Abstract

Key Investment Pays Worthwhile Dividends
Track: Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Author(s): Kimberly Roden

In 2004, Martin County, FL endured one of the most devastating hurricane seasons in recorded history. Two major hurricanes made landfall within a three week period, destroying homes, businesses and public infrastructure. Long-term recovery projects took time as individuals, businesses, state and local governments assess damages and losses. The most expensive and time-consuming project in this effort was debris removal. Martin County was required to demonstrate legal authority and legal responsibility in the removal of over 1,000,000 cy of debris from system and non-system roadways within the County. The confidence of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials was obtained early in the recovery process due to the use of advance technology: The County's asset management system and geographic information system (GIS). The use of these tools provided the reporting documents necessary in the reimbursement of $22.6 million.

Kimberly Roden
Martin County, Florida
2401 SE Monterey Road
Stuart , Florida 34996
United States
Phone: 7722601904
Fax: 7722885955
E-mail: kroden@martin.fl.us