The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Through the state, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimburses local governments for eligible costs of debris removal. Local governments report their debris removal estimates to FEMA prior to submitting requests for reimbursement. As of close of business Nov. 12, nearly 18 million cubic yards of debris (73 percent) has been collected of the estimated 24.4 million cubic yards estimated to be generated from Hurricane Ike.

Eighteen million cubic yards of debris is equal to: 4 Empire State Buildings stacked 1.05 miles high 135 two-story chain department stores stacked 1.28 miles high 1 football field filled with debris 1.92 miles high

OTHER FACTS 53,353 Orphan drums* removed throughout the disaster area 1,355 Animal carcasses removed in southeast Texas 280 Abandoned boats found or removed in southeast Texas 8.6 million Cubic yards of debris removed in Harris County 2.1 million Cubic yards of debris removed in Galveston County 1.2 million Cubic yards of debris removed in Jefferson County 1 million Cubic yards of debris removed in Brazoria County

* Orphan drums are displaced containers that may contain hazardous substances such as industrial chemicals.

Other disaster information is available on the FEMA Web site at http://www.fema.gov or http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.