Kerr County outlines staged debris pickup, two burn sites and right-of-entry process

KERRVILLE, Texas — Kerr County officials described a phased debris-removal plan on the county website and social media that will combine contractor pick-up and controlled burning at two designated sites, saying residents who want material removed from private property must sign right-of-entry forms for contractors.

County officials said the debris collection will be “systematic.” They asked residents to separate bulky items (for example, carpet and furniture) and to expect that contractors may collect vegetative debris and bulky household items on different passes. “They will pick it up. But they ask to help as much as you can and to go quicker,” a county official said during the briefing.

The county identified two sites for grinding and burning: a city-owned parcel near the old soccer fields adjacent to the landfill and a site on Centerpoint Independent School District property opposite the school football field, which was described as about 125 acres. Debris taken from collection routes will be moved to those sites for processing, officials said. The county emphasized individuals will not be allowed to drop off material at those sites themselves; only contractors will transport debris to the burn/grind locations.

County staff said burning will be opened in segments after debris has been removed from major corridors and after cadaver-dog searches are finished. The county said it is considering opening burning “West of Hunt” first and then expanding as clearance progresses to avoid overtaxing volunteer fire departments. State help from Texas A&M Forest Service is expected to be on standby for controlled burns.

Officials said the burn method will use a tub grinder feeding material into pits with combustion assisted by forced-air “incinerator” fans. The county estimated burn volumes of “3 to 400 tons a day” per site, or roughly “6 to 800 tons a day” combined, and said burning operations could continue for “3 to 4 months” and possibly longer depending on conditions. The county said daily operations will be shut down each evening and that it intends to manage smoke and safety through the planned process.

Residents were told household trash should continue to go to regular vendors and not be placed in the storm-debris piles. If a vehicle not owned by the property owner sits on private property and the owner wants it removed by contractors, the owner must sign the same right-of-entry form and will not receive a free removal if they remove it themselves.

The county also said it will post maps, schedules and instructions to the Kerr County Facebook page, the county website and a commissioner’s social account. Officials said the state is paying for the debris removal and thanked the governor for state support that scaled up quickly after the event.

The county asked residents to be patient, noting crews prioritized search and rescue and corridor clearance before opening private-property burning and stressing the staged approach was intended to protect volunteer fire departments and public safety.

Ending: County officials said they will share schedules and pickup details online and through county social channels, and urged residents to complete right-of-entry forms if they want contractors to remove debris from private property.