Cleaning Up Debris Left by Earthquakes and Wildfires
According to the Haitian government, the 7.3-magnitude 2010 Haiti earthquake on the Richter scale caused an estimated 220,000 deaths, displaced 1.3 million people, and damaged or destroyed over 300,000 homes in total. The earthquake epicenter was approximately 17 kilometers (about 10 miles) southwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The city’s metropolitan zone, including Carrefour, Pétion-Ville, Delmas, Tabarre, Cite Soleil, and Kenscoff, suffered severe damage.
Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world while being poorest in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the dire socioeconomic conditions in the country exacerbated the destructive impacts of the earthquake. There was no earthquake preparedness, no seismic network, an outdated seismic hazard map, and a rarely enforced building code.
The earthquake destroyed an estimated 60% to 80% of the administrative and economic infrastructure, generating 19 million cubic meters (670 million cubic feet) of rubble and debris in Port-au-Prince—and 40 million cubic meters (1.4 billion cubic feet) in total. This added to existing pollution, nuisances, risks, and other difficulties, placing Haitians in conditions of extreme vulnerability.
The debris was mixed with hazardous and polluting materials, such as fuel, ammonia, pesticides, lead, heavy metals, medical waste, asbestos and decomposing human remains beneath the rubble. Damage to and disruption of drainage systems caused disease outbreak, soil contamination, and pollution of nearby water resources—both surface and sub-surface—just as the rainy season was approaching.
Efforts to clear the debris by the Haiti joint UN Debris Management Projects utilized 90% of the Haitian labor force. It created 36,000 temporary jobs within small businesses and new strategic partnerships with government, NGOs, and the private sector. About 1 million cubic meters (35 million cubic feet) of debris was removed. The USAID helped remove more than 2.7 million cubic meters (95 million cubic feet) of rubble from the earthquake as well.
The rubble from the earthquake was initially brought to a sorting center, where reusable material, such as concrete blocks, was separated from other debris. The concrete blocks were crushed by heavy machinery, turning it into material that could be used for road construction and the foundations of new homes.
The 2023 Maui Wildfire
According to the Pacific Disaster Center, the 2023 Maui wildfire burned 2,100 acres and destroyed or damaged 2,142 buildings, leaving a substantial quantity of debris behind it. It also incinerated around 4,000 cars and burned up between 450 hectares (1,112 acres) and 878 hectares (2,170 acres) of grassland around the town of Lahaina. This left behind pollutants from a variety of sources, including debris from burnt boats and cars, commercial buildings, and homes.
Fire-ravaged soils continue to present pollutant threats to water courses, and topsoil has potential profound negative effects on the food chain. An example is the carcinogenic pollutant benzo[a]pyrene, a product of the incomplete combustion of organic material. Another is Pentachlorophenol (PCP), a toxic fungicide and wood preservative. During the Maui wildfire, both contaminants were distributed across a zone extending some 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from Lahaina, presenting a significant threat to marine life, including within nearby nature reserves and with severe effects on Hawaiian subsistence fisheries.
As of December 9, 2024, debris removal [from the Maui wildfire] is completed for all 1,390 residential properties. For commercial and public properties, 129 lots, or 87%, are cleared.
Currently, the removal of debris is being coordinated by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), with federal, state, and local partners. As of December 9, 2024, debris removal is completed for all 1,390 residential properties. For commercial and public properties, 129 lots, or 87%, are cleared.
A site adjacent to the Central Maui Landfill was chosen as the Permanent Disposal Site. The Maui County Council has agreed to purchase the land from a Honolulu-based construction company for $4 million. However, a temporary disposal site at Olowalu is already causing controversy, and a potential legal case, as it could take between six months to a year before the new permanent site is ready to receive the material. The wildfire debris is estimated to be enough to cover five football fields five stories high, and much of it is contaminated with lead and arsenic.
Preparation at Home for Disasters
The impact of a land-based natural disaster does not end with its initial occurrence. The debris resulting from an earthquake, wildfire, hurricane, or tornado can continue to impose negative impacts on the local environment and communities for some time afterwards if not properly dealt with.
In addition to disrupting relief and recovery efforts, debris can also be a source of environmental pollutants and substances injurious to human health. It can stretch everyday waste management systems to the maximum, even overloading them. So, what can one do in the wake of land-based natural disasters?
The American Red Cross’s recommendations include preparing a Go-Kit, Stay-at-Home Kit, and Bed-Kit beforehand for survival.
Preparing for an earthquake is almost unthinkable but having emergency supplies on hand can go a long way in dealing with the aftermath. The American Red Cross’s recommendations include preparing a Go-Kit (3 days of supplies), Stay-at-Home Kit (2 weeks of supplies), and Bed-Kit (items for an earthquake that occurs during one’s sleep) for survival.
Once an earthquake subsides, one should check any damages to the gas, water, electrical, and sewage systems of one’s home before entering. If there is damage, the utility should be turned off. Using matches or lighters near stoves and barbeques should be avoided in case of gas leaks.
In the case of wildfires, the federal government’s recommendations include avoiding fire-damaged structures until confirmed safe by an engineer or architect, wearing personal protective equipment to reduce risk of exposure to hazardous materials and smoke, and avoiding the operation of heavy machinery unless one has the proper training to do so.
Public Strategies to Handle Debris
The sheer volume of debris and destruction following a major natural disaster can confound even seasoned state and local officials and managers. Recovery efforts are increasingly using technology to help with such massive logistics.
Modeling can be used to determine the overall cheapest method of dealing with debris, including parameters such as landfills, sorting facilities, and environmental constraints. For example, some research organizations are using Stochastic Mixed Integer Linear Programming (SMILP) models. This technique anticipates uncertainty while optimizing debris management for “end-of-life” buildings or those that are too damaged to salvage.
Other technological methods, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing, can aid the rapid assessment and mapping of debris. This allows experts to prioritize areas that are hit the worst by large amounts of debris and enable recovery teams to develop operational strategies and effective resource allocation.
The gathering of accurate data also helps to estimate the volume and types of debris and formulate proper methods of disposal and recycling.
*Robin Whitlock is an England-based freelance journalist specializing in environmental issues, climate change, and renewable energy, with a variety of other professional interests, including green transportation.
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