While police, fire and EMS are often the three most recognized first responders, waste services are also often silently on scene during disasters to offer assistance in the most dire of circumstances. They provide vital support to emergency response partner services following an emergency. Considering the large-scale damage and destruction that can occur, and all that is needed to assist in recovery efforts and rebuilding, trusted waste management resources are an essential piece of the puzzle to assist in recovery efforts.
Pre-disaster planning is essential and many of our fellow waste companies are instrumental in having 
equipment on the scene in-order-to react swiftly in the wake of a hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake, major snow event or other disaster. Forklifts, excavators, dumpsters, flatbeds and the like need to be gassed up and safely nearby to be ready to manage disaster-related waste that is generated. Planning can expedite the removal of waste during and after an incident, which can reduce dangers of fire, personal injury and disease and identify waste management opportunities and strategies. The waste industry plays a large role in disaster response despite being the unsung heroes in most cases.
It’s also important for homeowners and business owners to do what they can to mitigate damage and speed up restoration. This can be by:
- Taking videos and photos of belongings.
- Backing up essential documents in cloud storage so it’s kept off-site.
- Moving high value items to waterproof storage areas, safe deposit boxes or higher ground when a disaster is forecast.
- Doing what is necessary to manage potential hazardous waste.
- Informing employees of disaster procedures.
When disaster strikes, it’s important to be prepared. Trash removal services can assist by boosting the community’s resiliency, resulting in a quicker and less costly recovery to its pre-incident state.
