Our Services

Disaster Recovery Services

Crowder is committed to completing its obligations in a thorough and correct manner.
From emergency road clearance to removal of debris from public property, Crowder is on call and ready to provide a wide variety of services. We know what to do and how to do it in the most efficient and cost effective way possible. Crowder performs all contracted services in a professional high quality workmanship manner and in compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and permits.

Crowder maintains all needed insurance, including -- but not limited to -- Worker’s Compensation, General Liability, and Automotive/Equipment Liability. Crowder also requires the same of its subcontractors, ensuring that all projects proceed according to the company’s values of quality workmanship, safety, and investment in a job well done.

A critical aspect of disaster debris removal is having extensive knowledge of the city infrastructure and resources before a disaster. When Crowder receives a disaster debris removal service contract we start an immediate area study much like the military conducts prior to deploying on a mission. Crowder will be knowledgeable of your City’s processes, procedures, personnel, resources, and limitations.

Another critical aspect to any disaster is the ability to mobilize and sustain operations. Crowder’s primary disaster and removal resources are located in Tallahassee, Florida along the I-I0 interstate corridor which greatly enhances our ability to rapidly respond and begin debris removal in the Southeast.

Pre-Planning Debris – Management Planning

Communities with a debris management plan are better prepared to restore public services and ensure the public health and safety in the aftermath of a disaster, and they are better positioned to receive the full level of assistance available to them from FEMA and other participating entities.

A good debris management plan will provide a framework for city government and other entities to clear, remove, reduce, recycle, and dispose of debris generated during a disaster emergency. The ability to respond appropriately to disaster events depends solely upon the preparedness of municipalities and the effectiveness of the professionals and volunteers who are immediately available to them. A disaster plan unifies the efforts of City, County, State, and Federal organizations.

Crowder will work with the municipality to develop a series of scenarios and responses based on possible disaster events. Potential TDSR sites will be identified and preliminary studies of those sites and plans will be made. Crowder will begin securing agreements with local and nearby subcontractors to ensure quick response after a natural disaster. These agreements will be reviewed yearly and adjusted as needed. At this time, any changes to debris collection zone maps, primary road clearance routes, and/or probable TDSRS sites will be discussed and noted.

Pre-Event Contract

The process of bidding and awarding a contract after the storm is cumbersome and could take weeks or months before a contractor is in place and ready to go to work.

A pre-event contract helps you arrange ahead of time with a contractor for solid pricing and a rapid response time. During non-disaster times, Crowder is able to efficiently organize resources in anticipation of an event. Establishing a pre-event contract will help your municipality outline potential concerns and problems and come up with solutions before the disaster strikes.
Once under contract, we sit down and go over our clients plan and assign equipment accordingly. If a plan has not been developed, one will be put in place outlining priorities and responsibilities.

Post Disaster Operational Plan

After every event, Crowder will conduct an After Action Review (AAR). This gives everyone the opportunity to formally discuss and critique the procedures and performance of the operation after the contract has been fulfilled. Our job is not finished until our client is 100% satisfied.

Rapid Response & Mobilization

Crowder Disaster Recovery recognizes that quick and efficient debris management ensures the safety and health of a community. Crowder responds promptly to calls for mobilization.
During a debris management project, Crowder operates in such a way as to not interfere with local response and recovery actions of state and local governments, or of public utilities. Our utmost concern is for the safety of not only our own personnel, but also for the safety of the local citizens of a disaster area.

At the main Tallahassee office and the disaster response locations, our shop and team of expert mechanics maintain both our fleet of motor vehicles and equipment in superior condition. Crowder routinely purchases new equipment in order to maintain the high caliber of our fleet and to receive benefit of technological advances.

Emergency Push/Road Clearance

The first 72 hours after a disaster are critical and it's vital that communities have a debris management plan. A major part of our mobilization for debris removal is the ’ÄúEMERGENCY PUSH’Äù. Following a disaster, our top priority is to clear primary and secondary routes of transportation and roads. This effort is accomplished by cutting, tossing and/or clearance of debris which provides immediate access into devastated areas and allows for the passage of emergency and law enforcement vehicles. The city will determine route priorities for this clearance. This aspect of the operation is based on time and materials.

Debris Removal From Public Right-Of-Way (ROW)

After the first 72 hours the debris removal work will include 1) examining debris to determine whether or not the debris is eligible vegetative, construction and demolition or other debris, 2) loading the debris, 3) hauling the debris to an approved dumpsite or landfill, and 4) dumping the debris at the dumpsite or landfill. We will ensure ineligible debris will not be loaded, hauled, or dumped. Debris removal will include all eligible disaster related debris found on the ROW within the area designated by the city. We will load and haul all eligible debris to an approved Debris Management Site (DMS) or other disposal destination approved by the city.

Crowder will use reasonable care not to damage any public or private property not already damaged by the storm event. In the case of hazardous waste, Crowder Disaster Recovery has the resources necessary to handle it safely and according to regulations.

Demolition of Structures and Construction Debris Removal

Crowder services include the demolishing and removal of structures determined by the city to be a threat to the health and safety of the public. The city will typically direct actions to secure the Right of Entry (ROE) onto the private property. Our teams will communicate with local utilities to first locate and mark all connections before entry onto the property. Crowder will ensure all applicable local, state and federal regulatory requirements regarding asbestos containing materials shall be adhered to unless waived by applicable authorities. Crowder will be responsible for any property damaged due to negligence on our part during demolition and removal.

Temporary Debris Storage & Reduction Site (TDSRS) Construction & Management

Crowder has extensive experience in setting up, managing, dismantling, and remediating Temporary Debris Staging and Reduction Sites (TDSRS). Crowder operates any TDSR site under its responsibility to accomplish thorough sorting of debris (into categories such as vegetative, C&D, white goods, hazardous waste). At Crowder TDSR sites, the company achieves proper reduction of eligible debris through grinding or air curtain incineration. We cooperate with all laws and regulations on debris reduction and will work with our client to complete the project satisfactorily for all involved. Through our connections in the field we may be able to find a market for wood chips or white goods thereby saving our client money.

Designation and Management of Staging Areas

Crowder will identify staging areas in collaboration with the city for the purposes of truck/equipment certification. Truck Certification is one of the most important functions in initiating a debris removal operation. Accuracy and documentation of all measurements is critical. We will provide temporary tent, sanitary and other appropriate conveniences necessary for the care and well being of all personnel.

Hazardous tree & stump removal

Crowder will remove hazardous trees, limbs, and stumps that present immediate threats to lives, public health and safety, or improved property as directed by the client. The FEMA eligibility criteria are specified in the Debris Management Guide, FEMA 325.

Grinding/Chipping

Grinding and open burning are the fastest ways to reduce debris. Primarily using tub grinders, eligible debris would be reduced and sorted into piles. All operators of the grinders receive proper safety and operational instructions. Piles of mulch or wood chippings are closely monitored to reduce the threat of combustion. Piles have to be eliminated as quickly as possible, either through redistribution to landfills that can use the material, hauled to power plants to be used as boiler fuel, or as soil amendment for aggregate material.

Burning (Open/Curtain)

Eligible debris will either be passed through a tub-grinder or incinerated by an air-curtain incinerator. For large amounts of debris, incineration will quickly eliminate a great amount of it.

Special Debris Handling

Crowder has experience in special projects and offers hourly services for such, including ’Äì but not limited to ’Äì beach cleanup and sand screening. We have worked in equipment sensitive areas such as parks, cemeteries, golf courses, and historic sites. In any debris management project, Crowder Disaster Recovery carefully determines the proper measures needed to complete each task in a safe, efficient, and timely manner.

Storm debris might contain materials which could pose health or safety hazards such as:

• Common household products, usually cleaners, aerosol cans, and pesticides;
• Appliances or "white goods", refrigerators, stoves or other large appliances; and
• Household furnishings such as carpeting or other flooring, furniture and mattresses.
• Propane containers, petroleum-based solvents, cleaners and paints;
• Asbestos-laden debris from unabated buildings; and
• Fertilizers or pesticides.

Documentation & Accounting

For the company’s clients, Crowder has an accounting and documentation system that enables the company to fully document any work that may be performed under contract. Crowder is able to supply load tickets for all loads and uses the accounting services of its full time staff to process those tickets, providing the documents necessary for our clients to receive full FEMA funding. Crowder will also supply its clients with any special accounting needs or other forms needed during a debris management project.

Project Closeout

Many of the problems that affect federal reimbursement for debris removal, reduction, and disposal occur as a result of improper documentation and contracting procedures. Experienced and well trained personnel make our jobs run smooth and make reimbursement easy for our clients. We can supply a full record keeping system or readily adapt your system. We are fully NIMS compliant and are very much at ease in working side by side with law enforcement, fire, Red Cross or other disaster responders. Our recent experiences in the Midwest where we completed over thirteen clean-up services, honed our skills in working with the FEMA Pilot projects.

Additional Resources

Crowder also has relationships with disaster recovery and relief companies across the United States. These companies provide materials that become necessary after a major disaster event, things such as temporary housing, temporary sanitary facilities, temporary food facilities, generators, water, and ice. Crowder will assist our client with these services through our contacts in the disaster recovery industry.

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Disaster Recovery, Debris Management and Emergency Response Team
Storms, Hurricanes, Tornados, Earth Quakes, Floods