GMC Disaster Recovery Brochure

Disaster Recovery

Rebuilding Communities Nothing can truly prepare you for a natural disaster.

But you can gain peace of mind through planning and knowing recovery is possible when disaster strikes. GMC’s disaster recovery division works to aid communities before, during and after a natural disaster through debris management planning, debris monitoring, cost recovery and mitigation services.

Menu of Services Debris Removal Monitoring • De bris hauling vehicle certification • Right-of-way debris collection • De bris management site tower operations • Le aning tree, hanging limb, and hazardous stump removal • Private property debris removal • Ri ght-of-entry administration • Waterways debris removal • Data management • Document management • H azardous material removal • Vessel and vehicle recovery • Asbestos abatement • M ulti-jurisdictional coordination/scheduling • Damage claim resolution • Di saster recovery monitoring with ADMS • GIS reporting • Progress reporting • C ost recovery/grant applications • C ontractor invoice reconciliation and payment recommendation

Disaster Preparedness & Planning • D isaster Debris Management Plans • Id entification of Debris Management Sites • FEMA Public Assistance training • Procurement assistance • Public information support

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance • Letter of intent development • Application development • Benefit cost analysis • Project monitoring • Feasibility studies • Program reporting • Budget and schedule preparation • Mitigation plan development • Engineering design and evaluation • Closeout and audit assistance

Cost Recovery • P reliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) • Damage site surveys • Cost estimating • C ollection and compilation of PDAs • S mall/large project formulation and scoping • A pplicant scoping meeting facilitation • S ection 406 alternate/improved project formulation and consultation • D ebris staging site consultation • P roject Worksheet development • Procurement assistance • GIS mapping support • E xpenditure review/approval and reconciliation • D irect Administrative Cost support • Appeals support • Closeout and audit assistance

Left: An outreach and recovery meeting after an EF5 tornado struck Hackleburg, Alabama on April 27, 2011 (Photo: FEMA/Christopher Mardorf)

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GMC’s knowledge and expertise have been key drivers of the recovery process, however, it is the sincerity with which they have delivered these services that truly sets them apart. The commitment they have shown to the City of St. Marys is the same one would expect from someone working to rebuild their own community.

- John F. Marrissey | Mayor of the City of St. Marys, Georgia

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Tornadoes Ravage Albany, Georgia On Jan. 2, severe storms, tornadoes and straight-line winds swept through Georgia, causing massive damage throughout Albany and Dougherty County. Less than three weeks later, the area was devastated by an EF3 tornado that ripped a 71-mile path through five Georgia counties. Ninety to 100 percent of trees in the tornado’s path were uprooted or snapped, not to mention the countless homes and buildings that were damaged or destroyed. Per the request of Gov. Nathan Deal, the president declared major disasters in the State of Georgia as a result of the two storm events, authorizing federal agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance to the impacted areas. In February, the City of Albany and Dougherty County retained GMC to assist with recovery efforts to ensure compliance with FEMA guidelines, as well as applicable federal, state and local regulations. Through GMC’s cost recovery efforts, the City of Albany will be eligible for an estimated $20 million in federal assistance.

Rebuilding Hackleburg, Alabama Prior to April 27, 2011, there were some 30 businesses operating in the small northwest Alabama town of Hackleburg. At the end of that fateful day, only two remained – the result of a catastrophic EF5 tornado that also took 18 lives and obliterated a third of the town’s 600 homes. An estimated 60-plus tornadoes were sighted across north Alabama that day, but it was the “Hackleburg Tornado” that wreaked the most havoc and destroyed those things vital to a small town, including the only doctor’s office and pharmacy, three of five churches, police department, and elementary and high schools. The fire department and city hall were also severely damaged. GMC was instrumental in obtaining a $5 million grant – with no required local match – to construct a new sanitary sewer collection and treatment system; securing $1 million for street resurfacing and repair; and helping the town acquire about $8 million in additional grant funding. The GMC team also designed the rebuilds of the city’s fire station, city hall, senior center and several auxiliary buildings. Many people have returned to the Town and the community is thriving once again.

Photo by FEMA/Christopher Mardorf

Irma Strikes St. Marys, Georgia After causing catastrophic damage throughout the Caribbean and Florida, Hurricane Irma swept through parts of Georgia, including the coastal city of St. Marys. The storm ravaged the city’s waterfront, damaging and destroying docks, tossing boats onto the shore, sinking several others and inundating downtown with approximately 16 feet of water. City leaders wasted no time, immediately initiating cleanup and recovery efforts. GMC was retained by the City to assist with disaster recovery alongside FEMA, the Department of Natural Resources, National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Because of St. Marys’ coastal geography, debris removal presented unique challenges. Specific regulations had to be followed to remove sunken and damaged boats from the waterways and marsh. GMC’s Environmental team helped navigate the permitting and approval processes through the Coast Guard and Corps of Engineers to ensure vessels were removed properly and to obtain permits necessary for recovery work.

GMC is a collaborative organization driven by a desire to build better, happier, healthier, thriving communities. We work closely with FEMA and other agencies to promote a culture of preparedness in the communities we serve.

“Recovering from a large disaster is an immensely complex process. Effective oversight of this process is critical to achieving a successful end result. Our approach is to serve the community as a member of the disaster recovery team by bringing our extensive knowledge and understanding of the recovery process.

Our goal is to work with the community to help bring them back to a sense of normalcy as quickly as possible. As the community comes together, we are able to restore more than just infrastructure; we are able to restore hope and rebuild in a way that makes them more resilient than ever before.”

FEMA CERTIFICATIONS IS-00801 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #1 Transportation IS-00802 E mergency Support Function (ESF) #2 Communications IS-00803 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #3 Public Works Engineering IS-00804 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #4 Firefighting IS-00806 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #6 Mass Care, Emerg. Assistance, Housing, Human Service IS-00808 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #8 Public Health and Medical Services IS-0200.b I CS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incident IS-00027 Orientations to FEMA Logistics IS–00029 Public Information Office Awareness IS–00230.d Fundamentals of Emergency Management IS–00100.b Introductions to Incident Command Systems IS–00634 Introduction to FEMA’s Public Assistance Program IS–00393.b Introduction to Hazard Mitigation IS–00632.a Introduction to Debris Operations IS-00027 Orientation to FEMA Logistics IS-00100. pwb Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS 100) for Public Works IS-00015.b Special Events Contingency Planning IS-00810 Emergency Support Functions (ESF) #10 - Oil and Hazardous Materials Response Annex IS-00811 Emergency Support Functions (ESF) #11 - Agriculture and Natural Resources Annex IS-00812 Emergency Support Function (ESF) # 12 – Energy IS-00813 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #13 Public Safety and Security IS-00120.a An Introduction to Exercises IS-00244.b Developing and Managing Volunteers IS-00706 NIMS Intrastate Mutual Aid an Introduction IS-00700.a National Incident Management System (NIMS)

Robert Ramsey Vice President, Disaster Recovery

EDUCATION Governmental Management, University of Georgia | 2000

CAREER SUMMARY Robert Ramsey has more than 19 years of municipal service as a project principal and has served as a GMC office leader for the last six years, managing engineering, disaster recovery services and quality control.

He now leads GMC’s disaster recovery division, working to aid communities before, during and after disasters through debris management, cost recovery and mitigation services. Robert’s ability to maintain open lines of communication with clients and staff, as well as coordinate with the numerous agencies and stakeholder groups involved in the disaster recovery process, has been a key factor to the successful rebuilding of several communities throughout the Southeast. He ensures adequate firm resources are available to achieve the client’s goals and FEMA project objectives, while using his vast experience and network to resolve permitting, funding and approval issues that may arise. He sees to it that the requirements of all funding sources are met, as well as those of the regulatory agencies, to help provide clients with the most effective services to meet their needs.

Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) is one of the region’s largest privately-held architecture and engineering firms, with more than 450+ employees located in offices throughout the Southeast and projects spanning nationwide.

OFFICE LOCATIONS Alabama Andalusia Auburn Birmingham Daphne Eufaula Huntsville Mobile Montgomery Vernon Florida Pensacola Sarasota Tampa

Georgia Atlanta Augusta Brunswick Savannah Louisiana New Orleans North Carolina Charlotte South Carolina Columbia Greenville Charleston Tennessee Franklin Nashville

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