Debris Estimating Field Guide - FEMA.gov
DebrisEstimatingField GuideFEMA 329 / September 2010
CONTENTSIntroduction1Debris Estimating Considerations4Debris Estimating Methods5Ground Measurements6Buildings and Residences9Conversion Factors13Aerial Estimates13Computer Models15Safety17FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE
INTRODUCTIONThe Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief andEmergency Assistance Act, (StaffordAct), Public Law 93-288, as amended,42 U.S.C. §5121, et seq., authorizes theFederal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Program toaward Federal funding to State and localgovernments, Federally recognized Tribes, andcertain eligible private non-profit organizationsin order to assist them in their disasterresponse and recovery activities. Under theStafford Act, FEMA provides PA programgrant funding for debris clearance, removal,and monitoring efforts to eligible applicantsfollowing a Presidential emergency or disasterdeclaration.Timely, accurate, and consistent estimates ofdebris quantities and types are an importantaspect of FEMA debris operations. FEMAuses debris estimates obtained duringPreliminary Damage Assessment (PDA)activities to provide part of the basis for itsrecommendation as to whether a disasterdeclaration should be approved. FEMAalso uses PDA debris estimates to identifypotential needs for Mission Assignments forTechnical and Direct Federal Assistance to PAapplicants.The FEMA PA Debris Task Force Leader(DTFL) relies on PDA debris estimates to makeinformed decisions concerning staffing levels,required technical expertise, organizationalFEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE1
structure, and geographic distribution ofthe FEMA PA Debris Task Force. The DTFLalso uses debris estimates to update seniorFEMA management, the State, applicants,and the general public regarding the statusof debris operations. Finally, the FEMA PADebris Task Force relies heavily on accuratedebris estimates to define eligible scopes ofwork during project formulation and ProjectWorksheet development for an applicant’sdebris-related activities.Section 407(e) of the Stafford Act establishesdeadlines for FEMA to provide funding fordebris removal activities. The complete text ofSection 407(e) is as follows:(e) Expedited Payments –(1) Grant Assistance – In making a grant undersubsection (a)(2), the President shall provide not lessthan 50 percent of the President’s initial estimate ofthe Federal share of assistance as an initial paymentin accordance with paragraph (2).(2) Date of Payment – Not later than 60 days afterthe date of the estimate described in paragraph (1)and not later than 90 days after the date on whichthe State or local government or owner or operatorof a private nonprofit facility applies for assistanceunder this section, an initial payment described inparagraph (1) shall be paid.FEMA Debris Technical Specialists must workclosely with the State, Tribal governments, andapplicants to achieve reasonable, consensusbased debris estimates.2FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE
This document is intended for use as asupplement to the Public Assistance DebrisManagement Guide (FEMA 325) to ensurethat FEMA Debris Technical Specialists applya consistent methodology to obtain accuratedebris estimates in accordance with PAprogram eligibility criteria.FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE3
DEBRIS ESTIMATINGCONSIDERATIONSThe DTFL should clearly define theaccuracy and precision requirements fordisaster debris estimates in the FEMADebris Operations Strategy to achieve thedesired results. A key consideration in definingestimate requirements is how the estimate willbe used, e.g., if a debris estimate is only usedfor a PDA, the level of accuracy and precisionrequired is less than that required to developa Project Worksheet.The formulas, assumptions, and conversionsused by the FEMA Debris Task Force must beapplicable to the circumstances of the disasterand be consistently applied.FEMA Debris Technical Specialists shouldconfirm with the DTFL which formulas,assumptions, and conversions should be usedand remember to check all work for accuratemath and units of measure. FEMA DebrisTechnical Specialists should document thebasis of the debris estimate, including themethodology and equipment used, formulas,assumptions, and conversions to supportdecision making.The equipment and resources required willdepend on the type of estimating methodused. Examples of possible equipment includecameras, measuring tapes, and GPS units.Examples of possible resources include thepersonnel required to develop the estimates,Geographic Information System (GIS) data,aerial photos, and debris modeling information.4FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE
DEBRIS ESTIMATINGMETHODSThere are several methods available todevelop debris estimates. The DTFLshould select the method based onthe accuracy, precision, and schedulerequirements of the operation, and by theavailability of resources such as personnel andequipment. Ground measurements of debris can betaken to develop estimates, using visualobservation and detailed data collection withequipment such as measuring tapes andGPS units Aerial and satellite photographs of areastaken before and after the disaster eventmay be used to estimate debris quantitiesand types, based on the structures, features,and debris observed in the photos Computer models, including thosedeveloped by the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers (USACE) and FEMAThe FEMA Debris Task Force may usea combination of estimating methods, ifnecessary, to meet the requirements of theoperation.FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE5
GROUND MEASUREMENTSThe basic steps and considerations whencompleting debris estimates using groundmeasurements include:1. Define the area covered by the debrisestimate:a. Divide the area, as needed, todifferentiate differences in debris typesand amounts, which may be influencedby items such as differences in land use(e.g., rural versus urban) within the areab. Division of the area into sections shouldtake into account how the applicant mayhave divided the area into sections, eitherfor the purpose of developing debrisestimates or for planning the execution ofdebris removal activities2. Determine whether comprehensive debrismeasurements (e.g., street-by-street) ormeasurement of a representative sample isappropriate for the estimate requirements3. Identify and obtain the personnel andequipment necessary to complete theestimate:a. The number of personnel used dependson the area to be covered, ease of accessto the area, schedule to complete theestimate, and availability of personnelresourcesb. The equipment used for groundmeasurements commonly includes adigital camera, measuring tape or roll-offwheel, calculator, sketch pad and note6FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE
paper, maps, GPS unit, laser rangefinder,and equipment needed for logistics andsafety (e.g., vehicle, cell phone, firstaid kit)4. Engage the State and applicant in theground measurement process:a. The applicant is generally a sourceof information used for the estimate,such as locations of public propertyand rights-of-way, and planned debrisremoval activitiesb. Proactively engaging the State andapplicant will also facilitate achievingearlier, consensus-based debrisestimates.Additional considerations regarding debrisestimates based on ground measurementsinclude: Ensure the measurements include all eligibledebrisºº Eligible debris may include disastergenerated debris located in the yards orinside of residences that has not yet beenplaced on the right-of-wayºº Limbs hanging in trees that will likelybe placed on rights-of-way should beincludedºº Flood disasters may produce personalproperty debris (e.g., householdfurnishings, clothing) that may still bein residences at the time of the debrisestimateFEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE7
ºº The estimate should not include anyineligible debris (e.g., old tires, residentialconstruction materials, and white goodsawaiting disposal prior to the disasterevent), but ineligible debris (estimatedquantity and location) should be noted sothat it can be properly addressed duringproject formulation Recognize that debris may undergo changesin volume during the handling processºº Flood-deposited sediment may benaturally compacted in place, and thevolume may increase when it is removedºº Leafy vegetative debris located onpublic property and rights-of-way mayexperience a significant reduction involume when it is mechanically loaded intotrucks One acre of debris 10 feet high converts to16,133 CY43,560 SF x 10 FT 16,133 CY27FEMA Debris Technical Specialistsshould approximate the volumeof debris piles using cubes whenconducting ground measurements,as opposed to using formulas toapproximate the volumes of debrispiles as cones or pyramids.8FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE
BUILDINGS AND RESIDENCESGeneral Building FormulaTo estimate the amount of debris generated bya building, multiply the building length, width,and height in feet by a constant of 0.33 toaccount for the air space in the building, anddivide the resulting number by 27 to convertfrom cubic feet to cubic yards:Length x Width x Height x 0.33 CY27Single Family Residence FormulaFEMA conducted an empirical study followingHurricane Floyd in North Carolina in 1999,and developed a formula for estimating debrisassociated with demolished single familyresidences:Length x Width x S x 0.20 x VCM CYLength and Width must be in feetS number of stories in the building0.20 a constant based on the study dataVCM a vegetative cover multiplierThe building square footage used in theformula is the total living space at and aboveground level and includes attached garages.If buildings or residences are completelydestroyed, square footage can still becalculated by measuring the length and widthof the foundation and inquiring about thenumber of stories that were present before thedisaster.FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE9
Note: The two formulas above provide different resultsif applied to the same building because the generalbuilding formula was developed using a basic volumecalculation and assumed air space, while the demolishedsingle family home formula was developed usingfield data. The DTFL should select the formula forcalculating debris volumes for buildings and residencesbased on which formula provides the most accuratedebris estimate given the circumstances and dataavailable from the particular disaster.FEMA developed Vegetative Cover Multipliers(VCM) for use in combination with the formulafor a demolished single family residence, toestimate the quantity of vegetative debris thatshould be added to the quantity of debrisestimated for demolished homes within asubdivision or neighborhood:Light (1.1 multiplier) includes new homedevelopments where more ground isvisible than trees and canopy cover issparseMedium (1.3. multiplier) generally has auniform pattern of open space and treecanopy cover, and is the most commondescription for vegetative coverHeavy (1.5 multiplier) is found in matureneighborhoods and woodlots where theground or houses cannot be seen due tothe tree canopy coverThe table on the opposite page is basedon the application of the vegetative covermultipliers to the debris estimating formula fora demolished single-family, single-story home.10FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE
Table for Single Family, Single Story HomesVegetative Cover dium(1.3)Heavy(1.5)1000 SF200 CY220 CY260 CY300 CY1200 SF240 CY264 CY312 CY360 CY1400 SF280 CY308 CY364 CY420 CY1600 SF320 CY352 CY416 CY480 CY1800 SF360 CY396 CY468 CY540 CY2000 SF400 CY440 CY520 CY600 CY2200 SF440 CY484 CY572 CY660 CY2400 SF480 CY528 CY624 CY720 CY2600 SF520 CY572 CY676 CY780 CYFor multiple-story residences, the debrisgenerated by the demolished residenceshould be calculated using the total numberof stories (as the formula dictates), however,the amount of vegetative debris calculatedshould be determined by applying the VCM tothe amount of debris generated by just the firststory square footage of the residence, i.e., theamount of debris calculated if S 1.FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE11
The following numbers should be used toestimate the quantity of debris generated by atypical mobile home:Typical single-wide mobile home:290 CYTypical double-wide mobile home:415 CYBecause mobile homes have less air spacedue to their construction and layout, thenumbers provided above are larger than thosecalculated using the general building formula.Personal Property Placed on Public Rights-of-WayFEMA and USACE have conducted empiricalstudies on the average amount of personalproperty brought to public rights-of-way fromresidences following flooding disasters:Personal property for a slab on grade home:25–30 CYPersonal property for a home with a basement:45–50 CY12FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE
CONVERSION FACTORSUSACE has developed several conversionfactors for converting between tons and cubicyards of debris that FEMA has determined arereasonable:Construction and demolition debris:1 ton 2 CYMixed debris:1 ton 4 CYVegetative debris:Hardwoods: 1 ton 4 CYSoftwoods: 1 ton 6 CYActual conversion values for aparticular disaster may be verydifferent; therefore, field testscoordinated with the State andapplicant may be necessaryto confirm an appropriateconversion factor.AERIAL ESTIMATESApplications where debris estimates basedon aerial or satellite photography may beappropriate include: Rough estimates that must be developedquickly, such as for a PDA Validation or extrapolation of debrisestimating information obtained throughground measurements or computer modelsFEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE13
Debris estimates for areas that are difficult toaccess Cases where it is difficult to gain a goodperspective on debris quantities from theground, e.g., estimating the size of very largedebris piles at debris management sitesBasic steps involved in using aerial or satellitephotographs to develop debris estimatesinclude: Obtain aerial photos of all or a representativesample of the areaºº Recent aerial photos from both before andafter the disaster may be usefulºº Sources of aerial photos could includethe FEMA Planning Section, other Federalagencies (e.g., USACE), the State,applicants, and the press14FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE
To analyze an individual photo: Select an object of reference with knowndimensions (e.g., vehicles, garage doors) toestablish a dimensional scale Apply the dimensional scale to determine thesize of objects in the photo, and apply theappropriate debris estimating formulas toestimate debris quantitiesCOMPUTER MODELSThere are a variety of computer models thathave been developed for estimating debris.FEMA developed the HAZUS-MH softwarewhich includes models for estimating potentialdamages and losses (including debrisgenerated) from floods, earthquakes, andhurricanes. Additional information can befound at (http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/#1). Additionally, USACE has developedand continues to refine a debris estimatingmodel that focuses primarily, althoughnot exclusively, on hurricanes. Additionalinformation, including model output data, canbe found at http://www.englink.usace.army.mil/.Debris estimates generated by models arebased on items such as: Historic information on debris quantitiesgenerated by similar disaster events GIS data on topography, land use, and levelof development Information on the disaster, such as theextent of flooding or Hurricane CategoryFEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE15
Formulas that mathematically combine theinformation to generate an estimateFEMA continues to develop and refine itsdebris estimating tools and processes toenhance the timeliness, accuracy, consistency,and efficiency of debris estimates. FEMADebris Technical Specialists should refer to theDebris Task Force Leader for guidance on thestatus and use of new tools such as handhelddata collection tablets in the field.16FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE
SAFETYYOU are responsible for your personalsafety at all times.Health/Safety Risks: Isolated and/or not readily accessible areas Heavy machinery, loud equipment, traffic Limited communication Extreme weather Large debris piles Waterborne, vector-borne, and blood-bornedisease Rabid animals, infectious reptiles and plants Downed power lines and cables Gas leaks Natural and wildlife hazards Hazardous materialAny hazards posing an immediate threat topublic health and safety should be reported tothe appropriate authority immediately.If you are faced with an emergency inthe field: Remove yourself from the situation Call 911 if appropriate Contact your direct supervisorimmediatelyFEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE17
Field Safety Gear/Supplies: Appropriate clothing, footwear, and gloves Eye and ear protection Hardhat Respiratory protection Personal meds & Rx drugs Bottled water Maps and/or GPS device Cell phone Sunscreen, lip balm, insect repellant First aid kitProper FEMA identification should be visible atall times while on site.18FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE
NOTES:
NOTES:
NOTES:
NOTES:
Disaster recovery assistance is availablewithout regard to race, color, national origin,sex, age, religion, disability, or economicstatus. Anyone who believes he/she hasbeen discriminated against should contactthe FEMA Helpline at 1-800-525-0321.Report fraud, waste, and abuse to theOffice of Inspector General on the Hotlineat 1-800-323-8603.FEMA 329
FEMA DEBRIS ESTIMATING FIELD GUIDE 1 T he Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, (Stafford Act), Public Law 93-288, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §5121, et seq., authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance
The purpose of this unit is to present various debris forecasting and estimating techniques including various tools and rules of thumb to assist the Debris Manager in planning for large-scale debris operations. . construction and demolition debris. - Or, the plan may assume a range of debris-generating events from small floods and .
FEMA P-320 and P-361 guidelines, FEMA’s term "safe room" can only be applied to protective spaces meeting the FEMA criteria. If a space is designed only to the ICC-500 Standard then FEMA requires it be called a “shelter”. Therefore: FEMA does not recognized NSSA/ICC 500 compliant safe rooms as meeting FEMA 361. They
Electrical Construction Estimating Introduction to Electrical Construction Estimating Estimating activites will use the North State Electric estimating procedures. Estimating and the Estimator Estimating is the science and the art by which a person or organization determines in advance of t
tornado protection since 1980, in TR-83A FEMA was involved with the development of ICC 500, the first consensus code for storm shelters released in 2008 11 Latest in ICC 500 and FEMA P-361 Requirements FEMA-Funded Safe Room Grants 12 FEMA’s recommended guidance in P-320 and P-361 are r
FEMA Benefit-Cost Analysis Fundamentals FEMA Emergency Support Function #6: Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing, and Human Services FEMA Fundamentals of Emergency Management FEMA Fundamentals of Risk Management FEMA ICS-2
FEMA GO User Manual Mitigation: Hazards 08/25/20 1 Introduction FEMA GO is one electronic application solution that houses the grant management functions for all of FEMA’s grant programs. This user manual addresses the Subapplication Development module for FEMA’s hazard mitigation grant programs.
Once a disaster strikes that generates significant volumes of debris, the Department recommends the following top five (5) actions to address debris removal: 1. Assess the type (e.g., vegetative and non-vegetative debris) and extent of the debris generated, as well as the need
Jane Phillips Janice Harris John Padginton Michelle Gale Nicolle Marsh Sue Russell Wendy Cupitt Ben Lapworth Ring 10 – . Scrim - Anne Sutherland Amanda Hubbard Claire Hayes Debbie Reynolds Debbie Styles Diana Woodhouse Diane Bradley Francis Bugler Graham Avery Karen James Sue Norman Ring 8 – Jenny Slade VYNE VYNE Ring 10 – Sue Luther Little Meadows LITTLE MEADOWS Ring 12 – Sara Tuck .
