The Haines Long Term Recovery Group (HLTRG) facilitated the disposal of nearly 440,000 pounds of construction debris this month related to December flood and landslide damage.

Seventeen households were able to dump debris at a disposal site near the landfill, at a cost of$106,116, which will be reimbursed by FEMA.

Many organizations contributed to the project, including Chilkoot Indian Association (CIA). CIA also helped residents with transportation and demolition costs, allowed Team Rubicon to use tools and equipment and assisted with staff support.

Steve Virg-In disposed of his entire house that was destroyed in a landslide along the Lutak Spur Road with financial assistance from CIA and labor from Team Rubicon, a nonprofit disaster relief group. Southeast Roadbuilders spent two days demolishing the ruins of his house. Because heavy equipment couldn’t access his garage, Team Rubicon volunteers hand shoveled the sand that had piled up in the structure.

“We had around 30 dumpsters full of debris,” Virg-In said. “After the house was gone, we just crashed and burned, emotionally and mentally. Thirty-two years of our life, gone. (We were) feeling pretty ragged after nine months. The people (who helped) were amazing. There was genuine love and genuine concern all the way around. The long-term recovery group has been the greatest asset to us.”

Virg-In said he will work on turning the garage into a living space next spring.

Kaitlin and Bryan Combs also benefited from the debris disposal. Team Rubicon volunteers cleared out dozens of bags of wet insulation after floods washed through the crawlspace in their First Avenue home. The crew also installed a new vapor barrier.

“When everyone showed up, I was very emotional,” Combs said. “I’m so thankful that there are people that are willing to help strangers out. I’m forever thankful.”

The effort to dispose of moldy insulation, splintered lumber, wet insulation and other damage was necessary before the long-term recovery group could begin the next step in disaster recovery and reconstruction.

“We couldn’t rebuild without taking the trash out,” said Sylvia Heinz, HLTRG coordinator. “Now we can make materials lists and raise money to rebuild. We can see the light at the end of a very long, very expensive tunnel. Recovery is still going to take years.”

In the short term, Heinz said the first priority is addressing hazards to life and property. Ensuring adequate drainage for the winter months will be essential, she said, along with ensuring insulation and drywall is reinstalled to prevent pipes from freezing in homes that had significant damage. Other short- and long-term goals include mental health support, fundraising for reconstruction work, getting still-displaced residents into long-term housing, clearing natural debris and disposing of disaster-affected vehicles.

The HLTRG has facilitated the spending of more than $1 million in disaster recovery funds not including debris disposal. Heinz said there are still 75 active cases where residents and families require assistance, including reconstruction efforts.

“We’re turning over every stone to try to get as many resources to Haines as possible,” she said.