[StBernard] Plan Announced For Demolition, Debris Removal and Removal of Household Hazards

[Westley Annis]

Plan Announced For Demolition, Debris Removal and Removal of Household
Hazards

December 22 , 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


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The St. Bernard Parish Council on Thursday formally announced its plan for
Demolition, Debris Removal, and Removal of Household Hazards in the parish.
While St. Bernard, through its debris contractor, has begun debris removal
from the public rights of way and from some residential properties, the plan
to dramatically increase the debris removal activity starting in early
January is hereby officially announced.

The debris removal process will continue in coordination with the demolition
and removal of household hazards programs set to officially begin Jan. 16,
2006.

The estimated time for the demolition process will be contingent upon the
rate for residents signing up for demolition.

Residents who are basing their decision to demolish on the damage
assessments should access this information on line @ www.sbpg.net and go to
inspection reports.  If a report is not available on line or you have a
disagreement with the report findings, residents should contact the Office
of Community Development at 278-4310 or contact their council member.

Residents who are planning to rebuild their homes after demolition may apply
for their building permit at the Office of Community Development.

Residents who are repairing their homes should follow these guidelines:
If your home is 0 - 30% damaged apply for a permit only for structural,
electrical, a/s heating, or plumbing repairs;

If your house is rated above 30% damaged currently there is a need for a
structural engineering assessment before permits for repairs will be issued.
This issue is being examined, but will be followed until further notice.

Again, residents who disagree with the damage assessment for their property
may request a re-inspection, but should expect some delay in the process.


Here is a review of the components of each of these programs:

 

OPERATION KATRINA DEMOLITION

1.      Property owners who wish to voluntarily consent to have their home
demolished should contact the Office of Community Development and sign the
appropriate Consent for Demolition Form. This form is also available on the
parish government website @ www.sbpg.net.

2.      Property owners may consent to have their homes demolished at any
time
during the next several months.

3.      Once the consent form is received, a review of the property will
take
place and contact between the project manager and the property owner will
follow before a work order for demolition will be issued.

4.      Additionally, the Office of Community Development and FEMA will
certify
that the structure is appropriate for demolition.

5.      Prior to demolition, homes will be cleared, to the extent possible,
of
household hazardous waste such as flammables, electronics, etc.

6.      Prior to consenting to have their property demolished, the owner
should
gather any valuables left in the house.  Once the final review is completed
with the property owner, there will be no notice given of the date of
demolition.

7.      Demolition will not include the removal of slabs, however, the
individual
property owner may request a separate agreement with a different contractor
to remove the slab.  The contractor may not be involved in FEMA sponsored
debris removal or demolition activity.

8.      Residents who do not voluntarily consent to demolition by March 31,
2006
will be assigned to the Office of Community Development as a
blighted/nuisance property for further assessment and properties which are
in need of remediation will be noted and the property owners notified
accordingly.

 

OPERATION KATRINA DEBRIS REMOVAL

1.      Property owners who have not signed a Right Of Entry for Debris
Removal
from private property should either download the form from the website or
sign the form in person at the Office of Community Development.

2.      Signature of the Right of Entry for Debris Removal shall authorize
the
debris contractor to remove hurricane related debris from the external
properties consented for.

3.      Residents who have removed debris from their homes should place the
debris at curbside and  stack the debris toward the sidewalk and their
property.  Debris that flows onto the property in a continuous pile will be
considered part of one pile.

4.      Residents are asked to not stack debris over water meters or cover
fire
hydrants.

5.      Residents are also requested to separate electronic debris and
household
cleaning supplies, fuels, fuel containers, or other flammable contents from
general household debris.

 

OPERATION KATRINA HOME RECOVERY

1.      Residents who have not gutted their homes and are faced with a
safety
concern due to household materials remaining in the home such as furniture
and appliances, mold-infested walls and ceilings, saturated floors, duct
work, electrical wires, and studs/framing may consent to have their homes
cleared of these environmental and health related concerns.

2.      Residents may access the Consent for Hazard Removal form on the
website
or at the Office of Community Development.

3.      Residents who sign the Consent for Hazard Removal should remove any
valuables from the house at their earliest convenience.

4.      Residents who sign the Consent for Hazard Removal will have their
houses
cleared of damaged walls, ceilings, floors, wiring, etc by a group of
volunteers from various civic groups, including Habitat for Humanity,
Helping Hands and other groups. Homeowners are not liable for volunteers
entering their property to do the clearing work.

5.      All workers will be supervised and adult aged.

6.      Once a home is cleared, that home will then be sprayed by a
different
volunteer or home-owner team with a sanitizing solution to kill bacteria and
mold growth.

7.      Property owners may choose to have their homes gutted by a private
company at their discretion.

8.      Debris from the Hazard Removal program or the gutting program should
be
stacked as indicated in the Debris removal plan and it will be removed at no
charge to the property owner.



Local residents who are able to help the volunteers are asked to contact
parish government through the website.