notes: The following counties and cities/towns have met FEMA qualification for the Clean Sweep program. However, it is up to the local county governments and city governments to decide if they will participate in the program. Be sure to check with them before assuming you can benefit from the program. BIBB Vance BLOUNT Bountsville CALHOUN Glencoe Ohatchee CHAMBERS CHEROKEE CHOCTAW CULLMAN Cullman Dodge City East Point Fairview Guntersville Hanceville Holly Pond DEKALB Collinsville Crossville Fyffe Henagar Rainsville Shiloh Sylvania ELMORE Eclectic ETOWAH Bristow Cove Glencoe New Union FAYETTE FRANKLIN Hodges Phil Campell GREENE HALE Greensboro JACKSON Bridgeport Pisgah Scottsboro JEFFERSON Adamsville Birmingham Concord Fultondale Hueytown McDonald Chapel Pleasant Grove Tarrant LAWRENCE LIMESTONE Athens MADISON Harvest Huntsville MARENGO MARION Hackleburg Haleyville Hamilton MARSHALL Albertville Arab Guntersville Union Grove MORGAN Decatur PICKENS ST. CLAIR Moody TALLAPOOSA Dadeville TUSCALOOSA Holt Tuscaloosa Vance Woodstock WALKER Cordova Sipsey WASHINGTON Deer Park WINSTON Haleyville ------------------------------------------------------------- * The City or County NEEDS PERMISSION TO ENTER YOUR PROPERTY to remove debris. * Right of Entry forms are available to speed-up your request. * Please complete the right of entry form and return it as soon as possible to clear remaining debrs. Pick up a Right of Entry form at: Birmingham City Hall 710 N. 20th St. Office of Public Information (3rd Floor) or One to One Office (1st Floor) Mount Moriah Christian Academy 306 Ave. U Pratt City Dept. of Public Works 501 6th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL Dept. of Public Works 1044 Ave. W. Ensley, AL Scott School 1517 Hibernian St. Pratt City, AL 35214 Faith Chapel 100 Lexington St. Birmingham, AL 35224 Contact Mr. Reginald Servant, Deputy Dir. of Public Works to answer questions about the form 205-254-6316. Outside of Jefferson County contact your town or city government according to list above. ---------------------------------------------- From Madison County EMA Website--------------------- Debris on Private Property - Operation Clean Sweep Operation Clean Sweep is a pilot program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that addresses debris removal in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive damage. The area must be approved for Clean Sweep by FEMA. Certain parts of Madison County have been identified by FEMA as having catastrophic or extensive damage and have been approved for Clean Sweep. Before anyone can go onto private property, the local jurisdiction must have legal right of entry to remove debris from the property. Right of entry forms can be completed at the Disaster Recovery Center: Monrovia Church of Christ 595 Nance Rd. Madison, AL 35757 Please bring the following items: Identification Proof of homeowners insurance Proof of property ownership -------------------------------------------------------- City of Cullman details: http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x655836258/Operation-Clean-Sweep May 27, 2011 Operation Clean Sweep Narrow window of time for property owners to enroll By Benjamin Bullard The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Fri May 27, 2011, 07:45 AM CDT With the FEMA-sponsored Operation Clean Sweep in effect for the City of Cullman and still pending for Cullman County, private property owners in need of debris removal have a narrow window of time to engage local government in beginning the cleanup process. The City of Cullman has been accepted to participate in Operation Clean Sweep for residential properties in designated areas within the municipality. While proceeding under the assumption that the county will also be included, Cullman County officials had not received an acceptance letter late Thursday. “We’ve been accepted and we’re told the task order is coming to get us started,” Townson said. “We already have 40 or 50 who have filled out forms and waiting for the operation to begin. You have to sign up to be eligible.” The Clean Sweep program allows debris to be removed from private property. Mayor Max Townson said anyone needing the service must register at City Hall with Jerry Freeman, executive assistant to the mayor. Freeman may be reached at 256-775-7134 or jfreeman @ cullmancity .org). Freeman has maps of the designated Clean Sweep areas, forms and all information pertaining to the program. Residents wanting to sign up should come see him and bring a copy of their deed — with legal description — as well as the declaration page of the homeowner’s insurance policy. A county map displaying the grid of designated cleanup areas — updated daily — is on display at the county’s two Clean Sweep offices — one at the county building at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and Golf Course Road in Cullman; the other at the West Side road department garage on County Road 222. At the Clean Sweep office the county commission opened Wednesday on U.S. Highway 31 South, staffers have been busy informing landowners what steps they must take, on a case-by-case basis, to complete all the paperwork required by FEMA and the State of Alabama necessary to ensure their property can be included in the debris clearing program. “We took at least 60 [Clean Sweep applications] the first day,” said office worker Lori Beckhart at the county Clean Sweep office Thursday. “We’ve probably gotten close to 100 since we opened up.” Associate county commissioner Stanley Yarbrough said Clean Sweep participants may be finding some of the FEMA-mandated bureaucratic hurdles confusing, but a visit to the Clean Sweep office can help clear up many of the questions homeowners have about whether and how they’re eligible for on-site debris removal. Opening a property management file at the Clean Sweep office — the responsibility of the landower — is key to ensuring contractors will show up to clear debris from private land. While the documentation requirements for each file are extensive, most can be added after work is already underway. A few pieces of information, however, must be submitted as soon as possible. The most important, according to FEMA debris task force leader Dave Brown, is the Right-of-Entry form, which permits contractors to work on private property and holds them and their employers harmless for any incidental damage done in the process of removing debris. In addition, noted Yarbrough, landowners how have property insurance must provide a copy of their homeowner’s policy as soon as they can obtain it from their insurer. Underground features such as septic tanks and off-grid utility lines should also be marked with orange paint; homeowners should also notify office staff whether they want swimming pools filled or left alone. From the beginning, FEMA officials have stressed that Operation Clean Sweep is intended to alleviate health and safety concerns on private property — that means contractors will, when authorized, remove debris from the yard area immediately surrounding a home — but it’s not intended to offer a wholesale cleanup of downed trees and vegetation debris on wooded acreage not in the near vicinity of a house or other building. “Even though we are going onto private property, there are still things on that property that are ineligible for removing debris,” said Brown Tuesday. “If you’ve got a home surrounded by a wooded area on a 10-acre lot, we don’t clean up fallen trees in the wooded areas. We will certainly clean up around the house, but we don’t clean up pastures; agricultural land — we clean up what’s reasonable to maintain health and safety. If you mow and maintain around your area, that is normally the guideline we follow.” In order for property owners to ensure contractors will clear debris from the land that directly surrounds their homes, their property must fall within a grid of approved areas that, by FEMA’s reckoning, sustained significant tornado damage. That means not all of Cullman County qualifies for the project. The grid, which is updated daily as property owners bring their damage to officials’ attention for consideration, consists of a network of 1-kilometer squares that trend from southwest Cullman County toward the northeast. The statewide Clean Sweep effort is operated as a separate project from the continuing removal of debris from public rights of way in both city and county. In Cullman County, the right-of-way cleanup is set to expire June 15, unless it is extended by state and federal authorities. Clean Sweep, on the other hand, will expire on June 12 unless funding for the operation is renewed beyond that date. Noting that Operation Clean Sweep could effectively be over almost as soon as it’s begun, county and city officials have pledged to implore the local legislative delegation to lobby Gov. Robert Bentley for an extension of the state’s funding contribution toward the Clean Sweep program. If that happens, tornado-affected areas statewide could receive an additional 30 days of debris removal on private land paid for entirely by FEMA and the State of Alabama. County of Walker details: http://www.mountaineagle.com/view/full_story/13380266/article-FEMA-s-Operation-Clean-Sweep-set-to-commence?instance=main_article FEMA's Operation Clean Sweep set to commence by James Phillips Daily Mountain Eagle The Walker County Commission agreed Monday to take part in a Federal Emergency Management Agency cleanup initiative that will allow contractors limited access to private property for debris removal. Operation Clean Sweep, which is a statewide effort, is a recently announced program targeting debris in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive destruction. FEMA determines the degree of destruction by using a combination of mapping and information from local, state and federal officials who have seen the damage first-hand. Clean Sweep is a separate debris removal operation than ongoing debris removal taking place on public rights of way across Walker County. Both projects are being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but officials said paperwork and guidelines for each are different. FEMA representative Keith Denning told members of the Walker County Commission at a work session Monday at the Walker County Courthouse that certain stipulations must be met for properties to qualify for Operation Clean Sweep. He said the debris must pose a negative economic impact or be a matter of public health or safety. "I would hope the county can work some properties that might be in a gray area into these," he said. Walker County Emergency Management Agency director Johnny Burnette said residents who suspect their property could fall under Operation Clean Sweep should contact his office at 205-384-7233. "We have people out assessing the damage in the county, and we will be contacting property owners that qualify, but if anyone has questions, they should call our office," Burnette said. Sipsey Mayor Anita Sanders said her town will also be a part of Operation Clean Sweep, but she was concerned all debris will not be removed by the June 12 deadline for 100 percent of the cost to be paid. "We've only got 21 days left to get everything cleaned up," she said. "I'm worried we might not have it all done by then, and I don't know how the town or our citizens would pay for it." Walker County Commission Chairman Bruce Hamrick said he felt the 30 days given for 100 percent reimbursement would be extended. "Everyone I've talked to seems to think that it will be extended at least another 30 days," he said. "I think we'll have most of our debris removed by the end of the first 30 days, but it would be helpful for some of the other areas if that was extended some." Hamrick asked that property owners respond to Operation Clean Sweep materials as quickly as possible. "If you get a call, we ask that you move forward as quickly as you can," he said. "We need to go ahead and get everything done just in case that deadline isn't extended." -> The following counties and cities/towns have met FEMA qualification for the Clean Sweep program. However, it is up to the local county governments and city governments to decide if they will participate in the program. Be sure to check with them before assuming you can benefit from the program. BIBB Vance BLOUNT Bountsville CALHOUN Glencoe Ohatchee CHAMBERS CHEROKEE CHOCTAW CULLMAN Cullman Dodge City East Point Fairview Guntersville Hanceville Holly Pond DEKALB Collinsville Crossville Fyffe Henagar Rainsville Shiloh Sylvania ELMORE Eclectic ETOWAH Bristow Cove Glencoe New Union FAYETTE FRANKLIN Hodges Phil Campell GREENE HALE Greensboro JACKSON Bridgeport Pisgah Scottsboro JEFFERSON Adamsville Birmingham Concord Fultondale Hueytown McDonald Chapel Pleasant Grove Tarrant LAWRENCE LIMESTONE Athens MADISON Harvest Huntsville MARENGO MARION Hackleburg Haleyville Hamilton MARSHALL Albertville Arab Guntersville Union Grove MORGAN Decatur PICKENS ST. CLAIR Moody TALLAPOOSA Dadeville TUSCALOOSA Holt Tuscaloosa Vance Woodstock WALKER Cordova Sipsey WASHINGTON Deer Park WINSTON Haleyville ------------------------------------------------------------- * The City or County NEEDS PERMISSION TO ENTER YOUR PROPERTY to remove debris. * Right of Entry forms are available to speed-up your request. * Please complete the right of entry form and return it as soon as possible to clear remaining debrs. Pick up a Right of Entry form at: Birmingham City Hall 710 N. 20th St. Office of Public Information (3rd Floor) or One to One Office (1st Floor) Mount Moriah Christian Academy 306 Ave. U Pratt City Dept. of Public Works 501 6th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL Dept. of Public Works 1044 Ave. W. Ensley, AL Scott School 1517 Hibernian St. Pratt City, AL 35214 Faith Chapel 100 Lexington St. Birmingham, AL 35224 Contact Mr. Reginald Servant, Deputy Dir. of Public Works to answer questions about the form 205-254-6316. Outside of Jefferson County contact your town or city government according to list above. ---------------------------------------------- From Madison County EMA Website--------------------- Debris on Private Property - Operation Clean Sweep Operation Clean Sweep is a pilot program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that addresses debris removal in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive damage. The area must be approved for Clean Sweep by FEMA. Certain parts of Madison County have been identified by FEMA as having catastrophic or extensive damage and have been approved for Clean Sweep. Before anyone can go onto private property, the local jurisdiction must have legal right of entry to remove debris from the property. Right of entry forms can be completed at the Disaster Recovery Center: Monrovia Church of Christ 595 Nance Rd. Madison, AL 35757 Please bring the following items: Identification Proof of homeowners insurance Proof of property ownership -------------------------------------------------------- City of Cullman details: http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x655836258/Operation-Clean-Sweep May 27, 2011 Operation Clean Sweep Narrow window of time for property owners to enroll By Benjamin Bullard The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Fri May 27, 2011, 07:45 AM CDT With the FEMA-sponsored Operation Clean Sweep in effect for the City of Cullman and still pending for Cullman County, private property owners in need of debris removal have a narrow window of time to engage local government in beginning the cleanup process. The City of Cullman has been accepted to participate in Operation Clean Sweep for residential properties in designated areas within the municipality. While proceeding under the assumption that the county will also be included, Cullman County officials had not received an acceptance letter late Thursday. “We’ve been accepted and we’re told the task order is coming to get us started,” Townson said. “We already have 40 or 50 who have filled out forms and waiting for the operation to begin. You have to sign up to be eligible.” The Clean Sweep program allows debris to be removed from private property. Mayor Max Townson said anyone needing the service must register at City Hall with Jerry Freeman, executive assistant to the mayor. Freeman may be reached at 256-775-7134 or jfreeman @ cullmancity .org). Freeman has maps of the designated Clean Sweep areas, forms and all information pertaining to the program. Residents wanting to sign up should come see him and bring a copy of their deed — with legal description — as well as the declaration page of the homeowner’s insurance policy. A county map displaying the grid of designated cleanup areas — updated daily — is on display at the county’s two Clean Sweep offices — one at the county building at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and Golf Course Road in Cullman; the other at the West Side road department garage on County Road 222. At the Clean Sweep office the county commission opened Wednesday on U.S. Highway 31 South, staffers have been busy informing landowners what steps they must take, on a case-by-case basis, to complete all the paperwork required by FEMA and the State of Alabama necessary to ensure their property can be included in the debris clearing program. “We took at least 60 [Clean Sweep applications] the first day,” said office worker Lori Beckhart at the county Clean Sweep office Thursday. “We’ve probably gotten close to 100 since we opened up.” Associate county commissioner Stanley Yarbrough said Clean Sweep participants may be finding some of the FEMA-mandated bureaucratic hurdles confusing, but a visit to the Clean Sweep office can help clear up many of the questions homeowners have about whether and how they’re eligible for on-site debris removal. Opening a property management file at the Clean Sweep office — the responsibility of the landower — is key to ensuring contractors will show up to clear debris from private land. While the documentation requirements for each file are extensive, most can be added after work is already underway. A few pieces of information, however, must be submitted as soon as possible. The most important, according to FEMA debris task force leader Dave Brown, is the Right-of-Entry form, which permits contractors to work on private property and holds them and their employers harmless for any incidental damage done in the process of removing debris. In addition, noted Yarbrough, landowners how have property insurance must provide a copy of their homeowner’s policy as soon as they can obtain it from their insurer. Underground features such as septic tanks and off-grid utility lines should also be marked with orange paint; homeowners should also notify office staff whether they want swimming pools filled or left alone. From the beginning, FEMA officials have stressed that Operation Clean Sweep is intended to alleviate health and safety concerns on private property — that means contractors will, when authorized, remove debris from the yard area immediately surrounding a home — but it’s not intended to offer a wholesale cleanup of downed trees and vegetation debris on wooded acreage not in the near vicinity of a house or other building. “Even though we are going onto private property, there are still things on that property that are ineligible for removing debris,” said Brown Tuesday. “If you’ve got a home surrounded by a wooded area on a 10-acre lot, we don’t clean up fallen trees in the wooded areas. We will certainly clean up around the house, but we don’t clean up pastures; agricultural land — we clean up what’s reasonable to maintain health and safety. If you mow and maintain around your area, that is normally the guideline we follow.” In order for property owners to ensure contractors will clear debris from the land that directly surrounds their homes, their property must fall within a grid of approved areas that, by FEMA’s reckoning, sustained significant tornado damage. That means not all of Cullman County qualifies for the project. The grid, which is updated daily as property owners bring their damage to officials’ attention for consideration, consists of a network of 1-kilometer squares that trend from southwest Cullman County toward the northeast. The statewide Clean Sweep effort is operated as a separate project from the continuing removal of debris from public rights of way in both city and county. In Cullman County, the right-of-way cleanup is set to expire June 15, unless it is extended by state and federal authorities. Clean Sweep, on the other hand, will expire on June 12 unless funding for the operation is renewed beyond that date. Noting that Operation Clean Sweep could effectively be over almost as soon as it’s begun, county and city officials have pledged to implore the local legislative delegation to lobby Gov. Robert Bentley for an extension of the state’s funding contribution toward the Clean Sweep program. If that happens, tornado-affected areas statewide could receive an additional 30 days of debris removal on private land paid for entirely by FEMA and the State of Alabama. County of Walker details: http://www.mountaineagle.com/view/full_story/13380266/article-FEMA-s-Operation-Clean-Sweep-set-to-commence?instance=main_article FEMA's Operation Clean Sweep set to commence by James Phillips Daily Mountain Eagle The Walker County Commission agreed Monday to take part in a Federal Emergency Management Agency cleanup initiative that will allow contractors limited access to private property for debris removal. Operation Clean Sweep, which is a statewide effort, is a recently announced program targeting debris in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive destruction. FEMA determines the degree of destruction by using a combination of mapping and information from local, state and federal officials who have seen the damage first-hand. Clean Sweep is a separate debris removal operation than ongoing debris removal taking place on public rights of way across Walker County. Both projects are being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but officials said paperwork and guidelines for each are different. FEMA representative Keith Denning told members of the Walker County Commission at a work session Monday at the Walker County Courthouse that certain stipulations must be met for properties to qualify for Operation Clean Sweep. He said the debris must pose a negative economic impact or be a matter of public health or safety. "I would hope the county can work some properties that might be in a gray area into these," he said. Walker County Emergency Management Agency director Johnny Burnette said residents who suspect their property could fall under Operation Clean Sweep should contact his office at 205-384-7233. "We have people out assessing the damage in the county, and we will be contacting property owners that qualify, but if anyone has questions, they should call our office," Burnette said. Sipsey Mayor Anita Sanders said her town will also be a part of Operation Clean Sweep, but she was concerned all debris will not be removed by the June 12 deadline for 100 percent of the cost to be paid. "We've only got 21 days left to get everything cleaned up," she said. "I'm worried we might not have it all done by then, and I don't know how the town or our citizens would pay for it." Walker County Commission Chairman Bruce Hamrick said he felt the 30 days given for 100 percent reimbursement would be extended. "Everyone I've talked to seems to think that it will be extended at least another 30 days," he said. "I think we'll have most of our debris removed by the end of the first 30 days, but it would be helpful for some of the other areas if that was extended some." Hamrick asked that property owners respond to Operation Clean Sweep materials as quickly as possible. "If you get a call, we ask that you move forward as quickly as you can," he said. "We need to go ahead and get everything done just in case that deadline isn't extended."
cat_notes: Getting info from Fema is like pulling teeth. I have asked about 4-5 times now for a list of qualifying areas. lpar 6/9/11 -> Yea! Bea came through for me!! Lpar Getting info from Fema is like pulling teeth. I have asked about 4-5 times now for a list of qualifying areas. lpar 6/9/11

notes: * The City NEEDS PERMISSION TO ENTER YOUR PROPERTY to remove debris. * Right of Entry forms are available to speed-up your request. * Please complete the right of entry form and return it as soon as possible to clear remaining debrs. Pick up a Right of Entry form at: Birmingham City Hall 710 N. 20th St. Office of Public Information (3rd Floor) or One to One Office (1st Floor) Mount Moriah Christian Academy 306 Ave. U Pratt City Dept. of Public Works 501 6th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL Dept. of Public Works 1044 Ave. W. Ensley, AL Scott School 1517 Hibernian St. Pratt City, AL 35214 Faith Chapel 100 Lexington St. Birmingham, AL 35224 Contact Mr. Reginald Servant, Deputy Dir. of Public Works to answer questions about the form 205-254-6316. ---------------------------------------------- From Madison County EMA Website--------------------- Debris on Private Property - Operation Clean Sweep Operation Clean Sweep is a pilot program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that addresses debris removal in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive damage. The area must be approved for Clean Sweep by FEMA. Certain parts of Madison County have been identified by FEMA as having catastrophic or extensive damage and have been approved for Clean Sweep. Before anyone can go onto private property, the local jurisdiction must have legal right of entry to remove debris from the property. Right of entry forms can be completed at the Disaster Recovery Center: Monrovia Church of Christ 595 Nance Rd. Madison, AL 35757 Please bring the following items: Identification Proof of homeowners insurance Proof of property ownership -------------------------------------------------------- City of Cullman details: http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x655836258/Operation-Clean-Sweep May 27, 2011 Operation Clean Sweep Narrow window of time for property owners to enroll By Benjamin Bullard The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Fri May 27, 2011, 07:45 AM CDT With the FEMA-sponsored Operation Clean Sweep in effect for the City of Cullman and still pending for Cullman County, private property owners in need of debris removal have a narrow window of time to engage local government in beginning the cleanup process. The City of Cullman has been accepted to participate in Operation Clean Sweep for residential properties in designated areas within the municipality. While proceeding under the assumption that the county will also be included, Cullman County officials had not received an acceptance letter late Thursday. “We’ve been accepted and we’re told the task order is coming to get us started,” Townson said. “We already have 40 or 50 who have filled out forms and waiting for the operation to begin. You have to sign up to be eligible.” The Clean Sweep program allows debris to be removed from private property. Mayor Max Townson said anyone needing the service must register at City Hall with Jerry Freeman, executive assistant to the mayor. Freeman may be reached at 256-775-7134 or jfreeman @ cullmancity .org). Freeman has maps of the designated Clean Sweep areas, forms and all information pertaining to the program. Residents wanting to sign up should come see him and bring a copy of their deed — with legal description — as well as the declaration page of the homeowner’s insurance policy. A county map displaying the grid of designated cleanup areas — updated daily — is on display at the county’s two Clean Sweep offices — one at the county building at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and Golf Course Road in Cullman; the other at the West Side road department garage on County Road 222. At the Clean Sweep office the county commission opened Wednesday on U.S. Highway 31 South, staffers have been busy informing landowners what steps they must take, on a case-by-case basis, to complete all the paperwork required by FEMA and the State of Alabama necessary to ensure their property can be included in the debris clearing program. “We took at least 60 [Clean Sweep applications] the first day,” said office worker Lori Beckhart at the county Clean Sweep office Thursday. “We’ve probably gotten close to 100 since we opened up.” Associate county commissioner Stanley Yarbrough said Clean Sweep participants may be finding some of the FEMA-mandated bureaucratic hurdles confusing, but a visit to the Clean Sweep office can help clear up many of the questions homeowners have about whether and how they’re eligible for on-site debris removal. Opening a property management file at the Clean Sweep office — the responsibility of the landower — is key to ensuring contractors will show up to clear debris from private land. While the documentation requirements for each file are extensive, most can be added after work is already underway. A few pieces of information, however, must be submitted as soon as possible. The most important, according to FEMA debris task force leader Dave Brown, is the Right-of-Entry form, which permits contractors to work on private property and holds them and their employers harmless for any incidental damage done in the process of removing debris. In addition, noted Yarbrough, landowners how have property insurance must provide a copy of their homeowner’s policy as soon as they can obtain it from their insurer. Underground features such as septic tanks and off-grid utility lines should also be marked with orange paint; homeowners should also notify office staff whether they want swimming pools filled or left alone. From the beginning, FEMA officials have stressed that Operation Clean Sweep is intended to alleviate health and safety concerns on private property — that means contractors will, when authorized, remove debris from the yard area immediately surrounding a home — but it’s not intended to offer a wholesale cleanup of downed trees and vegetation debris on wooded acreage not in the near vicinity of a house or other building. “Even though we are going onto private property, there are still things on that property that are ineligible for removing debris,” said Brown Tuesday. “If you’ve got a home surrounded by a wooded area on a 10-acre lot, we don’t clean up fallen trees in the wooded areas. We will certainly clean up around the house, but we don’t clean up pastures; agricultural land — we clean up what’s reasonable to maintain health and safety. If you mow and maintain around your area, that is normally the guideline we follow.” In order for property owners to ensure contractors will clear debris from the land that directly surrounds their homes, their property must fall within a grid of approved areas that, by FEMA’s reckoning, sustained significant tornado damage. That means not all of Cullman County qualifies for the project. The grid, which is updated daily as property owners bring their damage to officials’ attention for consideration, consists of a network of 1-kilometer squares that trend from southwest Cullman County toward the northeast. The statewide Clean Sweep effort is operated as a separate project from the continuing removal of debris from public rights of way in both city and county. In Cullman County, the right-of-way cleanup is set to expire June 15, unless it is extended by state and federal authorities. Clean Sweep, on the other hand, will expire on June 12 unless funding for the operation is renewed beyond that date. Noting that Operation Clean Sweep could effectively be over almost as soon as it’s begun, county and city officials have pledged to implore the local legislative delegation to lobby Gov. Robert Bentley for an extension of the state’s funding contribution toward the Clean Sweep program. If that happens, tornado-affected areas statewide could receive an additional 30 days of debris removal on private land paid for entirely by FEMA and the State of Alabama. County of Walker details: http://www.mountaineagle.com/view/full_story/13380266/article-FEMA-s-Operation-Clean-Sweep-set-to-commence?instance=main_article FEMA's Operation Clean Sweep set to commence by James Phillips Daily Mountain Eagle The Walker County Commission agreed Monday to take part in a Federal Emergency Management Agency cleanup initiative that will allow contractors limited access to private property for debris removal. Operation Clean Sweep, which is a statewide effort, is a recently announced program targeting debris in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive destruction. FEMA determines the degree of destruction by using a combination of mapping and information from local, state and federal officials who have seen the damage first-hand. Clean Sweep is a separate debris removal operation than ongoing debris removal taking place on public rights of way across Walker County. Both projects are being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but officials said paperwork and guidelines for each are different. FEMA representative Keith Denning told members of the Walker County Commission at a work session Monday at the Walker County Courthouse that certain stipulations must be met for properties to qualify for Operation Clean Sweep. He said the debris must pose a negative economic impact or be a matter of public health or safety. "I would hope the county can work some properties that might be in a gray area into these," he said. Walker County Emergency Management Agency director Johnny Burnette said residents who suspect their property could fall under Operation Clean Sweep should contact his office at 205-384-7233. "We have people out assessing the damage in the county, and we will be contacting property owners that qualify, but if anyone has questions, they should call our office," Burnette said. Sipsey Mayor Anita Sanders said her town will also be a part of Operation Clean Sweep, but she was concerned all debris will not be removed by the June 12 deadline for 100 percent of the cost to be paid. "We've only got 21 days left to get everything cleaned up," she said. "I'm worried we might not have it all done by then, and I don't know how the town or our citizens would pay for it." Walker County Commission Chairman Bruce Hamrick said he felt the 30 days given for 100 percent reimbursement would be extended. "Everyone I've talked to seems to think that it will be extended at least another 30 days," he said. "I think we'll have most of our debris removed by the end of the first 30 days, but it would be helpful for some of the other areas if that was extended some." Hamrick asked that property owners respond to Operation Clean Sweep materials as quickly as possible. "If you get a call, we ask that you move forward as quickly as you can," he said. "We need to go ahead and get everything done just in case that deadline isn't extended." -> The following counties and cities/towns have met FEMA qualification for the Clean Sweep program. However, it is up to the local county governments and city governments to decide if they will participate in the program. Be sure to check with them before assuming you can benefit from the program. BIBB Vance BLOUNT Bountsville CALHOUN Glencoe Ohatchee CHAMBERS CHEROKEE CHOCTAW CULLMAN Cullman Dodge City East Point Fairview Guntersville Hanceville Holly Pond DEKALB Collinsville Crossville Fyffe Henagar Rainsville Shiloh Sylvania ELMORE Eclectic ETOWAH Bristow Cove Glencoe New Union FAYETTE FRANKLIN Hodges Phil Campell GREENE HALE Greensboro JACKSON Bridgeport Pisgah Scottsboro JEFFERSON Adamsville Birmingham Concord Fultondale Hueytown McDonald Chapel Pleasant Grove Tarrant LAWRENCE LIMESTONE Athens MADISON Harvest Huntsville MARENGO MARION Hackleburg Haleyville Hamilton MARSHALL Albertville Arab Guntersville Union Grove MORGAN Decatur PICKENS ST. CLAIR Moody TALLAPOOSA Dadeville TUSCALOOSA Holt Tuscaloosa Vance Woodstock WALKER Cordova Sipsey WASHINGTON Deer Park WINSTON Haleyville ------------------------------------------------------------- * The City or County NEEDS PERMISSION TO ENTER YOUR PROPERTY to remove debris. * Right of Entry forms are available to speed-up your request. * Please complete the right of entry form and return it as soon as possible to clear remaining debrs. Pick up a Right of Entry form at: Birmingham City Hall 710 N. 20th St. Office of Public Information (3rd Floor) or One to One Office (1st Floor) Mount Moriah Christian Academy 306 Ave. U Pratt City Dept. of Public Works 501 6th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL Dept. of Public Works 1044 Ave. W. Ensley, AL Scott School 1517 Hibernian St. Pratt City, AL 35214 Faith Chapel 100 Lexington St. Birmingham, AL 35224 Contact Mr. Reginald Servant, Deputy Dir. of Public Works to answer questions about the form 205-254-6316. Outside of Jefferson County contact your town or city government according to list above. ---------------------------------------------- From Madison County EMA Website--------------------- Debris on Private Property - Operation Clean Sweep Operation Clean Sweep is a pilot program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that addresses debris removal in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive damage. The area must be approved for Clean Sweep by FEMA. Certain parts of Madison County have been identified by FEMA as having catastrophic or extensive damage and have been approved for Clean Sweep. Before anyone can go onto private property, the local jurisdiction must have legal right of entry to remove debris from the property. Right of entry forms can be completed at the Disaster Recovery Center: Monrovia Church of Christ 595 Nance Rd. Madison, AL 35757 Please bring the following items: Identification Proof of homeowners insurance Proof of property ownership -------------------------------------------------------- City of Cullman details: http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x655836258/Operation-Clean-Sweep May 27, 2011 Operation Clean Sweep Narrow window of time for property owners to enroll By Benjamin Bullard The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Fri May 27, 2011, 07:45 AM CDT With the FEMA-sponsored Operation Clean Sweep in effect for the City of Cullman and still pending for Cullman County, private property owners in need of debris removal have a narrow window of time to engage local government in beginning the cleanup process. The City of Cullman has been accepted to participate in Operation Clean Sweep for residential properties in designated areas within the municipality. While proceeding under the assumption that the county will also be included, Cullman County officials had not received an acceptance letter late Thursday. “We’ve been accepted and we’re told the task order is coming to get us started,” Townson said. “We already have 40 or 50 who have filled out forms and waiting for the operation to begin. You have to sign up to be eligible.” The Clean Sweep program allows debris to be removed from private property. Mayor Max Townson said anyone needing the service must register at City Hall with Jerry Freeman, executive assistant to the mayor. Freeman may be reached at 256-775-7134 or jfreeman @ cullmancity .org). Freeman has maps of the designated Clean Sweep areas, forms and all information pertaining to the program. Residents wanting to sign up should come see him and bring a copy of their deed — with legal description — as well as the declaration page of the homeowner’s insurance policy. A county map displaying the grid of designated cleanup areas — updated daily — is on display at the county’s two Clean Sweep offices — one at the county building at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and Golf Course Road in Cullman; the other at the West Side road department garage on County Road 222. At the Clean Sweep office the county commission opened Wednesday on U.S. Highway 31 South, staffers have been busy informing landowners what steps they must take, on a case-by-case basis, to complete all the paperwork required by FEMA and the State of Alabama necessary to ensure their property can be included in the debris clearing program. “We took at least 60 [Clean Sweep applications] the first day,” said office worker Lori Beckhart at the county Clean Sweep office Thursday. “We’ve probably gotten close to 100 since we opened up.” Associate county commissioner Stanley Yarbrough said Clean Sweep participants may be finding some of the FEMA-mandated bureaucratic hurdles confusing, but a visit to the Clean Sweep office can help clear up many of the questions homeowners have about whether and how they’re eligible for on-site debris removal. Opening a property management file at the Clean Sweep office — the responsibility of the landower — is key to ensuring contractors will show up to clear debris from private land. While the documentation requirements for each file are extensive, most can be added after work is already underway. A few pieces of information, however, must be submitted as soon as possible. The most important, according to FEMA debris task force leader Dave Brown, is the Right-of-Entry form, which permits contractors to work on private property and holds them and their employers harmless for any incidental damage done in the process of removing debris. In addition, noted Yarbrough, landowners how have property insurance must provide a copy of their homeowner’s policy as soon as they can obtain it from their insurer. Underground features such as septic tanks and off-grid utility lines should also be marked with orange paint; homeowners should also notify office staff whether they want swimming pools filled or left alone. From the beginning, FEMA officials have stressed that Operation Clean Sweep is intended to alleviate health and safety concerns on private property — that means contractors will, when authorized, remove debris from the yard area immediately surrounding a home — but it’s not intended to offer a wholesale cleanup of downed trees and vegetation debris on wooded acreage not in the near vicinity of a house or other building. “Even though we are going onto private property, there are still things on that property that are ineligible for removing debris,” said Brown Tuesday. “If you’ve got a home surrounded by a wooded area on a 10-acre lot, we don’t clean up fallen trees in the wooded areas. We will certainly clean up around the house, but we don’t clean up pastures; agricultural land — we clean up what’s reasonable to maintain health and safety. If you mow and maintain around your area, that is normally the guideline we follow.” In order for property owners to ensure contractors will clear debris from the land that directly surrounds their homes, their property must fall within a grid of approved areas that, by FEMA’s reckoning, sustained significant tornado damage. That means not all of Cullman County qualifies for the project. The grid, which is updated daily as property owners bring their damage to officials’ attention for consideration, consists of a network of 1-kilometer squares that trend from southwest Cullman County toward the northeast. The statewide Clean Sweep effort is operated as a separate project from the continuing removal of debris from public rights of way in both city and county. In Cullman County, the right-of-way cleanup is set to expire June 15, unless it is extended by state and federal authorities. Clean Sweep, on the other hand, will expire on June 12 unless funding for the operation is renewed beyond that date. Noting that Operation Clean Sweep could effectively be over almost as soon as it’s begun, county and city officials have pledged to implore the local legislative delegation to lobby Gov. Robert Bentley for an extension of the state’s funding contribution toward the Clean Sweep program. If that happens, tornado-affected areas statewide could receive an additional 30 days of debris removal on private land paid for entirely by FEMA and the State of Alabama. County of Walker details: http://www.mountaineagle.com/view/full_story/13380266/article-FEMA-s-Operation-Clean-Sweep-set-to-commence?instance=main_article FEMA's Operation Clean Sweep set to commence by James Phillips Daily Mountain Eagle The Walker County Commission agreed Monday to take part in a Federal Emergency Management Agency cleanup initiative that will allow contractors limited access to private property for debris removal. Operation Clean Sweep, which is a statewide effort, is a recently announced program targeting debris in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive destruction. FEMA determines the degree of destruction by using a combination of mapping and information from local, state and federal officials who have seen the damage first-hand. Clean Sweep is a separate debris removal operation than ongoing debris removal taking place on public rights of way across Walker County. Both projects are being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but officials said paperwork and guidelines for each are different. FEMA representative Keith Denning told members of the Walker County Commission at a work session Monday at the Walker County Courthouse that certain stipulations must be met for properties to qualify for Operation Clean Sweep. He said the debris must pose a negative economic impact or be a matter of public health or safety. "I would hope the county can work some properties that might be in a gray area into these," he said. Walker County Emergency Management Agency director Johnny Burnette said residents who suspect their property could fall under Operation Clean Sweep should contact his office at 205-384-7233. "We have people out assessing the damage in the county, and we will be contacting property owners that qualify, but if anyone has questions, they should call our office," Burnette said. Sipsey Mayor Anita Sanders said her town will also be a part of Operation Clean Sweep, but she was concerned all debris will not be removed by the June 12 deadline for 100 percent of the cost to be paid. "We've only got 21 days left to get everything cleaned up," she said. "I'm worried we might not have it all done by then, and I don't know how the town or our citizens would pay for it." Walker County Commission Chairman Bruce Hamrick said he felt the 30 days given for 100 percent reimbursement would be extended. "Everyone I've talked to seems to think that it will be extended at least another 30 days," he said. "I think we'll have most of our debris removed by the end of the first 30 days, but it would be helpful for some of the other areas if that was extended some." Hamrick asked that property owners respond to Operation Clean Sweep materials as quickly as possible. "If you get a call, we ask that you move forward as quickly as you can," he said. "We need to go ahead and get everything done just in case that deadline isn't extended."

notes: * The City NEEDS PERMISSION TO ENTER YOUR PROPERTY to remove debris. * Right of Entry forms are available to speed-up your request. * Please complete the right of entry form and return it as soon as possible to clear remaining debrs. Pick up a Right of Entry form at: Birmingham City Hall 710 N. 20th St. Office of Public Information (3rd Floor) or One to One Office (1st Floor) Mount Moriah Christian Academy 306 Ave. U Pratt City Dept. of Public Works 501 6th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL Dept. of Public Works 1044 Ave. W. Ensley, AL Scott School 1517 Hibernian St. Pratt City, AL 35214 Faith Chapel 100 Lexington St. Birmingham, AL 35224 Contact Mr. Reginald Servant, Deputy Dir. of Public Works to answer questions about the form 205-254-6316. City of Cullman details: http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x655836258/Operation-Clean-Sweep May 27, 2011 Operation Clean Sweep Narrow window of time for property owners to enroll By Benjamin Bullard The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Fri May 27, 2011, 07:45 AM CDT With the FEMA-sponsored Operation Clean Sweep in effect for the City of Cullman and still pending for Cullman County, private property owners in need of debris removal have a narrow window of time to engage local government in beginning the cleanup process. The City of Cullman has been accepted to participate in Operation Clean Sweep for residential properties in designated areas within the municipality. While proceeding under the assumption that the county will also be included, Cullman County officials had not received an acceptance letter late Thursday. “We’ve been accepted and we’re told the task order is coming to get us started,” Townson said. “We already have 40 or 50 who have filled out forms and waiting for the operation to begin. You have to sign up to be eligible.” The Clean Sweep program allows debris to be removed from private property. Mayor Max Townson said anyone needing the service must register at City Hall with Jerry Freeman, executive assistant to the mayor. Freeman may be reached at 256-775-7134 or jfreeman @ cullmancity .org). Freeman has maps of the designated Clean Sweep areas, forms and all information pertaining to the program. Residents wanting to sign up should come see him and bring a copy of their deed — with legal description — as well as the declaration page of the homeowner’s insurance policy. A county map displaying the grid of designated cleanup areas — updated daily — is on display at the county’s two Clean Sweep offices — one at the county building at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and Golf Course Road in Cullman; the other at the West Side road department garage on County Road 222. At the Clean Sweep office the county commission opened Wednesday on U.S. Highway 31 South, staffers have been busy informing landowners what steps they must take, on a case-by-case basis, to complete all the paperwork required by FEMA and the State of Alabama necessary to ensure their property can be included in the debris clearing program. “We took at least 60 [Clean Sweep applications] the first day,” said office worker Lori Beckhart at the county Clean Sweep office Thursday. “We’ve probably gotten close to 100 since we opened up.” Associate county commissioner Stanley Yarbrough said Clean Sweep participants may be finding some of the FEMA-mandated bureaucratic hurdles confusing, but a visit to the Clean Sweep office can help clear up many of the questions homeowners have about whether and how they’re eligible for on-site debris removal. Opening a property management file at the Clean Sweep office — the responsibility of the landower — is key to ensuring contractors will show up to clear debris from private land. While the documentation requirements for each file are extensive, most can be added after work is already underway. A few pieces of information, however, must be submitted as soon as possible. The most important, according to FEMA debris task force leader Dave Brown, is the Right-of-Entry form, which permits contractors to work on private property and holds them and their employers harmless for any incidental damage done in the process of removing debris. In addition, noted Yarbrough, landowners how have property insurance must provide a copy of their homeowner’s policy as soon as they can obtain it from their insurer. Underground features such as septic tanks and off-grid utility lines should also be marked with orange paint; homeowners should also notify office staff whether they want swimming pools filled or left alone. From the beginning, FEMA officials have stressed that Operation Clean Sweep is intended to alleviate health and safety concerns on private property — that means contractors will, when authorized, remove debris from the yard area immediately surrounding a home — but it’s not intended to offer a wholesale cleanup of downed trees and vegetation debris on wooded acreage not in the near vicinity of a house or other building. “Even though we are going onto private property, there are still things on that property that are ineligible for removing debris,” said Brown Tuesday. “If you’ve got a home surrounded by a wooded area on a 10-acre lot, we don’t clean up fallen trees in the wooded areas. We will certainly clean up around the house, but we don’t clean up pastures; agricultural land — we clean up what’s reasonable to maintain health and safety. If you mow and maintain around your area, that is normally the guideline we follow.” In order for property owners to ensure contractors will clear debris from the land that directly surrounds their homes, their property must fall within a grid of approved areas that, by FEMA’s reckoning, sustained significant tornado damage. That means not all of Cullman County qualifies for the project. The grid, which is updated daily as property owners bring their damage to officials’ attention for consideration, consists of a network of 1-kilometer squares that trend from southwest Cullman County toward the northeast. The statewide Clean Sweep effort is operated as a separate project from the continuing removal of debris from public rights of way in both city and county. In Cullman County, the right-of-way cleanup is set to expire June 15, unless it is extended by state and federal authorities. Clean Sweep, on the other hand, will expire on June 12 unless funding for the operation is renewed beyond that date. Noting that Operation Clean Sweep could effectively be over almost as soon as it’s begun, county and city officials have pledged to implore the local legislative delegation to lobby Gov. Robert Bentley for an extension of the state’s funding contribution toward the Clean Sweep program. If that happens, tornado-affected areas statewide could receive an additional 30 days of debris removal on private land paid for entirely by FEMA and the State of Alabama. County of Walker details: http://www.mountaineagle.com/view/full_story/13380266/article-FEMA-s-Operation-Clean-Sweep-set-to-commence?instance=main_article FEMA's Operation Clean Sweep set to commence by James Phillips Daily Mountain Eagle The Walker County Commission agreed Monday to take part in a Federal Emergency Management Agency cleanup initiative that will allow contractors limited access to private property for debris removal. Operation Clean Sweep, which is a statewide effort, is a recently announced program targeting debris in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive destruction. FEMA determines the degree of destruction by using a combination of mapping and information from local, state and federal officials who have seen the damage first-hand. Clean Sweep is a separate debris removal operation than ongoing debris removal taking place on public rights of way across Walker County. Both projects are being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but officials said paperwork and guidelines for each are different. FEMA representative Keith Denning told members of the Walker County Commission at a work session Monday at the Walker County Courthouse that certain stipulations must be met for properties to qualify for Operation Clean Sweep. He said the debris must pose a negative economic impact or be a matter of public health or safety. "I would hope the county can work some properties that might be in a gray area into these," he said. Walker County Emergency Management Agency director Johnny Burnette said residents who suspect their property could fall under Operation Clean Sweep should contact his office at 205-384-7233. "We have people out assessing the damage in the county, and we will be contacting property owners that qualify, but if anyone has questions, they should call our office," Burnette said. Sipsey Mayor Anita Sanders said her town will also be a part of Operation Clean Sweep, but she was concerned all debris will not be removed by the June 12 deadline for 100 percent of the cost to be paid. "We've only got 21 days left to get everything cleaned up," she said. "I'm worried we might not have it all done by then, and I don't know how the town or our citizens would pay for it." Walker County Commission Chairman Bruce Hamrick said he felt the 30 days given for 100 percent reimbursement would be extended. "Everyone I've talked to seems to think that it will be extended at least another 30 days," he said. "I think we'll have most of our debris removed by the end of the first 30 days, but it would be helpful for some of the other areas if that was extended some." Hamrick asked that property owners respond to Operation Clean Sweep materials as quickly as possible. "If you get a call, we ask that you move forward as quickly as you can," he said. "We need to go ahead and get everything done just in case that deadline isn't extended." -> * The City NEEDS PERMISSION TO ENTER YOUR PROPERTY to remove debris. * Right of Entry forms are available to speed-up your request. * Please complete the right of entry form and return it as soon as possible to clear remaining debrs. Pick up a Right of Entry form at: Birmingham City Hall 710 N. 20th St. Office of Public Information (3rd Floor) or One to One Office (1st Floor) Mount Moriah Christian Academy 306 Ave. U Pratt City Dept. of Public Works 501 6th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL Dept. of Public Works 1044 Ave. W. Ensley, AL Scott School 1517 Hibernian St. Pratt City, AL 35214 Faith Chapel 100 Lexington St. Birmingham, AL 35224 Contact Mr. Reginald Servant, Deputy Dir. of Public Works to answer questions about the form 205-254-6316. ---------------------------------------------- From Madison County EMA Website--------------------- Debris on Private Property - Operation Clean Sweep Operation Clean Sweep is a pilot program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that addresses debris removal in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive damage. The area must be approved for Clean Sweep by FEMA. Certain parts of Madison County have been identified by FEMA as having catastrophic or extensive damage and have been approved for Clean Sweep. Before anyone can go onto private property, the local jurisdiction must have legal right of entry to remove debris from the property. Right of entry forms can be completed at the Disaster Recovery Center: Monrovia Church of Christ 595 Nance Rd. Madison, AL 35757 Please bring the following items: Identification Proof of homeowners insurance Proof of property ownership -------------------------------------------------------- City of Cullman details: http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x655836258/Operation-Clean-Sweep May 27, 2011 Operation Clean Sweep Narrow window of time for property owners to enroll By Benjamin Bullard The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Fri May 27, 2011, 07:45 AM CDT With the FEMA-sponsored Operation Clean Sweep in effect for the City of Cullman and still pending for Cullman County, private property owners in need of debris removal have a narrow window of time to engage local government in beginning the cleanup process. The City of Cullman has been accepted to participate in Operation Clean Sweep for residential properties in designated areas within the municipality. While proceeding under the assumption that the county will also be included, Cullman County officials had not received an acceptance letter late Thursday. “We’ve been accepted and we’re told the task order is coming to get us started,” Townson said. “We already have 40 or 50 who have filled out forms and waiting for the operation to begin. You have to sign up to be eligible.” The Clean Sweep program allows debris to be removed from private property. Mayor Max Townson said anyone needing the service must register at City Hall with Jerry Freeman, executive assistant to the mayor. Freeman may be reached at 256-775-7134 or jfreeman @ cullmancity .org). Freeman has maps of the designated Clean Sweep areas, forms and all information pertaining to the program. Residents wanting to sign up should come see him and bring a copy of their deed — with legal description — as well as the declaration page of the homeowner’s insurance policy. A county map displaying the grid of designated cleanup areas — updated daily — is on display at the county’s two Clean Sweep offices — one at the county building at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and Golf Course Road in Cullman; the other at the West Side road department garage on County Road 222. At the Clean Sweep office the county commission opened Wednesday on U.S. Highway 31 South, staffers have been busy informing landowners what steps they must take, on a case-by-case basis, to complete all the paperwork required by FEMA and the State of Alabama necessary to ensure their property can be included in the debris clearing program. “We took at least 60 [Clean Sweep applications] the first day,” said office worker Lori Beckhart at the county Clean Sweep office Thursday. “We’ve probably gotten close to 100 since we opened up.” Associate county commissioner Stanley Yarbrough said Clean Sweep participants may be finding some of the FEMA-mandated bureaucratic hurdles confusing, but a visit to the Clean Sweep office can help clear up many of the questions homeowners have about whether and how they’re eligible for on-site debris removal. Opening a property management file at the Clean Sweep office — the responsibility of the landower — is key to ensuring contractors will show up to clear debris from private land. While the documentation requirements for each file are extensive, most can be added after work is already underway. A few pieces of information, however, must be submitted as soon as possible. The most important, according to FEMA debris task force leader Dave Brown, is the Right-of-Entry form, which permits contractors to work on private property and holds them and their employers harmless for any incidental damage done in the process of removing debris. In addition, noted Yarbrough, landowners how have property insurance must provide a copy of their homeowner’s policy as soon as they can obtain it from their insurer. Underground features such as septic tanks and off-grid utility lines should also be marked with orange paint; homeowners should also notify office staff whether they want swimming pools filled or left alone. From the beginning, FEMA officials have stressed that Operation Clean Sweep is intended to alleviate health and safety concerns on private property — that means contractors will, when authorized, remove debris from the yard area immediately surrounding a home — but it’s not intended to offer a wholesale cleanup of downed trees and vegetation debris on wooded acreage not in the near vicinity of a house or other building. “Even though we are going onto private property, there are still things on that property that are ineligible for removing debris,” said Brown Tuesday. “If you’ve got a home surrounded by a wooded area on a 10-acre lot, we don’t clean up fallen trees in the wooded areas. We will certainly clean up around the house, but we don’t clean up pastures; agricultural land — we clean up what’s reasonable to maintain health and safety. If you mow and maintain around your area, that is normally the guideline we follow.” In order for property owners to ensure contractors will clear debris from the land that directly surrounds their homes, their property must fall within a grid of approved areas that, by FEMA’s reckoning, sustained significant tornado damage. That means not all of Cullman County qualifies for the project. The grid, which is updated daily as property owners bring their damage to officials’ attention for consideration, consists of a network of 1-kilometer squares that trend from southwest Cullman County toward the northeast. The statewide Clean Sweep effort is operated as a separate project from the continuing removal of debris from public rights of way in both city and county. In Cullman County, the right-of-way cleanup is set to expire June 15, unless it is extended by state and federal authorities. Clean Sweep, on the other hand, will expire on June 12 unless funding for the operation is renewed beyond that date. Noting that Operation Clean Sweep could effectively be over almost as soon as it’s begun, county and city officials have pledged to implore the local legislative delegation to lobby Gov. Robert Bentley for an extension of the state’s funding contribution toward the Clean Sweep program. If that happens, tornado-affected areas statewide could receive an additional 30 days of debris removal on private land paid for entirely by FEMA and the State of Alabama. County of Walker details: http://www.mountaineagle.com/view/full_story/13380266/article-FEMA-s-Operation-Clean-Sweep-set-to-commence?instance=main_article FEMA's Operation Clean Sweep set to commence by James Phillips Daily Mountain Eagle The Walker County Commission agreed Monday to take part in a Federal Emergency Management Agency cleanup initiative that will allow contractors limited access to private property for debris removal. Operation Clean Sweep, which is a statewide effort, is a recently announced program targeting debris in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive destruction. FEMA determines the degree of destruction by using a combination of mapping and information from local, state and federal officials who have seen the damage first-hand. Clean Sweep is a separate debris removal operation than ongoing debris removal taking place on public rights of way across Walker County. Both projects are being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but officials said paperwork and guidelines for each are different. FEMA representative Keith Denning told members of the Walker County Commission at a work session Monday at the Walker County Courthouse that certain stipulations must be met for properties to qualify for Operation Clean Sweep. He said the debris must pose a negative economic impact or be a matter of public health or safety. "I would hope the county can work some properties that might be in a gray area into these," he said. Walker County Emergency Management Agency director Johnny Burnette said residents who suspect their property could fall under Operation Clean Sweep should contact his office at 205-384-7233. "We have people out assessing the damage in the county, and we will be contacting property owners that qualify, but if anyone has questions, they should call our office," Burnette said. Sipsey Mayor Anita Sanders said her town will also be a part of Operation Clean Sweep, but she was concerned all debris will not be removed by the June 12 deadline for 100 percent of the cost to be paid. "We've only got 21 days left to get everything cleaned up," she said. "I'm worried we might not have it all done by then, and I don't know how the town or our citizens would pay for it." Walker County Commission Chairman Bruce Hamrick said he felt the 30 days given for 100 percent reimbursement would be extended. "Everyone I've talked to seems to think that it will be extended at least another 30 days," he said. "I think we'll have most of our debris removed by the end of the first 30 days, but it would be helpful for some of the other areas if that was extended some." Hamrick asked that property owners respond to Operation Clean Sweep materials as quickly as possible. "If you get a call, we ask that you move forward as quickly as you can," he said. "We need to go ahead and get everything done just in case that deadline isn't extended."
cat_notes: -> Getting info from Fema is like pulling teeth. I have asked about 4-5 times now for a list of qualifying areas. lpar 6/9/11
clients_must_bring: Right of Entry Form -> Right of Entry Form, Identification, Proof of homeowners insurance, proof of property ownership

notes: * The City NEEDS PERMISSION TO ENTER YOUR PROPERTY to remove debris. * Right of Entry forms are available to speed-up your request. * Please complete the right of entry form and return it as soon as possible to clear remaining debrs. Pick up a Right of Entry form at: Birmingham City Hall 710 N. 20th St. Office of Public Information (3rd Floor) or One to One Office (1st Floor) Mount Moriah Christian Academy 306 Ave. U Pratt City Dept. of Public Works 501 6th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL Dept. of Public Works 1044 Ave. W. Ensley, AL Scott School 1517 Hibernian St. Pratt City, AL 35214 Faith Chapel 100 Lexington St. Birmingham, AL 35224 Contact Mr. Reginald Servant, Deputy Dir. of Public Works to answer questions about the form 205-254-6316. City of Cullman details: http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x655836258/Operation-Clean-Sweep May 27, 2011 Operation Clean Sweep Narrow window of time for property owners to enroll By Benjamin Bullard The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Fri May 27, 2011, 07:45 AM CDT With the FEMA-sponsored Operation Clean Sweep in effect for the City of Cullman and still pending for Cullman County, private property owners in need of debris removal have a narrow window of time to engage local government in beginning the cleanup process. The City of Cullman has been accepted to participate in Operation Clean Sweep for residential properties in designated areas within the municipality. While proceeding under the assumption that the county will also be included, Cullman County officials had not received an acceptance letter late Thursday. “We’ve been accepted and we’re told the task order is coming to get us started,” Townson said. “We already have 40 or 50 who have filled out forms and waiting for the operation to begin. You have to sign up to be eligible.” The Clean Sweep program allows debris to be removed from private property. Mayor Max Townson said anyone needing the service must register at City Hall with Jerry Freeman, executive assistant to the mayor. Freeman may be reached at 256-775-7134 or jfreeman @ cullmancity .org). Freeman has maps of the designated Clean Sweep areas, forms and all information pertaining to the program. Residents wanting to sign up should come see him and bring a copy of their deed — with legal description — as well as the declaration page of the homeowner’s insurance policy. A county map displaying the grid of designated cleanup areas — updated daily — is on display at the county’s two Clean Sweep offices — one at the county building at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and Golf Course Road in Cullman; the other at the West Side road department garage on County Road 222. At the Clean Sweep office the county commission opened Wednesday on U.S. Highway 31 South, staffers have been busy informing landowners what steps they must take, on a case-by-case basis, to complete all the paperwork required by FEMA and the State of Alabama necessary to ensure their property can be included in the debris clearing program. “We took at least 60 [Clean Sweep applications] the first day,” said office worker Lori Beckhart at the county Clean Sweep office Thursday. “We’ve probably gotten close to 100 since we opened up.” Associate county commissioner Stanley Yarbrough said Clean Sweep participants may be finding some of the FEMA-mandated bureaucratic hurdles confusing, but a visit to the Clean Sweep office can help clear up many of the questions homeowners have about whether and how they’re eligible for on-site debris removal. Opening a property management file at the Clean Sweep office — the responsibility of the landower — is key to ensuring contractors will show up to clear debris from private land. While the documentation requirements for each file are extensive, most can be added after work is already underway. A few pieces of information, however, must be submitted as soon as possible. The most important, according to FEMA debris task force leader Dave Brown, is the Right-of-Entry form, which permits contractors to work on private property and holds them and their employers harmless for any incidental damage done in the process of removing debris. In addition, noted Yarbrough, landowners how have property insurance must provide a copy of their homeowner’s policy as soon as they can obtain it from their insurer. Underground features such as septic tanks and off-grid utility lines should also be marked with orange paint; homeowners should also notify office staff whether they want swimming pools filled or left alone. From the beginning, FEMA officials have stressed that Operation Clean Sweep is intended to alleviate health and safety concerns on private property — that means contractors will, when authorized, remove debris from the yard area immediately surrounding a home — but it’s not intended to offer a wholesale cleanup of downed trees and vegetation debris on wooded acreage not in the near vicinity of a house or other building. “Even though we are going onto private property, there are still things on that property that are ineligible for removing debris,” said Brown Tuesday. “If you’ve got a home surrounded by a wooded area on a 10-acre lot, we don’t clean up fallen trees in the wooded areas. We will certainly clean up around the house, but we don’t clean up pastures; agricultural land — we clean up what’s reasonable to maintain health and safety. If you mow and maintain around your area, that is normally the guideline we follow.” In order for property owners to ensure contractors will clear debris from the land that directly surrounds their homes, their property must fall within a grid of approved areas that, by FEMA’s reckoning, sustained significant tornado damage. That means not all of Cullman County qualifies for the project. The grid, which is updated daily as property owners bring their damage to officials’ attention for consideration, consists of a network of 1-kilometer squares that trend from southwest Cullman County toward the northeast. The statewide Clean Sweep effort is operated as a separate project from the continuing removal of debris from public rights of way in both city and county. In Cullman County, the right-of-way cleanup is set to expire June 15, unless it is extended by state and federal authorities. Clean Sweep, on the other hand, will expire on June 12 unless funding for the operation is renewed beyond that date. Noting that Operation Clean Sweep could effectively be over almost as soon as it’s begun, county and city officials have pledged to implore the local legislative delegation to lobby Gov. Robert Bentley for an extension of the state’s funding contribution toward the Clean Sweep program. If that happens, tornado-affected areas statewide could receive an additional 30 days of debris removal on private land paid for entirely by FEMA and the State of Alabama. -> * The City NEEDS PERMISSION TO ENTER YOUR PROPERTY to remove debris. * Right of Entry forms are available to speed-up your request. * Please complete the right of entry form and return it as soon as possible to clear remaining debrs. Pick up a Right of Entry form at: Birmingham City Hall 710 N. 20th St. Office of Public Information (3rd Floor) or One to One Office (1st Floor) Mount Moriah Christian Academy 306 Ave. U Pratt City Dept. of Public Works 501 6th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL Dept. of Public Works 1044 Ave. W. Ensley, AL Scott School 1517 Hibernian St. Pratt City, AL 35214 Faith Chapel 100 Lexington St. Birmingham, AL 35224 Contact Mr. Reginald Servant, Deputy Dir. of Public Works to answer questions about the form 205-254-6316. City of Cullman details: http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x655836258/Operation-Clean-Sweep May 27, 2011 Operation Clean Sweep Narrow window of time for property owners to enroll By Benjamin Bullard The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Fri May 27, 2011, 07:45 AM CDT With the FEMA-sponsored Operation Clean Sweep in effect for the City of Cullman and still pending for Cullman County, private property owners in need of debris removal have a narrow window of time to engage local government in beginning the cleanup process. The City of Cullman has been accepted to participate in Operation Clean Sweep for residential properties in designated areas within the municipality. While proceeding under the assumption that the county will also be included, Cullman County officials had not received an acceptance letter late Thursday. “We’ve been accepted and we’re told the task order is coming to get us started,” Townson said. “We already have 40 or 50 who have filled out forms and waiting for the operation to begin. You have to sign up to be eligible.” The Clean Sweep program allows debris to be removed from private property. Mayor Max Townson said anyone needing the service must register at City Hall with Jerry Freeman, executive assistant to the mayor. Freeman may be reached at 256-775-7134 or jfreeman @ cullmancity .org). Freeman has maps of the designated Clean Sweep areas, forms and all information pertaining to the program. Residents wanting to sign up should come see him and bring a copy of their deed — with legal description — as well as the declaration page of the homeowner’s insurance policy. A county map displaying the grid of designated cleanup areas — updated daily — is on display at the county’s two Clean Sweep offices — one at the county building at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and Golf Course Road in Cullman; the other at the West Side road department garage on County Road 222. At the Clean Sweep office the county commission opened Wednesday on U.S. Highway 31 South, staffers have been busy informing landowners what steps they must take, on a case-by-case basis, to complete all the paperwork required by FEMA and the State of Alabama necessary to ensure their property can be included in the debris clearing program. “We took at least 60 [Clean Sweep applications] the first day,” said office worker Lori Beckhart at the county Clean Sweep office Thursday. “We’ve probably gotten close to 100 since we opened up.” Associate county commissioner Stanley Yarbrough said Clean Sweep participants may be finding some of the FEMA-mandated bureaucratic hurdles confusing, but a visit to the Clean Sweep office can help clear up many of the questions homeowners have about whether and how they’re eligible for on-site debris removal. Opening a property management file at the Clean Sweep office — the responsibility of the landower — is key to ensuring contractors will show up to clear debris from private land. While the documentation requirements for each file are extensive, most can be added after work is already underway. A few pieces of information, however, must be submitted as soon as possible. The most important, according to FEMA debris task force leader Dave Brown, is the Right-of-Entry form, which permits contractors to work on private property and holds them and their employers harmless for any incidental damage done in the process of removing debris. In addition, noted Yarbrough, landowners how have property insurance must provide a copy of their homeowner’s policy as soon as they can obtain it from their insurer. Underground features such as septic tanks and off-grid utility lines should also be marked with orange paint; homeowners should also notify office staff whether they want swimming pools filled or left alone. From the beginning, FEMA officials have stressed that Operation Clean Sweep is intended to alleviate health and safety concerns on private property — that means contractors will, when authorized, remove debris from the yard area immediately surrounding a home — but it’s not intended to offer a wholesale cleanup of downed trees and vegetation debris on wooded acreage not in the near vicinity of a house or other building. “Even though we are going onto private property, there are still things on that property that are ineligible for removing debris,” said Brown Tuesday. “If you’ve got a home surrounded by a wooded area on a 10-acre lot, we don’t clean up fallen trees in the wooded areas. We will certainly clean up around the house, but we don’t clean up pastures; agricultural land — we clean up what’s reasonable to maintain health and safety. If you mow and maintain around your area, that is normally the guideline we follow.” In order for property owners to ensure contractors will clear debris from the land that directly surrounds their homes, their property must fall within a grid of approved areas that, by FEMA’s reckoning, sustained significant tornado damage. That means not all of Cullman County qualifies for the project. The grid, which is updated daily as property owners bring their damage to officials’ attention for consideration, consists of a network of 1-kilometer squares that trend from southwest Cullman County toward the northeast. The statewide Clean Sweep effort is operated as a separate project from the continuing removal of debris from public rights of way in both city and county. In Cullman County, the right-of-way cleanup is set to expire June 15, unless it is extended by state and federal authorities. Clean Sweep, on the other hand, will expire on June 12 unless funding for the operation is renewed beyond that date. Noting that Operation Clean Sweep could effectively be over almost as soon as it’s begun, county and city officials have pledged to implore the local legislative delegation to lobby Gov. Robert Bentley for an extension of the state’s funding contribution toward the Clean Sweep program. If that happens, tornado-affected areas statewide could receive an additional 30 days of debris removal on private land paid for entirely by FEMA and the State of Alabama. County of Walker details: http://www.mountaineagle.com/view/full_story/13380266/article-FEMA-s-Operation-Clean-Sweep-set-to-commence?instance=main_article FEMA's Operation Clean Sweep set to commence by James Phillips Daily Mountain Eagle The Walker County Commission agreed Monday to take part in a Federal Emergency Management Agency cleanup initiative that will allow contractors limited access to private property for debris removal. Operation Clean Sweep, which is a statewide effort, is a recently announced program targeting debris in communities within or immediately adjacent to areas of catastrophic or extensive destruction. FEMA determines the degree of destruction by using a combination of mapping and information from local, state and federal officials who have seen the damage first-hand. Clean Sweep is a separate debris removal operation than ongoing debris removal taking place on public rights of way across Walker County. Both projects are being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but officials said paperwork and guidelines for each are different. FEMA representative Keith Denning told members of the Walker County Commission at a work session Monday at the Walker County Courthouse that certain stipulations must be met for properties to qualify for Operation Clean Sweep. He said the debris must pose a negative economic impact or be a matter of public health or safety. "I would hope the county can work some properties that might be in a gray area into these," he said. Walker County Emergency Management Agency director Johnny Burnette said residents who suspect their property could fall under Operation Clean Sweep should contact his office at 205-384-7233. "We have people out assessing the damage in the county, and we will be contacting property owners that qualify, but if anyone has questions, they should call our office," Burnette said. Sipsey Mayor Anita Sanders said her town will also be a part of Operation Clean Sweep, but she was concerned all debris will not be removed by the June 12 deadline for 100 percent of the cost to be paid. "We've only got 21 days left to get everything cleaned up," she said. "I'm worried we might not have it all done by then, and I don't know how the town or our citizens would pay for it." Walker County Commission Chairman Bruce Hamrick said he felt the 30 days given for 100 percent reimbursement would be extended. "Everyone I've talked to seems to think that it will be extended at least another 30 days," he said. "I think we'll have most of our debris removed by the end of the first 30 days, but it would be helpful for some of the other areas if that was extended some." Hamrick asked that property owners respond to Operation Clean Sweep materials as quickly as possible. "If you get a call, we ask that you move forward as quickly as you can," he said. "We need to go ahead and get everything done just in case that deadline isn't extended."

notes: * The City NEEDS PERMISSION TO ENTER YOUR PROPERTY to remove debris. * Right of Entry forms are available to speed-up your request. * Please complete the right of entry form and return it as soon as possible to clear remaining debrs. Pick up a Right of Entry form at: Birmingham City Hall 710 N. 20th St. Office of Public Information (3rd Floor) or One to One Office (1st Floor) Mount Moriah Christian Academy 306 Ave. U Pratt City Dept. of Public Works 501 6th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL Dept. of Public Works 1044 Ave. W. Ensley, AL Scott School 1517 Hibernian St. Pratt City, AL 35214 Faith Chapel 100 Lexington St. Birmingham, AL 35224 Contact Mr. Reginald Servant, Deputy Dir. of Public Works to answer questions about the form 205-254-6316. -> * The City NEEDS PERMISSION TO ENTER YOUR PROPERTY to remove debris. * Right of Entry forms are available to speed-up your request. * Please complete the right of entry form and return it as soon as possible to clear remaining debrs. Pick up a Right of Entry form at: Birmingham City Hall 710 N. 20th St. Office of Public Information (3rd Floor) or One to One Office (1st Floor) Mount Moriah Christian Academy 306 Ave. U Pratt City Dept. of Public Works 501 6th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL Dept. of Public Works 1044 Ave. W. Ensley, AL Scott School 1517 Hibernian St. Pratt City, AL 35214 Faith Chapel 100 Lexington St. Birmingham, AL 35224 Contact Mr. Reginald Servant, Deputy Dir. of Public Works to answer questions about the form 205-254-6316. City of Cullman details: http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x655836258/Operation-Clean-Sweep May 27, 2011 Operation Clean Sweep Narrow window of time for property owners to enroll By Benjamin Bullard The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Fri May 27, 2011, 07:45 AM CDT With the FEMA-sponsored Operation Clean Sweep in effect for the City of Cullman and still pending for Cullman County, private property owners in need of debris removal have a narrow window of time to engage local government in beginning the cleanup process. The City of Cullman has been accepted to participate in Operation Clean Sweep for residential properties in designated areas within the municipality. While proceeding under the assumption that the county will also be included, Cullman County officials had not received an acceptance letter late Thursday. “We’ve been accepted and we’re told the task order is coming to get us started,” Townson said. “We already have 40 or 50 who have filled out forms and waiting for the operation to begin. You have to sign up to be eligible.” The Clean Sweep program allows debris to be removed from private property. Mayor Max Townson said anyone needing the service must register at City Hall with Jerry Freeman, executive assistant to the mayor. Freeman may be reached at 256-775-7134 or jfreeman @ cullmancity .org). Freeman has maps of the designated Clean Sweep areas, forms and all information pertaining to the program. Residents wanting to sign up should come see him and bring a copy of their deed — with legal description — as well as the declaration page of the homeowner’s insurance policy. A county map displaying the grid of designated cleanup areas — updated daily — is on display at the county’s two Clean Sweep offices — one at the county building at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and Golf Course Road in Cullman; the other at the West Side road department garage on County Road 222. At the Clean Sweep office the county commission opened Wednesday on U.S. Highway 31 South, staffers have been busy informing landowners what steps they must take, on a case-by-case basis, to complete all the paperwork required by FEMA and the State of Alabama necessary to ensure their property can be included in the debris clearing program. “We took at least 60 [Clean Sweep applications] the first day,” said office worker Lori Beckhart at the county Clean Sweep office Thursday. “We’ve probably gotten close to 100 since we opened up.” Associate county commissioner Stanley Yarbrough said Clean Sweep participants may be finding some of the FEMA-mandated bureaucratic hurdles confusing, but a visit to the Clean Sweep office can help clear up many of the questions homeowners have about whether and how they’re eligible for on-site debris removal. Opening a property management file at the Clean Sweep office — the responsibility of the landower — is key to ensuring contractors will show up to clear debris from private land. While the documentation requirements for each file are extensive, most can be added after work is already underway. A few pieces of information, however, must be submitted as soon as possible. The most important, according to FEMA debris task force leader Dave Brown, is the Right-of-Entry form, which permits contractors to work on private property and holds them and their employers harmless for any incidental damage done in the process of removing debris. In addition, noted Yarbrough, landowners how have property insurance must provide a copy of their homeowner’s policy as soon as they can obtain it from their insurer. Underground features such as septic tanks and off-grid utility lines should also be marked with orange paint; homeowners should also notify office staff whether they want swimming pools filled or left alone. From the beginning, FEMA officials have stressed that Operation Clean Sweep is intended to alleviate health and safety concerns on private property — that means contractors will, when authorized, remove debris from the yard area immediately surrounding a home — but it’s not intended to offer a wholesale cleanup of downed trees and vegetation debris on wooded acreage not in the near vicinity of a house or other building. “Even though we are going onto private property, there are still things on that property that are ineligible for removing debris,” said Brown Tuesday. “If you’ve got a home surrounded by a wooded area on a 10-acre lot, we don’t clean up fallen trees in the wooded areas. We will certainly clean up around the house, but we don’t clean up pastures; agricultural land — we clean up what’s reasonable to maintain health and safety. If you mow and maintain around your area, that is normally the guideline we follow.” In order for property owners to ensure contractors will clear debris from the land that directly surrounds their homes, their property must fall within a grid of approved areas that, by FEMA’s reckoning, sustained significant tornado damage. That means not all of Cullman County qualifies for the project. The grid, which is updated daily as property owners bring their damage to officials’ attention for consideration, consists of a network of 1-kilometer squares that trend from southwest Cullman County toward the northeast. The statewide Clean Sweep effort is operated as a separate project from the continuing removal of debris from public rights of way in both city and county. In Cullman County, the right-of-way cleanup is set to expire June 15, unless it is extended by state and federal authorities. Clean Sweep, on the other hand, will expire on June 12 unless funding for the operation is renewed beyond that date. Noting that Operation Clean Sweep could effectively be over almost as soon as it’s begun, county and city officials have pledged to implore the local legislative delegation to lobby Gov. Robert Bentley for an extension of the state’s funding contribution toward the Clean Sweep program. If that happens, tornado-affected areas statewide could receive an additional 30 days of debris removal on private land paid for entirely by FEMA and the State of Alabama.

clients_must_bring: -> Right of Entry Form