"Because of the storm’s enormity, recovery is going to take a while," Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle said. "It took us three weeks to do the first pass with our contractors during the Tax Day floods. This being exponentially larger, you can imagine how it’s going to take us a while to do the first pass. It is our plan to do three passes through all the neighborhoods.”
Residents can help by sorting their debris into the following categories:
- Vegetative debris (material should be unbagged)
- Construction and demolition debris
- Small and large appliances (these items must be empty and taped shut)
- Electronics
- Household hazardous waste (paint, batteries, tires)
Household hazardous waste should not be placed curbside but should be taken to the county’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 6900 Hahl Road, Houston, for disposal.
Residents can call the Debris Removal Hotline at 713-274-3880 or visit www.hchhw.org for more information.
In Precinct 4 alone, debris removal will take months, Cagle said.
Cagle offered the following tips for residents placing debris in front of their homes:
- Residents should use clear bags for all debris except vegetative material. Items should be piled in the right of way between the curb and sidewalk.
- Debris must not be placed near a mailbox, fire hydrant, gas meters or other object that could be picked up or damaged during removal. Debris should not be placed in roadways or ditches.
- Residents should not leave cars parked on the street. Trucks cannot pass down a standard street when cars are parked on both sides. Crews will skip homes with cars parked in front of debris piles.
- Residents should sort their debris into the categories listed above, and dispose of household hazardous waste separately.
Residents may also dispose of their debris at a public Storm Debris Drop-Off Site at 13928 Humble Road, Tomball. The site is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. throughout the flood recovery effort.
According to the rules established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the drop-off site may not be used by contractors, and residents must accompany debris they drop off with proof of residency.
The county also announced last week it will offer water testing for residents free of charge. Harris County Public Health offers testing Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the following locations:
- Big Stone Lodge at Dennis Johnston Park, 709 Riley Fuzzel Road, Spring
- Mangum Howell Community Center, 2500 Frick Road, Houston
- Samuel Matthews Community Building, 1728 Hufsmith Road, Tomball
- The Metropolitan Church Administration Building reception area, 12851 Jones Road, Houston
