NEWS

Georgia's coastal counties to contract for storm debris removal

Terry Dickson

BRUNSWICK, GA. | Georgia’s six coastal counties will contract individually to remove debris from Tropical Storm Irma after state and federal agencies failed to reach agreements, the Georgia governor’s office said in a letter.

Gov. Nathan Deal had told county officials four days after the storm devastated some coastal areas that the Corps of Engineers would handle debris removal and the state would pay all of the 25 percent local share. Typically, the Federal Emergency Management Agency pays 75 percent of the cost and the counties and state split the rest. Georgia will still pick up the tab for the counties’ share as Deal promised.

In a Wednesday letter, Chris Riley, Deal’s chief of staff, informed the commission chairmen of the six coastal counties they should “execute local debris clearance and removal operations” in compliance with FEMA policy.

Riley said the Corps denied the debris removal mission and that FEMA had denied requests for the state to “sole source” debris contracts and for higher rates of reimbursement for the removal and emergency protection services. That would have enticed Georgia workers to remain in the state rather than traveling to Texas and Florida to work, he said.

In his letter, Riley said FEMA had granted sole source contracting for Texas, “which we expect will act as a magnet for debris contractors throughout the Southeast.”

Glynn County commissioners will vote Friday morning on executing contracts with debris removal companies, the county said.

David Peterson, chief of the Corps of Engineers’ Savannah District, said a five-member team from the Corps’ Baltimore District was in Brunswick assessing the cleanup needs. Because the Baltimore District has expertise in storm cleanup, it took on the mission with the Savannah District as host, Peterson said.

Peterson said that the cost estimates for the debris removal was “a very large number.”

The Baltimore team will remain in Georgia to provide technical assistance to help each county execute their own plans, he said.

“In my opinion, it’s a great mission because it gives the counties confidence in what they do,” Peterson said of the advisory role.

Although the contracting agency may change, the county will likely use some of the same pre-arranged contractors that the Corps uses, he said.

Peterson said there are incentives for local rather than federal contracting, especially cost savings and boosting local jobs.

“When the counties do it themselves, it puts more money back in the local counties and helps the economy,” he said.

Peterson said the planning for debris removal has begun and the pick-ups should start soon.

Terry Dickson: (912) 264-0405