Haywood County authorizes Southern Disaster Recovery to begin emergency stream and private-property debris removal

The Haywood County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize the county manager to issue a notice to proceed to Southern Disaster Recovery (SDR) to begin emergency stream debris removal and private-property debris removal for sites already approved by state and FEMA reviewers.

The action came after presentations and questions from SDR President Chip Patterson, Joe Stanton of North Carolina Emergency Management and Benjamin "Benji" Abbott, a federal coordinating officer assigned to the recovery. Commissioners emphasized speed, use of local contractors where practicable and careful documentation to secure federal and state reimbursement.

SDR President Chip Patterson said the contractor is prepared to begin work on the first approved stretch of the Pigeon River within about a week, pending issuance of rights of entry. "We'll be tooling up first to be able to go and start the debris clearance, mobilize them for that right away, in order to be in the water within the week," Patterson said. He told the board SDR's waterway work is performed in two phases: an initial in-stream clearance using different equipment, followed by a haul/load phase that resembles right-of-way…