It’s been three weeks since the devastating fires in Los Angeles County began. Efforts are under way to get families whose homes were destroyed to the sites to salvage what they can. The next chapter is clearing the debris, a process that has already come under scrutiny. Once areas are cleared, rebuilding can begin. Here’s a look at the process to clear the site of a burned home.
PHASE 1
Hazardous waste removal
To reduce exposure for cleanup crews and the public, visible hazardous waste and bulk asbestos (only that which can be seen; a test will be done as part of Phase 2) are removed from burned properties by either:
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- California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Properties are not safe after Phase 1, which only removes visible hazardous waste. Harmful materials like lead, mercury, arsenic and asbestos can be hidden under heavy debris or mixed into ash and soil.
Examples of household hazardous waste:
- Auto and household batteries
- Pesticides and other chemicals
- Paints and thinners
- Aerosol cans
- Asbestos siding, pipe insulation, and floor tiles
- E-waste, such as televisions and computer screens
Phase 1 happens automatically at no cost.
Site assessment schedules: Because assessment teams must visit many properties each day, it’s not possible to schedule specific appointments for owners to be on-site.
PHASE 2
Step 1: Cleanup options
Communicate directly with your county about which of these two options you select to do the required debris cleanup:
- You can enroll in a government-managed and funded program or hire a private contractor.
- Enroll in the government program by submitting a right-of-entry form to your county. State-managed cleanup has no out-of-pocket costs for property owners. Note: Several steps may occur simultaneously.
Step 2: Site assessment
Teams inspect each property to create a safe plan to remove debris.
Step 3: Asbestos
Specialists test for and remove asbestos that wasn’t removed during Phase 1.
Step 4: Debris removal
Government-managed crews clear ash, debris and contaminated soil after giving property owners 24 to 48 hours’ notice. To protect the public and community:
- Crews tape off the ash footprint, allowing only workers in full protective clothing to enter.
- Crews divide debris into four categories and haul it to the correct disposal or recycling facility.
- Metal 2% / Concrete 15% / Contaminated soil 15% / Ash and debris 68%
Project timeline: A typical property can be cleared in two days if there are no access issues such as locked gates, terrain challenges or weather-related impacts.
Step 5: Soil testing
Contractors test soil samples for contaminants like lead or mercury and remove tainted soil. If a section still tests high, crews remove 3 to 6 more inches of soil and retest. The goals of soil testing are to leave a property safe for families, children and pets as well as protect groundwater, wildlife and air quality.
Step 6: Hazardous tree removal
Contractors identify and remove trees in danger of falling on public property or deemed a hazard to crew safety.
Step 7: Erosion control
Crews place mulch where structures once stood to limit erosion. This protects the soil and watershed. Areas that contain ash are covered with seedless hydro mulch, a wood-based application that will not sprout.
Step 8: Final walk-through
State supervisors inspect the property to verify that all work was completed satisfactorily. Contractors are paid after state inspection. Certification by the county is required to file for a building permit.
STORING THE HAZARDOUS DEBRIS
The EPA is opening two locations for the collection and sorting of hazardous materials taken from the Palisades and Eaton fires, which has sparked opposition from cities near the San Gabriel Valley site.
What Will FEMA Want to Know When I Apply for Disaster Assistance?
Filling out a FEMA application can be unsettling when you are still experiencing the results of a natural disaster firsthand. It helps to know in advance what information and documents you’ll need to provide to verify your identity, occupancy, and other details related to your disaster-caused losses. Below are helpful details on what data and documents will be needed to apply with FEMA.
Information needed when you apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance:
- Your phone number and the address, including zip code, of the damaged property
- Contact information after the disaster, including phone number, alternate residential address or email address to receive electronic notifications
- Your Social Security number
- Insurance information, including settlement letter if you received it
- Condition of your damaged home, if known, and personal property losses
- Your annual household income (for possible referrals)
- Bank account information, if you would like your assistance provided via direct deposit
Documents needed to verify identity
Your Social Security number, state driver’s license, state ID, or voter registration card
Ownership and vital records (birth, death, marriage): Los Angeles County residents directly impacted by the fires can request property records and vital records at no cost to support their recovery.
Contacts:
Vital records: (888) 985-9913
Property records: (800) 201-8999, option 3
Email for both: RRCCFireAssistance@rrcc.lacounty.gov
Occupancy: FEMA will usually verify your occupancy and ownership through a public records search. If they can’t, they may ask you to provide additional documents such as:A lease or housing agreement, rent receipt, motor vehicle registration, or a utility or other bill, or bank or credit card statement, mailed to your address. If these documents have been destroyed, contact your mortgage company, landlord, vendors, employer or bank.
A public official’s signed statement: If you cannot access documentation to prove occupancy, you may provide a written statement from a public official, member of a tribal council, homeless outreach advocate, etc. It must include your name, location of residence, dates of occupancy, and the official’s name, title, signature and contact information.
Annual household income: Pay stub, tax returns, W2 forms
Bank account information: Bank statement
Damage to your property: A description of the damage caused, photos of the damage. Receipts to verify expenses caused by the disaster.
For information on replacing documents lost in the wildfires: Replacing Lost Documents after Los Angeles County Wildfires.
Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance online: Go to at DisasterAssistance.gov (fastest option); on the FEMA App (available at the Apple App Store or Google Play); by phone at 800-621-3362 (if you use a relay service, give FEMA your number for that service) or visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC); to locate a DRC near you, visit the DRC Locator.
Sources: CalRecycle, Cal OES, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Google Earth. 3D models from Turbosquid.