Debris Cleanup and Removal
The leadership team for Colorado Springs Together, a non-profit organization established to coordinate the recovery and restoration of neighborhoods impacted by Waldo Canyon Fire, is announcing additional details on its proposed debris cleanup and removal process.
Colorado Springs Together has developed a strategy to coordinate and expedite the physical rebuilding of the affected streets and neighborhoods. A dedicated debris removal task team of Colorado Springs Together was established to produce a consolidated plan for the removal of debris across the Mountain Shadows neighborhood, including from both private homes and public spaces.
While this first phase will focus on debris removal only, the next phases will include other aspects of the cleanup process including the removal of burned vegetation and trees along with the mitigation of the affected lots to avoid rain run-off and storm water damage prior to reconstruction. The group is recommending that current foundations are left in place to support new construction or to be removed at the time of new construction, if the foundation is determined to be damaged and unusable, so that the disturbance of the soil is minimized.
"Our objective with this plan is three-fold," said Bob Cutter, Founder and President of Colorado Springs Together. "We want to remove the debris quickly and effectively across the neighborhood to minimize the impact on the people who are living there, ensure the site is safe with minimal potential for erosion, and to provide a simple, quick, worry-free solution to the affected people."
A Colorado Springs contractor, two individual property owners, and their insurance companies are collaborating on a two-site pilot debris removal and cleanup project on Monday 16th July 2012.
All those in attendance are expected to learn from the process with improvements being implemented at subsequent lots throughout the community. The Colorado Springs Together team believes this is the best approach to meet the needs of the residents in the Mountain Shadows community, at the same time respecting the right of citizens to select their own contractor to clear their own lot should they desire. Residents interested in becoming part of the bulk cleanup process will be able to sign up at www.ColoradoSpringsTogether.org or with one of the Colorado Springs Together representatives who will be at the demonstration event on Monday. Having expressed interest, neighbors will be able to meet with their insurance companies and GE Johnson representatives.
"The removal of the debris from the Mountain Shadows neighborhood has been the number one priority since the team started meeting on July 3rd." It would be wonderful if all those who lost their homes would sign up for this opportunity and we could remove the debris one whole street at a time," said Cutter. Taking this approach could result in all fire debris being removed from the Mountain Shadows community by the second half of August. This approach will probably be financially and environmentally attractive, minimizing the worries and liability of the affected citizens.
The two-site demonstration will take place on Monday, July 16 at 8 a.m. for 2635 Trevor Lane and at 9 a.m. for 5547 Majestic Drive. These locations were chosen because the nature of their destruction epitomizes the range of complexity, which will be seen in the debris removal process. Debris removal is a multifaceted, tedious undertaking, requiring appropriate precautions that must take into account health, safety, liability, consistency, financial, and environmental concerns, as well as adhere to government regulations and codes concerning air quality and debris removal.
Because of these issues, the El Paso County Health Department, Colorado Springs Utilities, Stormwater Engineering, and the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department will all be at the demonstration along with residents and media.
For more information, visit www.ColoradoSpringsTogether.org.
Health Concerns
For health concerns regarding the effects of cleanup and debris, please seek help from:
El Paso County Health
719-313-8866
Tom Gonzales
TomGonzales@ElPasoCO.com
www.ElPasoCountyHealth.org/Services/Waldo-Canyon-Fire-Information
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Colorado Springs Together is an independent 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Colorado Springs Together is a community-driven volunteer effort, and is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The team members are distinguished citizens and business professionals in the community facilitating and coordinating a quick and effective rebuilding process for the neighborhoods devastated on June 26th by the fire. The donations received will go towards the activities required to help restore the lives and the neighborhoods affected by the fire at the same time maintaining a strong sense of community during the rebuilding process.
Please visit:
www.ColoradoSpringsTogether.org
www.facebook.com/ColoradoSpringsTogether
www.twitter.com/COS_Together