Haines resident Leonard Dubber had four rental units destroyed by flooding in the December storms, as well as vehicles and his neighboring laundromat. Cost estimates to process the construction debris from his destroyed housing units came to $23,000 (Photo courtesy of the Haines Long Term Recovery Group)

The Haines Long Term Recovery Group is organizing disaster debris removal to provide an opportunity for households to get rid of storm-related debris. Residents must complete an assessment survey by Thursday August 19 to qualify, and the recovery group will help coordinate demolition and transport of debris over the next month. KHNS’ Corinne Smith reports.

Haines residents impacted by last December’s deadly storms will have the opportunity to finally get rid of household debris, for free. 

First, residents must submit a disaster debris removal assessment survey which is due by Thursday August 19th. The Haines Long Term Recovery Group will work with each qualified household to help with demolition, transportation, and disposal of debris, says coordinator Sylvia Heinz.

“If you have disaster related construction debris, you’re eligible,” Heinz said. “But you need to work with us to be may need to do site visits to confirm and have documentation for FEMA reimbursement.”

The survey is located online at hainesak.com/longterm-assistance. Debris disposal will take place Friday August 20 through Saturday September 18. 

The Haines Borough is funding the debris disposal project up to $110,000 and will be reimbursed by FEMA.

Debris includes construction materials from homes or out-buildings. 

“So lumber, timbers, windows, doors, sheetrock, and other wall coverings, insulation, roofing, carpeting, flooring, those are all common items that we expect to see,” Heinz said. 

Appliances are eligible, but refrigerators must be drained of coolant. 

But the program won’t cover everything. Vehicles destroyed by the storm won’t be removed. And  hazardous chemicals must be removed through proper hazardous waste disposal. 

“What we cannot take is hazardous material that includes liquid paints, fluorescent light bulbs, most electronics, cell phones, any lead, asbestos, etc, is not eligible for this project,” Heinz said.

For assistance with refrigerators or freezers, call Tanya Larsen with the Chilkoot Indian Association at (907) 766-2323 x 123, or email tlarsen@chilkoot-nsn.org or hainesltrg@gmail.com

Natural debris — like downed trees and the like — won’t be included in this phase of the cleanup effort, either. Heinz says that’s outside of the scope of the project and will come later.

Haines has a privately-run dump, Community Waste Solutions, and so far the cost of debris removal has been prohibitive. 

Heinz says some households were quoted up to $30,000 dollars for waste. 

Community Waste Solutions management did not respond to request for comment by airtime.

Sylvia Heinz says they recognize demolition will also be labor-intensive, and they’re looking for more support and resources in and outside of Haines, including volunteer organizations. 

 “So our initial assessment was: we have four destroyed housing units that need a full demolition. We have another housing unit that needs to be completely stripped to the studs. We have 16 homes with demolition needs from flood damage and slide damage.”

Heinz says their case management team has been working with 125 households, that’s about 10 percent of the Haines population that was impacted by the December storms. 75 cases are still open, and the Long Term Recovery Group is coordinating support with rent and mortgage assistance, utility bills, food assistance, mental health resources, and helping those displaced find permanent housing. 

The recovery process will take time, but Heinz says storm debris removal is a big step forward in the road to rebuilding.