partnership with the Department of Correction, State Construction, State Parks and the City of Kinston is using deconstructed materials gathered from houses that were bought out under the Hurricane Fran Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to build a gazebo to demonstrate alternative uses for disaster debris. This initiative also showcases solar power energy savings techniques. Local governments participating in the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program are being encouraged to deconstruct houses, whenever possible and information is being provided on possible reuses of the salvaged materials.