GONZALES – Officials in Ascension Parish say up to 40,000 homes were impacted by water in the parish.

According to an estimate released Wednesday, more than 80,000 people in Ascension Parish were affected by last week’s historic flooding. Nearly 800 businesses were also flooded.

Spokesperson Lester Kenyon said DRC Emergency Services in New Orleans has been contracted for debris removal. Residents are asked to have debris separated for quick pick up per Department of Environmental Quality regulations.

Kenyon said debris removal trucks began deploying Wednesday to pick up construction and demolition debris. A schedule for pick up has not yet been made.

Those trucks are going street to street in zones from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. making multiple passes until all debris is removed, Kenyon said. Those trucks will use BFI Landfill and Gator Landfill for debris drop off.

Kenyon said “Citizen Drop-off Sites” are being negotiated with DEQ. Officials are looking at two proposed sites. Those locations will be announced later.