ASCENSION PARISH — While Hurricane Francine may not have packed as large a punch as initially expected, the storm’s winds, combined with dead trees from last year’s drought, brought down limbs and trees in many areas.
After declaring a state of emergency before Francine’s landfall, Gov. Jeff Landry has recently requested additional federal assistance through FEMA, including requests for debris removal and emergency protective measures with a proposed federal cost share for 30 days to take the burden off of parish governments.
At this time, the state and parishes are awaiting the federal response to these requests.
While waiting for a response from President Biden, many residents are in the process of cleaning up their yards as the sun is back out. UWK compiled information from multiple parishes about debris pickup and what residents can expect.
Ascension Parish
Ascension Parish is asking residents to utilize two drop-off locations for unbagged, vegetative debris, such as limbs. The parish will not offer roadside pickup for debris at this time, Pamela Matassa, Ascension Parish Government Deputy CAO and communications director, told UWK.
There is a drop-off dumpster site located at LaLa Regira Baseball Complex at 725 Church Street in Donaldsonville. The other site is at the Ashland Road entrance to Lamar-Dixon in Gonzales. Both sites are unmanned and open to residents from dawn to dusk every day.
Dumpsters are emptied periodically. Only unbagged vegetation is allowed in the dumpsters.
For concerns about other debris pickup, Matassa advised residents to contact their waste management provider. Other information or questions can be directed to the parish’s call center at (225) 450-1200.
Iberville Parish
John Overton, director of the Iberville Parish Public Works Department, said he is taking assessments of debris currently, and pickups have started at the northern end of the parish. The parish is utilizing DRC, a contractor, to conduct some of the pickups, as well. DRC picked up some piles over the weekend.
“We’re trying to evaluate everything this morning and remove all these sandbags that we had put out, too,” Overton said. “The sandbags will be disposed of.”
Overton said that residents need to separate their debris, with separate piles for regular debris waste and for trees or other vegetation.
The parish is on its regularly scheduled pickups, but if residents are cleaning up tree or other debris and need to schedule a pickup, Overton said to call Solid Waste or the DPW line at (225) 687-5148.
After the entire parish has been assessed, the parish government will determine a timeline for the debris pickups to end. He estimates that pickups will continue through the next week, however.
West Baton Rouge Parish
West Baton Rouge Parish President Jason Manolla told UWK that the parish has been sending trucks daily to pick up debris since the day after Francine hit. Residents are asked to separate their debris and make separate piles for vegetation and “white goods” (such as household appliances and a/c units). Leave the piles at the side of the road, but be careful to put the piles away from overhead power and telephone lines so that the trucks have room to operate.
“We were pretty fortunate; we don’t have a whole lot of debris,” Manolla said.
He anticipates that trucks will continue to make pickup passes through the weekend and into next week as residents are able to clean up and cut down trees.
Any West Baton Rouge residents with questions can visit the parish’s Facebook or other social media, or call (225) 383-4755.
Assumption Parish
The Assumption Parish Police Jury has hired contractors to assist in storm debris cleanup around the parish. Residents are asked to sort and separate debris into multiple piles:
- Metal
- Vegetation
- Construction and demo materials
- White goods
Residents should box, bundle and containerize debris as much as possible and keep piles separated. If piles of debris are mixed, these will not be picked up until the final pass.
East Baton Rouge Parish
The parish started debris collection this week in response to Hurricane Francine. Residents are asked to put debris curbside and not in any containers. Only loose debris will be collected.
To report debris, residents can visit http://311.brla.gov, use the Red Stick 311 app, or call 311 or (225) 389-3090.
Those living in Baker, Central and Zachary should contact their city agencies for pickup schedules.
Livingston Parish
Livingston Parish residents should not place any debris at the curb at this time. The parish has not yet received federal approval for a major storm declaration, which would give assistance with curbside debris removal.
Residents are asked not to contact DPW at this time about debris removal. The parish is advising residents to dispose of storm debris through their regular waste services or through a designated disposal facility if possible.
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One Response
Have 2 cars & no way to haul trees limbs , that I cut up & placed on roadside as instructed. Now after reading this article , East Ascension only has 2 drop off places to bring . Not possible & unacceptable, roadside service was provided for Ida . I am very confused what changed!