Harlan Kirgan
Hurricane debris in St. Landry Parish and particularly in Eunice continues to present a cleanup challenge.
Richard LeBouef, executive director of the St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Commission, estimated about 40% of the hurricane debris remains in the parish.
During a Parish Council Public Works Committee meeting on Wednesday, LeBouef said debris removal since Oct. 19 has cost $375,400.
The cost of the parish cleanup as well as that done by municipalities looks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for financial assistance.
“Early on we said it wasn’t going to a sprint. It is a marathon,” LeBouef said. “I thank everyone’s indulgence when you see the resources we are dealing with and the amount of monetary outlay. Thank you for everybody’s patience.”
LeBouef didn’t mention the COVID-19 pandemic, but in the past has said the problems caused by the virus has slowed the removal of debris.
Council member Wayne Ardoin said parish government has only seven or eight people in its public works department.
“Richard is doing a fantastic job,” he said.
People are still cleaning up and placing debris on the side road, which causes crews to backtrack in the debris removal, Ardoin said.
Hurricane Laura struck Louisiana on Aug. 29 in mainly affected western St. Landry Parish, particularly Eunice.
Hurricane Delta was next and struck Oct. 9.
Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot on Thursday said about 95% of the vegetation debris from Delta remains in the city.
The state Department of Transportation and Development announced Friday that hurricane debris removal along state right-of-way in St. Landry and Vermilion parishes is now complete.
Initial debris removal began on Sept. 2, 2020, for St. Landry Parish, and on Aug. 31, 2020, for Vermilion Parish, after impacts from Hurricane Laura, with debris removal continuing following impacts from Hurricane Delta.
With a completion date of Jan. 31, a total of 37,611 cubic yards of hurricane debris was removed from St. Landry Parish, the department stated in a news release.
Additionally, a total of 137,490 cubic yards of hurricane debris was removed in Vermilion Parish after its completion on Jan. 27.
The news release continued:
Debris removal services are still ongoing throughout the Acadiana region, which includes Acadia, Lafayette, and St. Martin parishes.
To date, contractors have removed a total of 295,826 cubic yards of debris in Acadiana.
Approximately 3 million cubic yards of hurricane debris has been removed statewide.
DOTD would like to remind citizens of the following important tips for assisting the debris removal process.
State contractors are only able to remove debris from state right-of-way.
Dark colored bagged debris will not be removed.
Please do not put debris on power lines, fire hydrants, utility stub outs or anything that would hinder the claw that grabs the debris.
Citizens may check http://www.511la.org for the latest statistical information, debris routes where there has been a pass, and where planned debris pickup is scheduled.