Post-Hurricane Debris Removal: Hiring the Right Contractor in 48 Hours
After landfall, the debris contractor you call in the first 48 hours determines whether your property is cleared in 2 weeks or 6 months. Here's what to check.
The 48-hour window
Hurricane debris contracts get awarded fast. FEMA-eligible cleanup requires documentation that begins the moment your contractor mobilizes — load tickets, geo-tagged photos, certified scale receipts. A contractor without an active DOT-grade documentation system will cost you reimbursement.
Within 48 hours of a major storm, every legitimate contractor in the state is booked. The window to lock in priority service is before the storm makes landfall.
What to verify (in writing)
FEMA-PA experience and current registration in SAM.gov.
Active general liability ($5M+), workers' comp, and pollution liability.
Self-performed equipment fleet — knuckle-boom grapples, low-boys, tracked loaders. Broker outfits sub everything out and disappear when the rate war starts.
Pre-disaster MSA (master service agreement) capability — Bedrock signs zero-cost MSAs with property managers, HOAs, and municipalities pre-season.
Pricing structures
Time & material: standard for first 72 hours. Equipment + crew at published FEMA rates.
Unit rate (cu-yd): kicks in once volumes stabilize, typically $14–$28/cu-yd for vegetative, $40–$75 for C&D mix.
Request a pre-season MSA — Bedrock pre-positions equipment in Miami-Dade and Broward yards before every named storm.
Frequently asked questions
Most policies cover debris removal up to 5% of the dwelling limit. Excess often qualifies for FEMA-IA reimbursement.
Pre-contracted clients: 24–48 hours. Walk-up customers: 7–21 days depending on storm severity.
Not with a self-performing contractor — Bedrock handles vegetative, C&D, and structural emergency demo with one ticket.
Get a free quote from Bedrock.
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