The National Demolition Association provides tools to local communities to prepare for a natural or man-made disaster and provides member companies resources to improve their availability to provide support during a disaster.
Demolition contractors were involved with the disaster response teams of 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing and the 1994 California earthquakes and many demolition contractors' staffs include HAZWOPER trained labor forces who are experienced working with unstable structures and disposing of hazardous materials. Qualified demolition contractors with experience moving large amounts of debris and removing structures of all types provide invaluable support during a disaster response. NDA produced a video for local Firce Chiefs in the 2000's to educate on the many resources demolition contractors can provide in disaster relief. For a copy of the video, email info@demolitionassociation.com.
DISASTER RESPONSE RESOURCES FOR CONTRACTORS
Disaster Response Registry
When national emergencies or disasters such as floods and hurricanes occur, supplies and services need to be procured and rushed to the affected area quickly. To expedite this process, the System for Award Management (SAM) contains a Disaster Response Registry in accordance with FAR Subpart 4.11 and FAR Subpart 26.2 listing those contractors who are willing to provide debris removal, distribution of supplies, reconstruction, and other disaster or emergency relief supplies and/ or services.
Your company must be fully registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov for federal contracts and other procurement opportunities in accordance with FAR Subpart 4.11 System for Award Management, to be included in the Disaster Response Registry. On average, it takes 2-3 days to properly register and have your registration become active in SAM. It may take longer.
Click here for information on how to register
Emergency Preparedness and Response pages provide information to protect workers responding to hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods, and other natural disasters. Resources located on the OSHA webpage here.
The Natural Disaster Compliance Assistance Toolkit contains (English/Spanish):
- Employment & Wages Under Federal Law During Natural Disasters & Recovery
- Contract Impossibility
- Employment Relationship under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Get the Facts on Misclassification Under the FLSA
- Recordkeeping Requirements under the FLSA
- Hours Worked under the FLSA
- Overtime Pay Requirements of the FLSA
- Child Labor Provisions of the FLSA for Nonagricultural Occupations
- Hotel and Motel Establishments Under the FLSA
- Day Laborers Under the FLSA
- Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA)
- Fact Sheet #67 – McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA)
- Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Furloughs and Other Reductions in Pay and Hours Worked Issues
Hazard Exposure and Risk Assessment Matrix, OSHA provides information on many of the most common and significant additional hazards that response and recovery workers might encounter when working in an area recently devastated by a hurricane. The Matrix includes general recommendations as well as best practices for specific tasks and operations being conducted in a hurricane response and recovery zone. Resources incudling Employer/Worker Responsibilities, General Recommendations, Sampling and Monitoring Summary and List of Activity Sheets are located on the OSHA webpage here.
DISASTER RESPONSE RESOURCES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
The NDA has developed several resources to help local and state firefighters, police and disaster response teams partner with demolition contractors to improve their response capabilities. The NDA provides resources to the first responder community to help them recognize the characteristics and capabilities of a qualified demolition contractor and connects them with trained and experienced contractors before a disaster strikes.
The NDA White Paper - "How Demolition Contractors Can Strengthen First Response Team Efforts" describes the invaluable skillset that a demolition contractor brings to the disaster response team.
The "Demolition Contractor Skilled Support Personnel Pre-Qualification Checklist" can be utilized to pre-qualify contractors as a skilled support provider prior to a disaster, large or small.
To receive a hardcopy of these materials or to schedule a speaker for your Disaster Response Team, contact the National Demolition Association at info@demolitionassociation.com or 202-367-1152.
DEMOLITION AND DISASTER RESPONSE ACADEMIC RESEARCH
Opportunities from Disaster: The Case Using the Circular Economy in Debris Management - Courtesy of Purdue University, April 22, 2021
One of the primary goals of the research was to assess the demolition community’s attitudes and willingness to adopt more sustainable practices in their debris cleanup operations. This is especially pertinent since emergency managers seek out demolition and cleanup specialists to clear out debris after a disaster. Purdue Polytechnic Institute’s researcher analyzed this community’s responses using what is known as a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) strategic planning tool to see where the industry can improve its sustainability in debris management to help bolster a community’s or region’s resiliency.
First Responder/Private Industry Collaboration to Advance Disaster Response - Courtesy of Purdue University, May 22, 2014
This paper provides a description of some of the resources and skills possessed by private demolition and disaster response companies that could be made available for widespread disaster response. If properly coordinated prior to a major disaster, these private organizations could be called upon to collaborate with first responders. Coordination challenges that commonly prevent first responder/private industry collaboration after widespread disasters are presented along with several examples of successful partnerships
Catastrophic Response and Disaster Recovery: An Industry Panel on Best Practices - Courtesy of Purdue University, recorded May 21, 2014
Representatives from the Restoration, Demolition and Volunteer Assistance industries will provide valuable insights to best practices and offer solutions on how industry can collaborate with academia, government, the social sector and community based organizations to better serve the victims affected by a disaster.
IN THE NEWS
Clearing the toxic remnants of burned buildings around Los Angeles will require a complex and expensive mobilization. California has been there before - January 11, 2025
Clearing the toxic remnants of burned buildings around Los Angeles will require a complex and expensive mobilization
Woman rescued uninjured 24 hours after Iowa building's partial collapse - May 30, 2023
After a 52-year-old woman was pulled unscathed Monday evening from a partially collapsed Davenport, Iowa, apartment building, the city's mayor said a previously announced plan to quickly tear down the structure was "under evaluation."
Work Begins to Assess Damage Caused by Hurricane Ian: Efforts are underway to restore power and clear roads, especially in Southwest Florida - September 29, 2022
Crews are restoring power and clearing roads in the wake of Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in southwest Florida on Sept. 28, causing extensive damage in Fort Myers and leaving the Sanibel Causeway to Sanibel Island impassable.
Preparing for Disaster Response: Team Rubicon Training Event Builds Volunteer Depth with Support from CASE Power & Equipment of Florida and CASE Construction Equipment - May 3, 2022
In preparation for continued tornado, hurricane, and disaster response, CASE Power & Equipment of Florida and CASE Construction Equipment each provided equipment and attachments to veteran-led disaster response organization, Team Rubicon’s latest Disaster Training Camp, held at the Camp Shands Boy Scouts Camp in Hawthorne, Florida
EPA keeps landfill diversion in mind for disaster cleanup - March 14, 2022
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a report highlighting what it calls “the importance of resiliency and effective planning for management of debris from natural disasters.”
Demolition to start in Grand Forks’ North Ruckle in new year, says flood manager - December 7, 2021
Demolition along the North Ruckle dike alignment is slated to begin within the next six weeks, according to Graham Watt, City Hall’s Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Flood Recovery.
Flooding could shut down a quarter of all critical infrastructure in the U.S. - October 18, 2021
About 25%, or 1 in 4 units of critical infrastructure, such as police stations, airports and hospitals, are at risk of being rendered inoperable due to flooding, a comprehensive new report finds. The report points to climate change for heightening risks.
Miami Condo Demolished, Allowing Search for Survivors to Resume - July 4, 2021
In implosions — using explosives to have a building fall in on itself — the charges are generally set off in rapid succession over a matter of seconds, said Scott Homrich, who heads the National Demolition Association and runs his own demolition company in Detroit, Michigan.
Demolition widens search at condo site, but storms threaten - July 5, 2021
Rescuers searched through fresh rubble Monday after the last of the collapsed Florida condo building was demolished, which allowed crews into previously inaccessible places, including bedrooms where people were believed to be sleeping at the time of the disaster, officials said.
Explosives set off to bring down rest of collapsed Florida condo - July 4, 2021
CDI is "probably one of the best" in the industry, said Steve Schwartz, a member of the National Demolition Association's board of directors. He described the company's president and owner, Mark Loizeaux, as "cool, calm and collected."
Drilling nearly done to demolish rest of collapsed condo - July 4, 2021
Demolition specialists bored holes for explosives Sunday as they prepared to bring down the precarious but still-standing portion of a collapsed South Florida condo building.
FEMA Says It Will Make Disaster Response More Equitable - March 16, 2021
The Federal Emergency Management Agency acknowledges that recovery programs have unfairly burdened certain populations
Puerto Ricans still waiting on disaster funds as Hurricane Maria’s aftermath, earthquakes continue to affect life on the island - January 19, 2020
Nydia Camacho's ankles are swollen and puffy after days of sleeping in a compact car with her two teenagers.
130 flood-prone NC homes set for demolition under FEMA program - August 24, 2019
Several properties prone to flooding across the state are going to be demolished as part of a FEMA program to cut down future flood damage costs.
Trump signs $19B disaster aid bill, including billions for infrastructure, resiliency - June 10, 2019
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a $19 billion natural disaster relief and recovery bill that includes billions for infrastructure repair and replacement.
Senate passes $19 billion disaster relief bill that will benefit Tyndall and Offutt AFBs and Camp Lejeune - May 24, 2019
The Senate on Thursday passed a long-overdue $19 billion disaster aid bill that will enable work to continue at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
IN Demolition Contractor Helps with Disaster Response Training - July 25, 2017
For over 40 hours in May 2017, a collection of national and international agencies – including NDA member Brandenburg – gathered to pull off a large-scale training exercise at a partially demolished Radisson Hotel in Indiana.