(From the City of Joplin)
As Joplin’s tornado recovery continues, an important next step in the recovery effort is demolishing storm-damaged structures that cannot or should not be rebuilt.
Many citizens have already removed a tornado-damaged structure and are beginning to rebuild. However, there are many former homes that need to be demolished for the public health and safety of the community at-large.
“We have accomplished a monumental task in the completion of the expedited debris removal initiative,” said City Manager Mark Rohr. “We truly appreciate everyone’s effort in achieving this significant task in the clean-up of our City. Now we need to shift our focus and attention as a community to remove dangerous, tornado-damaged structures. We’re asking residents to use the resources they have or to once again tap into the volunteer effort to get help with taking out their damaged dwelling.”
To help Joplin residents with the demolition process, the City has identified three options that citizens can utilize to remove tornado-damaged structures. Residents should carefully consider each option and use the one that best fits their circumstance.
Option I – Property Owner Demolition:
Definition: Property owners demolish their residential structures by doing it themselves or hiring a professional, certified contractor using insurance or other funds.
•Preferred method of demolition, if resources are available.
•Demolition permit from the City of Joplin is required. Permits are free until Dec. 31, 2011.
•Structural demolition includes the removal of driveways, slabs, footings, basements, steps, fences and all other appurtenances unless rebuilding on an existing slab, footing or basement.
•Utilities must be capped and disconnected; open ground depressions must be filled.
•Contractors must haul away the debris; it cannot be pushed to the public rights-of-way.
If you signed an ROE form for the government-funded contractors to remove the loose, tornado debris from your property, you have insurance proceeds for debris removal and/or demolition, and you are going to demolish your structure using your insurance proceeds, this is how the recoupment of insurance proceeds for the removal of the loose, tornado debris from your property will work:
A residential property owner who had specific insurance coverage for debris removal and/or demolition will be allowed to use your insurance proceeds for the demolition of your structure.
a) If there are any remaining insurance proceeds after the demolition of your structure, the amount that will be remitted is either the remaining amount of the insurance proceeds for debris removal and/or demolition OR an amount set forth in a 3-tier cost structure, whichever is less.
3-tier cost structure:
Lot Size Debris Removal Value
Up to 10,000 square feet $1,500.00
10,001 square feet to ½-acre $2,500.00
½-acre and greater $4,000.00
b)If there aren’t any remaining insurance proceeds after the demolition of your structure, there will be no charge for the removal of the loose, tornado debris from your property by the government-funded contractors.
c) If your insurance policy does not cover debris removal, there will be no charge for the removal of the loose, tornado debris from your property by the government-funded contractors.
Option II – Voluntary Organization Demolition:
Definition: Skilled volunteers affiliated with the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) carry out the demolition of residential structures and/or foundations on behalf of home or property owners.
•Home or property owners who need help with structural demolition – particularly those who are uninsured or underinsured – can request assistance from a Voluntary Organization Demolition Team (VODT) to remove tornado-damaged buildings and/or structural remains, such as slabs, crawl spaces, driveways, basements, etc.
•These teams are led by skilled volunteers from organizations that specialize in helping disaster survivors.
•Demolition permits are required and usually obtained by the VODT, unless other arrangements are made.
•Property owners also will have to grant permission to the volunteer crew to be on private property and to carry out the demolition by signing a right-of-entry form provided by each VODT.
•To get assistance from a VODT, interested citizens can call AmeriCorps at 417-625-3558 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to sign up.
•This service is free. The resulting debris will be picked up at the curbside by the City and hauled away.
If you signed an ROE form for the government-funded contractors to remove the loose, tornado debris from your property, you have insurance proceeds for debris removal, and you are going to use the VODT to demolish your structure, this is how the recoupment of insurance proceeds for the removal of the loose, tornado debris from your property will work:
a)The amount that will be remitted will be the amount allowed under your insurance policy OR the amount set forth in the 3-tier cost structure, whichever is less.
b)If your insurance policy does not cover debris removal, there will be no charge for the removal of the loose, tornado debris from your property by the government-funded contractors.
Option III – Dangerous Structures Declaration and Demolition:
Definition: Dangerous, tornado-damaged structures and/or foundations that are not removed another way will be processed through the dangerous structures provision of the Joplin City Code.
•The City will identify tornado-impacted structures considered dangerous because of the physical condition of the building.
•The structure will be placarded as a danger, a public notice of a Building Board of Appeals hearing will be published in the newspaper and a certified notice of the hearing will be sent to the property owner.
•The Joplin Building Board of Appeals will hold a fact-finding hearing to determine the status of the dangerous structure.
•The Joplin Building Board of Appeals will then hold a public hearing and make a determination of whether the structure is indeed dangerous.
•Following a 30-day appeal period, the City Council issues a final ruling on the dangerous structure designation.
•If the dangerous declaration is approved, the City of Joplin has the structure removed and issues a special assessment on the property to cover the demolition and any associated costs.
Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr is urging residential property owners with tornado-damaged structures that need to be demolished to take advantage of one of the first two options to get their properties cleaned up in the coming weeks.
“Our residents now have some good options for removing their storm-damaged homes,” Rohr said. “We hope everyone who needs help will tap into the voluntary organization effort. These volunteer heroes, along with so many others, have been with us since the tornado and want to continue to help. If you need their assistance, please ask.”
For more information on demolition assistance or requirements, contact the City Building Division at 417-624-0820, ext. 539.
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