STORM DEBRIS Recovery & Processing
By Emerson, Dan | |
Proquest LLC |
Mobile wood grinding fleet, qualification as a preapproved cleanup contractor and reliable outlets for processed debris are keys to success.
THE weeklong winter storm that hit the south and
Further to the north,
SOUTHERN DISASTER RECOVERY
In 2011, entrepreneurs A1 McClaren,
He and Boucher partnered with fellow clean-up contractor
To set up debris management sites in advance of storm events, SDR works with county or municipal officials to find suitable locations, adds McClaren. If the site will be used to clean up after a hurricane or tornado, the company may install liners to contain any hazardous household waste that might be included in the cleanup.
Local governments' readiness to deal with storm events varies greatly, he says. When
In cleaning up after storm events "we only deal with what
SDR has been successful in complying with
SUPREME INDUSTRIES
One of the most experienced storm cleanup contractors in the U.S. is
Supreme operates two facilities: its primary base in Harwington,
When processing storm-related debris at a site, Supreme's workers divide it into piles of brush, "stem wood" and logs. Tree stumps also go in a separate pile, and are broken up to remove dirt. "We grind the three categories of material at different times," he explains. "The end result is that some of it goes into mulch, some is used for biomass fuel and some is screened and sorted for use in composting. So, we have multiple uses for the product after grinding is completed."
There are differences in storm cleanup work, depending on whether the damage has been done by high winds versus an ice storm, notes Boucher. "Wind events typically blow things over, so there are more uprooted, whole trees and fewer (separated) tree limbs. Conversely, ice-related storms create an abundance of tree limb debris that we refer to as 'leaners' and 'hangers' on the project sites."
The logistics of getting heavy equipment to disaster recovery sites also involves planning routes based on compliance with local roadway weight restrictions. In states such as
Boucher notes there are a number of smaller contractors around the U.S. who "chase storms," while companies like Supreme have prepositioned subcontractors and prior relationships with local governments and therefore are "typically on the top of the list" when it comes time to hire. After major storms, "we hire a lot of subcontractors, so its typically a 24-7 operation for the first couple of weeks, getting everything organized and set up and pointed in the right direction," he says.
How does Supreme typically "vet" those seeking to be hired as subcontractors? "There will typically be a staging yard set up by the local community or state, and we set up a small, emergency trailer so people can come in and introduce themselves," explains Boucher. "We make sure their insurance is up to date and they have the proper equipment. After you've been in business for a few years, you start seeing the same people (at storm sites) and know who performs best."
Supreme seeks local markets for processed wood and green waste. The company has a "network" of 25 walking floor tractortrailers to transport ground material to buyers, typically within a 50 to 100mile radius of where it was created. "It's the most economical way to move material," says Boucher.
For disaster recovery contractors, dealing with the
SAVAGE FOREST ENTERPRISE
Smaller contractors, like
Trees in the area are damaged both by summer wind and thunderstorms and by winter ice storms. Surprisingly, much of the damage caused by ice coating trees doesn't show up until the following summer, when storm winds hit, explains Savage. Many trees survive winter ice storms and don't show stress until they take on their spring "leaf load" and are hit by summer storms. "We have a lot of deciduous trees, so there is a lot of splitting and cracking," he says.
After storms, Savage Forest Enterprise does a lot of work to help reopen tree-blocked roads and remove limbs that might impair utility lines. The company chips the wood waste on-site; about two-thirds of the processed debris is given away to local residents and governments, as wood chips and mulch. The mobile equipment used includes a Vermeer HG200 horizontal grinder and a Vermeer BC1500 brush chipper.
After material is processed it is moved to a temporary staging area to be held until being given away or sold for use as biomass in energy plants around the state. However, using real estate just to hold wood "can sometimes not be profitable," explains Savage, and the fact that when wood waste is stored outdoors, "the quality can go down." The biggest user of the biomass is the
When
Surprisingly, much of the damage caused by ice coating trees doesn't show up until the following summer when storm winds hit.
Copyright: | (c) 2014 J.G. Press Inc. |
Wordcount: | 1625 |
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