FOR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

After the storms: True North helps Lone Star state come clean

The Neel-Schaffer/True North project team began providing debris monitoring services to the Texas Department of Transportation in late May 2015 for the Fort Worth District in Johnson County after a spate of storms that included tornadoes and straight-line winds between May 4 and June 22 caused localized flooding and wind damage.

In June 2015, TxDOT expanded our monitoring responsibilities to the Tyler District to include Van Zandt County, the City of Van, Rusk County, the City of Henderson, and Cherokee County. The scope included municipal, county, and state roads. We then mobilized to the Houston District in July to provide disaster debris monitoring services for vegetative wind damage in Montgomery and Waller Counties.

During the latter part of July, TxDOT activated True North for debris monitoring services in seven counties (Bastrop, Blanco, Caldwell, Hays, Lee, Travis, Williamson) maintained from the Austin District office.

True North was also tasked by TxDOT to assist with the compilation of data and development of documentation in support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief (ER) program and the FEMA Public Assistance disaster recovery grant reimbursement programs

We worked for all districts that received damage to include the Austin, Dallas, Houston, and Tyler Districts. In support of the FHWA ER program we developed Program of Projects (POP), Detailed Damage Inspection Reports (DDIR), and Damage Survey Summary Reports (DSSR), meeting tight deadlines and specifications. We also fast-tracked the paperwork for the FHWA Quick Release Program.

Additionally, our staff compiled professional engineering opinion of costs, other cost estimates, permits, inspection reports, and other detailed information to support the development of draft Project Worksheets for the applicant.