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Court authorizes DebrisTech contract for storm debris monitoring after FEMA/TDEM reimbursement clarification
Summary
Van Zandt County authorized a debris-monitoring contract with DebrisTech to support FEMA reimbursement for storm-related debris removal; commissioners said the project will help the county recover federally eligible costs for May 2024 storm damage.
The commissioners authorized the County Judge to sign a contract with DebrisTech for disaster debris monitoring services related to storm damage declared in May 2024, a move the court said is required to secure FEMA and Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) reimbursement for debris removal work.
The County Judge explained that the 2024 emergency declaration and subsequent FEMA declaration make debris removal work eligible for roughly 75% reimbursement from FEMA, with the state (through TDEM and the governor) typically providing the remaining 25% for eligible costs. The court said the county will pay costs up front and seek reimbursement through FEMA and TDEM.
County staff said the debris-monitoring contract was selected via an RFP-scoring committee and that DebrisTech was the committee’s recommended monitoring vendor; another firm (Drewry Construction) was identified to perform debris removal. Commissioners discussed complaints about the perceived slow pace of cleanup in heavily affected precincts, with one commissioner noting that Precinct 2 had “80% of the damage” and that residents had expressed frustration.
A motion to authorize the County Judge to sign the monitoring contract with DebrisTech passed by voice vote. The court discussed timing for the contractor to begin work and said reconstruction and debris removal could begin once the monitoring contract is in place.
