Debris Pick-Up to Begin Monday After Major Disaster Declaration Signed

With a presidential declaration of a Major Disaster now in effect, the town is moving forward with a debris cleanup program that will include roadside collection and residents will begin seeing trucks in the community on Monday.

Garry Brumback said in an email Friday afternoon that the plans are in place and the town is ready to begin the cleanup efforts.

The White House announced officially Friday morning that President Barack Obama has declared seven of the state's eight counties, including Hartford County, as disaster areas following last month's Nor'easter.

This funding will allow the town to receive a 75 percent reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for all storm-related costs including the debris pick-up program.

Gov. Dannel Malloy requested , which would provide additional federal funds for emergency work, debris removal and damage restoration. Obama declared a disaster in southern Connecticut earlier this year  as well when Tropical Storm Irene hit the area in August.

Moody's Investors Service said that last month's storm will cost the state $3 billion and local officials said debris cleanup costs alone will likely leave a $1 million bill in Southington.

Brumback said Thursday that with debris removal and monitoring companies, but had been waiting on the declaration to move forward.

Storm-related debris should be segregated. Logs, limbs and leaves, or vegetative debris, only will be collected. Wooden fence debris will not be collected by debris collection operations but may be taken to Bulky Waste.

Vegetative debris should be placed in the right-of-way within 10 feet of the road, but not on sidewalks or road travel lanes. 

Debris should not be stacked on or adjacent to fire hydrants, mailboxes, telephone pedestals, fences or other structures.

“We expect the pick-up to begin on Monday, Nov. 21, and last approximately 3 weeks,” Brumback said. “Please place all vegetative debris in the right of way immediately because we plan to make only two passes in each zone. Each pass will take less than a week.”

Workers will begin picking up in "leaf zone 4," which is the southwest quadrant of Southington, and work counterclockwise regionally throughout the community.

While leaf pick-up is still going on, that process is separate from debris removal, with the debris removal team trailing the leaf team, Brumback said.

Personal safety is critical during debris removal operations. Pedestrians should allow a 50-foot radius away from any mechanical debris loading operations. Motorists should be respectful of debris employees and patient with debris removal operations, police said.
 
All questions regarding debris removal operations should be directed to town’s .