November 3, 1999 Library Presentation

by Robert C. Swan

Debris Management Consultant
Dewberry & Davis

The Debris Management Cycle
An Overview

SUMMARY

EIIP Virtual Online Library Presentation
Wednesday - November 3, 1999 - 12:00 Noon EST

The Debris Management Cycle: An Overview

Robert Swan
Dewberry & Davis

EIIP Moderator: Amy Sebring

The Virtual Library speaker was Robert Swan from Dewberry & Davis, an expert in the area of debris management, working many major disasters of the decade. He is the author of the FEMA Debris Management Guide and developed the Debris Management Course for FEMA's Emergency Management Institute.

Bob stressed that local and State government entities worldwide are annually faced with the task of removing and disposing of debris caused by natural disasters such as hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, tornadoes, floods, fires, and earthquakes. Debris removal and cleanup cost more than any other item in a disaster recovery budget. Many times, responsible officials are under extreme pressure to institute immediate debris removal and disposal actions without the benefit of a well-thought debris management strategy.

The presentation focused on using the Debris Management Cycle, four identifiable phases, as the framework to identify universal debris removal and disposal issues, and why it is extremely important to have a Debris Management Plan in place before a disaster happens.

ROBERT C. SWAN
(photo)

Debris Management Consultant
Dewberry & Davis

Robert C. Swan is a Debris Management Consultant in the Disaster and Mitigation Services Department of Dewberry & Davis (D&D), Fairfax, VA. He served as a technical advisor to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following Hurricane Andrew, Florida, Hurricane Marilyn, Virgin Islands, Super Typhoon Paka, Guam, Hurricane Georges, Puerto Rico, and the winter ice and snow storms in New York, Maine, and Nebraska.

Mr. Swan has made debris management presentations at the National Hurricane Conference, The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS) and the American Society of Civil Engineers Natural Disaster Reduction International Conference. He also has conducted Debris Management Seminars for the States of Delaware, Michigan, and South Carolina and for the City of Houston, TX. He is the author of the FEMA Debris Management Guide and developed the Debris Management Course for FEMA's Emergency Management Institute. He is currently the Debris Management Consultant to the City of Houston, TX and Horry County, SC. He retired from the US Army Corps of Engineers after 23 years as a Lieutenant Colonel and holds a Master's Degree in Administrative Science from the University of Alabama, Huntsville.

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