In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew slid along roughly 400 miles of coastline in the southeastern United States. While the storm caused relatively minor infrastructure damage, it resulted in millions of cubic yards of debris from high winds and coastal storm surge flooding. 

Flagler County

A teaming partner engaged HDR to oversee Flagler County debris monitoring operations. We were responsible for hiring and training a team of approximately 40 local staff members to implement a debris monitoring program for the unincorporated county, as well as the cities of Flagler Beach and Bunnell.  
Specific elements of our mission included: collection/right of way debris monitoring, debris management site monitoring, and a hazardous tree debris monitoring program. More than 200,000 cubic yards of debris were ultimately removed from Flagler County rights of way. 

In addition to right of way debris monitoring, the county authorized us to administer a private property debris removal program in certain areas containing private roads. 

KEY FEATURES

• 200,000 cubic yards of debris were ultimately removed from Flagler County rights of way
• Over 15,000 leaners, hangers and stumps removed
• Hired and trained over 60 local staff members to implement program
• Utilized ADMS technology to support project documentation

St. Johns County 

Through a teaming arrangement with another emergency management consultant, HDR assisted St. Johns County with debris removal monitoring and related services. It is estimated that Hurricane Matthew generated up to 708,000 cubic yards of vegetative and mixed construction/household debris. As part of the debris removal monitoring program, we provided truck certification, zone mapping/crew deployment, collection monitoring, tower monitoring, data management and reimbursement consulting services. We assisted the county in establishing six debris management sites over the course of the project.

In addition to overseeing debris removal efforts on the county’s public and private roadways, we oversaw debris removal along the county’s 26 miles of public beaches. St. Johns County beaches were littered with the remnants of pressure-treated wood from walk-over structures, as well as large quantities of vegetative debris. 

KEY FEATURES

• 708,000 cubic yards of vegetative and mixed construction/household debris generated by Hurricane Matthew
• Assisted the County in establishing six debris management sites and overseeing debris removal along 26 miles of beaches
• Deployed and managed over 120 staff over the course of the project
• Utilized ADMS technology to support project documentation