Frequently Asked Questions

It “kicks off” our relationship and commitment to you. After a contract is awarded, an Omni Construction specialist meets on location with your representatives to develop a pre-event plan. We establish emergency contacts and an emergency meeting location, and identify suitable debris management sites, staging areas, hospitals, emergency offices, points of interest and the roadways to be pushed first.

Our services cover the full range of debris that disasters produce, including vegetative debris, soils and sediments, construction and demolition materials, white goods, vehicles and household hazardous waste.

Household hazardous waste.

Segregation is the process of separating debris by type so each stream is hauled to the appropriate disposal site.

Construction and demolition materials.

The Push is the process of restoring travel on roadways by cutting and pushing debris out of the travel lanes. The priority roads are defined during the kick-off meeting.

A Temporary Debris Storage and Reduction (TDSR) site, also called a Debris Management Site (DMS), is a pre-selected location to temporarily store, reduce, segregate and/or process debris before it is hauled to its final destination.

Personal protective equipment.

Either the municipality or Omni Construction establishes these sites. If you need help with this process, please contact one of our specialists.

Right of entry and private property debris removal.

Automated debris management system: electronic tracking of loads and tickets. See FEMA documentation.

Staging means positioning equipment close enough to the impact area for rapid response, but far enough away to avoid damage from the event.

Under an active contract, equipment can be staged near the impact area before a forecast event such as a hurricane, and Omni Construction specialists establish contact with local representatives before impact.

Omni Construction arranges agreements with fuel vendors to be on site when a contract is activated.

Yes. Omni Construction arranges vendors to supply the necessary PPE on site when a contract is activated.

Local governments and other eligible applicants should contact their state emergency management officials about submitting a Request for Public Assistance. Once FEMA receives the request from the state, FEMA staff are assigned to work with each applicant.

Yes. FEMA has debris specialists who can be mobilized to a declared disaster to help applicants with debris management. Contact your state or tribal emergency management office for assistance.

Generally, yes. FEMA requires applicants to monitor contracted debris removal, and reasonable costs for field supervision, monitoring at loading and disposal sites, compiling load tickets and monitor reports, and training monitors can be eligible, whether the applicant uses its own staff, temporary hires or a monitoring contractor. FEMA notes that professional engineers are not needed for monitoring. A monitoring contractor should not be employed by or affiliated with the debris removal contractor.

Only for a limited time. Under 2 CFR 200.318(j) and PAPPG Version 5.0, T&M is allowed only when no other contract type is suitable, the contract has a ceiling price that the contractor exceeds at its own risk, and the applicant keeps a high degree of oversight. FEMA generally limits T&M to a reasonable period, until a scope of work can be defined, and then expects a move to a competitively procured unit-price or lump-sum contract. Older FEMA guidance referred to the first 70 hours; current guidance sets no fixed number of hours. Only active work hours are eligible; standby time is not.

Generally no. However, when the local government authorizes residents to move disaster debris from residential property to the public right-of-way, removing it is eligible for a limited period. Commercial debris placed on the right-of-way is not eligible. In limited circumstances FEMA may find private property debris removal (PPDR) eligible in designated areas, with rights-of-entry and other documentation.

No. FEMA does not approve contracts or contract rates, but it can provide technical assistance on proper procurement. We recommend sharing a copy of your contract with your state emergency management office and FEMA before you execute it.

No. Removing materials from the construction, repair or renovation of private homes or businesses is not eligible. That debris is the property owner’s responsibility.

No. FEMA and USACE do not endorse, approve or certify contractors. Agencies select contractors through their own procurement under 2 CFR 200, and FEMA decides eligibility and reimbursement for each applicant.