Clean up effort to extend to private property

Operation Clean Sweep is in full swing to pick up and remove tornado debris in eligible jurisdictions by the recently extended deadline of July 12.

Property owners can help expedite debris removal by completing paperwork allowing debris teams to enter private property.

“We have cooperation at all levels of government to complete the debris removal as quickly as possible,” said State Coordinating Officer Jeff Byard of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.

“We also need the help of the individual property owners so we can move on to housing issues.”

Operation Clean Sweep is a pilot program of Federal Emergency Management Agency that addresses debris removal in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive damage. But debris is being removed from private property in certain jurisdictions regardless of Operation Clean Sweep. Before anyone can go onto private property, the local jurisdiction must have legal right of entry to remove debris from the property.

“This is still the United States of America, where we respect private property rights,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael Byrne of FEMA.

“Before we go onto private property to remove anything, landowners must give us right of entry.”

Recovery officials encourage people to complete the paperwork required for debris teams to enter their property as soon as possible. People who have questions about debris removal should contact the Franklin County Highway Dpartment.

Debris removal is a team effort that involves many people and organizations such as survivors, faith-based and voluntary groups, the business community, local jurisdictions, AEMA and FEMA.

For more information, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time, seven days a week. Assistance is available in many languages. TTY 800-462-7585 is available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Assistance can also be found online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by visiting a disaster recovery center, where phones are available.