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COVID-19: More Obstacles During Cleanup operations. This was achieved by April are being mended along with the heart of
The COVID-19 pandemic complicated 26. During this time, Chattanooga Public the community.
Works used social media to keep citizens
this situation, as The City of Chattanooga informed on how to sort their debris, Contractors and organized volunteers
and the rest of the State of Tennessee were on road closures, and on important are busy clearing away the remaining
under a stay-at-home order. Workers and information to keep ground operations debris. Cleanup and repairs will continue.
citizens were still expected to maintain running smoothly. and our community will be even better
a distance of six feet from one another, than before, but more importantly, it will
(when possible while performing their Weeks of Bagging, Collecting and Dealing be a place to call home. Even with the
duties). with Waste stigma and stresses of life looming over
us, it’s so inspiring to know humanity still
The department overcame this unique After the first two weeks, Chattanooga has a heartbeat in our community.
challenge (and improved its efficiency) Public Works, with help from the City Recovery Efforts Lauded
by extending the days to address the of Knoxville Public Works, removed a
storm damage. Ground crews cut large total of 1525 tons of vegetative debris and Justin Holland, Chattanooga’s Public
trees while heavy equipment and knuckle 563.93 tons of C&D debris. By mid-May, Works Administrator, and others in
booms cleared the remnants. It also was the City’s contractor had removed 230,000 the department worked closely with
during this time that the Mayor’s office cubic yards of debris. As the City resumes fire, police, and other emergency
and supporting organizations told citizens normal operations, new challenges have management agencies across the County.
to abide by the stay-at-home order emerged. For example, more than 8300 Holland commended the efforts of every
until a precise volunteer plan could be requests were received in a two-week agency, including Public Works, when
implemented. period for brush, bagged yard waste, and he commented that “the coordination
bulk trash service. on every front, from the first night
Chattanooga Public Works is 100% throughout the cleanup effort with each
committed to the needs of our community, To ensure we continue to fulfill our agency involved, has been remarkable.
and so some regular services were halted service agreement, CWS staff continued There has never been a better time to be in
(such as scheduled brush and refuse clocking extended hours and days, public service, working with such amazing
collection.) Manpower then was diverted completing more than 600 service people from our community and across
in favor of collecting storm debris, and requests a day for curbside brush, bagged the State of Tennessee.”
aiding citizens in clearing debris from yard waste, and “Trash Flash” collections
their properties. Other vital services (after the debris removal contractors were “Heroes come in many different forms.
continued as scheduled, such as right of securely in place). Most people see the flashing lights at the
way mowing, street sweeping, sidewalk beginning of a disaster, but Chattanooga’s
repairs, and the daily maintenance of the A month has passed since the storm, Public Works Department has been the
Central Business District. with losses evaluated and estimated to only group there at the beginning and
reach into the range of $225 million. who is still working to help people pick up
As the ground and heavy machinery Much work still needs to be done in the the pieces of the community nearly two
crews progressed, multiple Public East Brainerd area. City of Chattanooga months later. We don’t plan to quit until
Works staff concentrated on getting an Public Works Forestry crews and citizens it is finished and residents feel normal
Emergency Storm Recovery Contractor are helping by replanting native trees, vital again,” Holland said.
in place to take over debris removal structures are being repaired, and roads
View online at tnpublicworks.com 11
