Months still ahead for Ike debris clean-up

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MOBILE, Ala., Nov. 6 (UPI) -- An official with the company hired to clean up debris created by Hurricane Ike says it may take months to complete the effort in the southern United States.

Robert Isakson of the hurricane debris removal company, DRC Inc., said the debris clean-up effort in parts of Louisiana and Texas could take several more months to complete due to the devastation wrought by Ike, USA Today reported Thursday.

"This is a huge amount of debris," the DRC Emergency Services managing director said.

Isakson estimated 25 million cubic yards of debris was left in Texas by the September disaster, marking a great debris increase compared to 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

"The volume that has been recovered at this stage is much greater than in Katrina," he said.

To date, 12,000 Hurricane Ike-damaged vehicles have been removed from Louisiana, along with 8.6 million cubic yards of debris.

A Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman told USA Today the Ike clean-up effort has resulted in bills of $80 million for Texas alone.