BATON ROUGE – Following Hurricane Delta, which made landfall in Louisiana on Friday, Oct. 9, the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor's Office announced that its removal of storm debris would begin Monday, Oct. 19.

The reason for the seeming delay in debris removal was twofold, the Mayor's Office explained. According to a press release, officials felt the City-Parish damage assessment teams required sufficient time to thoroughly survey damaged areas. A second reason detailed in the press release stated that Parish residents needed time to organize and move their storm debris curbside.

Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome released a prepared statement concerning the matter, saying, “As our residents continue to respond to and recover from Hurricane Delta, we remain focused on moving as quickly as possible to continue meeting their needs, our debris removal crews are poised to move with the same level of diligence and speed in the coming days and weeks as we continue in our damage assessments and begin our debris removal operations.”

Storm debris will be collected from all residences in the City of Baton Rouge and unincorporated areas of East Baton Rouge Parish.

However, City-Parish debris removal crews cannot collect debris from state highways. Neither can they collect debris located in the city limits of Baker, Zachary, and Central, according to the Mayor's Office.

Officials say residents do not need to contact the City-Parish once their debris is placed curbside. City-Parish damage assessment teams and debris monitors will regularly assess debris removal needs and direct crews accordingly for collection.

The Parish asks that residents place storm debris curbside in the public right of way, or the area of property that extends from the street to the sidewalk, ditch, utility pole, or easement.

Officials say only loose debris will be collected, and they request that this sort of debris not be placed within four feet of mailboxes, water meters, fire hydrants, or any other above-ground utility.

City-Parish officials are strongly urging residents to organize their storm debris into piles to support an efficient collection process.

In addition to this, storm debris should be clearly separated from regular garbage piles, which will be collected as part of the City-Parish’s regular garbage and recycling collection services.

Click here for additional information from the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor's Office.