The Jefferson Parish Council has authorized the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, working under FEMA guidelines, to enter private properties to check for debris generated from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, such as dead trees.  This program is being initiated to clean up properties that have been neglected by the owners, or where the owners have been unable to remove hurricane-generated debris.  Once debris is identified, the Corps will remove the debris from private, residential properties free of charge.

The debris must be determined to be hurricane-related, such as dead or leaning trees or vegetation killed by saltwater.  The cities of Gretna, Harahan, Kenner and Westwego and the towns of Jean Lafitte and Grand Isle have also authorized this program.  The Corps of Engineers will sweep through the back, front and side yards of all of unincorporated Jefferson Parish and all municipalities entering private properties identifying all eligible storm generated debris, such as dead trees. The Corps of Engineers will go through the entire Parish zip code by zip code, checking every street for storm-related debris on private properties.  The program has already started in Harahan and Lafitte and will proceed into unincorporated Jefferson Parish and all municipalities.  The Corps of Engineers will begin conducting assessments in unincorporated Jefferson Parish on March 20, 2007. 

At properties where debris, such as dead or damaged trees, is found, the Corps will leave a note with findings of eligible debris on the door knob.  The notice will include a phone number that property owners can call to notify the Corps of Engineers if they do not wish to have the debris removed as part of this free program.  If the Corps of Engineers is not notified within a five (5) day period, the Corps will remove the debris without a Right-of-Entry from the property owner.

According to Jeffrey Jones, FEMA Division Manager, the Corps will fully document the condition of the property before and after debris removal.  Contractors hired by the Corps of Engineers to perform the debris removal work will be responsible for repairing only damage caused by their negligence in the debris removal process.             

This private property debris removal will help in Jefferson Parish's hurricane recovery by providing removal of storm-related debris at no cost to the property owner.  Some guidelines that will apply to this program are:

Standing dead trees will be flush cut; root ball and portion of stump will not be removed.

Trees that have 30 % of the root ball exposed will be extracted.

Trees with 50% of the canopy destroyed will be flush cut.

Hanging tree limbs of 2 inches in diameter or larger will be removed.

Trees will not be pruned or reshaped.

Only storm related debris will be removed.

The extent of removal is only in the maintained, improved and used area of a lot around the house.  The area around the house must be maintained for debris to be removed.

This program is not designed to clear whole lots. 

Small unattached sheds with storm damage will be removed.

If you have any questions, please contact the Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs at (504) 731-4612.