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Plano details storm debris response: about 100,000 cubic yards removed, city cost roughly $2.5 million
Summary
Public Works reported crews cleared about 1,200 locations and roughly 100,000 cubic yards of debris after a late‑May windstorm; the city spent about $2.5 million and staff discussed FEMA thresholds, faster rainy‑day‑fund authority, and measures to improve future response.
Abby Owens, Director of Public Works, gave a timeline of the city’s storm debris response following the May 28 windstorm, describing rapid crew mobilization, an emergency secondary grinding/haul site, and contractor assistance for collection.
“This storm rolled through a little bit before 5:50 a.m. and luckily all of our staff usually report by 6:00 a.m. so by 6:30 we already had crews out,” Owens said. She told Council the city collected roughly “100,000 cubic yards” of debris — a figure she illustrated by saying that one cubic yard equals about the volume of a washing machine.
Owens said staff logged just over 1,200 individual pickup requests and completed the first sweep of the city by July 15 after about six weeks of intensive work; a second sweep finished July 29. City crews arranged a leased secondary debris site to allow grinding and reduce queue times at the usual transfer station, and authorized a third‑party contractor to assist with pickup.
On costs, Owens (with finance estimates discussed in Council Q&A) said direct city costs are about $2.5 million: roughly $1 million authorized from rainy‑day funds, $1.2 million from the solid waste fund, with the remainder from general and other funds. Council members discussed FEMA reimbursement thresholds — staff said the federal threshold for county eligibility sits near $5 million — and whether inter‑jurisdictional coordination could raise the chance of federal aid.
Council and staff discussed after‑action improvements: identifying standing secondary debris sites in advance, establishing pre‑approved contracting authority or on‑call contractors for faster deployment, refining debris‑collection public messaging to avoid extended pile accumulation, and clarifying what debris FEMA will reimburse (brown/vegetative versus green material).
Owens said the city is drafting an after‑action review and will return recommendations to Council, including options for debris‑site planning, debris‑monitoring processes, and faster mechanisms for authorizing emergency spending.
Next steps: staff will complete an after‑action report with recommendations on contractor pre‑selection, debris‑site identification and public messaging, and will bring those recommendations back to Council for policy or budget consideration.
