Podcast Summary: "Dirty Business" – Dig (Louisville Public Media), September 14, 2023

Overview

Main Theme:
"Dirty Business" investigates the aftermath of the catastrophic July 2022 floods in Eastern Kentucky. The episode exposes how disaster recovery promised by politicians turned into a lucrative—but deeply flawed—business for debris removal companies. Host-reporters Jared Bennett and Justin Hicks unravel the web of government contracts, mismanagement, corporate profit, local outrage, and long-term consequences that persist more than a year after the floods.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Disaster and Immediate Aftermath

• The Flood (02:59–07:19):
  • In July 2022, historic floods devastated Eastern Kentucky, killing 45 people and causing over $1 billion in damage.
  • Personal tragedies recounted, e.g., Don and Melissa Young's home being destroyed and surviving the night clinging to debris and trees.
• Magnitude of the Debris Problem (07:19–07:39):
  • Nearly 2 million cubic yards of debris estimated by the Army Corps of Engineers—enough to fill Churchill Downs up to 26 feet.
  • Debris included homes, vehicles, trees, sediment—clogging creeks and threatening future floods.

2. The Business of Disaster Cleanup

• The Contractors (08:00–19:04):

  • Kentucky awarded the debris removal contract to Florida-based AshBritt, the country's largest disaster cleanup firm, selected via an expedited process.
  • Millions of federal and state recovery dollars at play. Initial estimate for cleanup: $30 million. Actual payout: over $170 million, as contracts were modified and extended multiple times.

• Flawed Incentives and Oversight (19:04–26:17):

  • Disaster recovery is a multi-billion-dollar industry; profit-driven incentives encourage over-clearing, hidden costs, and sometimes unchecked contractor behavior.
  • FEMA and state reviews revealed issues: contract modifications, questionable billing, mismanagement, and lack of advance contract structuring, leaving states scrambling in crisis.
  • Companies like AshBritt have deep political connections (lobbyists, political donations), and histories of controversial dealings.

3. The Human Cost: Survivors and Their Losses

• Personal Stories (08:56–15:35):

  • Multiple survivors relive the traumatic aftermath—not just of the flood, but of the cleanup.
  • Don and Melissa Young lost priceless mementos when their home was demolished without prior warning or opportunity to retrieve keepsakes:

    "We could have had that. If they give us 20 minutes to get over here...you wouldn't have took millions for it. And they just come in, destroyed it like it wasn't nothing..." — Don Young, [12:16]

  • Many residents were left confused, distressed, or even criminalized (e.g., Keith Rose tased and arrested when objecting to unnecessary tree removal on his property).

• Accountability Lapses (14:48–15:35):

  • Blame frequently shifted between the state, contractors, and FEMA; survivors often left without recourse.

4. Systemic Challenges & Failures

• Opaque & Shifting Criteria (26:42–36:00):

  • Contracts and guidelines about debris eligibility, what can be removed, and how, shifted during the process.
  • Documentation shows contractors sometimes over-cleared, removed ineligible trees, or staged debris loads to maximize profit.
  • State granted AshBritt emergency powers to enter private property, often without proper resident notification.

• Local Tensions (33:42–36:39):

  • Residents found themselves pitted against contractors and even law enforcement, feeling powerless to protect their property or influence cleanup decisions:

    "You can't let people run over you. They take advantage of you." — Keith Rose, [32:57]

5. Environmental and Long-Term Safety Concerns

• Incomplete Cleanup (38:54–50:46):

  • Large amounts of debris—including dangerous sediment—left behind after the project was officially completed.
  • Army Corps biologists and local contractors warn this neglect increases risk for future flooding:

    "We should be doing something to correct that. And if we ain't, whose fault is that? It ain't mine." — Justin Branham, [01:05]

  • Estimates suggest only about 59% of debris was actually removed, with the state and AshBritt disputing the numbers and responsibility.

• Proof Comes With the Next Flood (50:46–54:14):

  • Eight weeks after the project ended, an average rainstorm led to more flooding as debris clogged culverts and streams, validating residents' and workers' worst fears.
  • County officials and contractors confirm the inadequate cleanup contributed to repeat flooding.

6. Political Factors & Industry Self-Preservation

• Political Influence and Contract Extensions (29:16–31:26; 54:14–55:18):
  • AshBritt's political donations and lobbying are detailed, including bipartisan contributions and regulatory maneuvering.
  • Without open bidding, AshBritt's contract was extended for a year to handle new rounds of debris, excluding local companies from competition.

7. Residents Seeking Recourse

• Ongoing Struggles for Justice (55:18–57:02):
  • Many survivors like the Youngs are still fighting for compensation and accountability:

    "They come in, tore my house down and hauled it off. That ain't right. And they're denying any wrongdoing. They said it was an act of God. God didn't drop an excavator in my yard." — Don Young, [56:29]

  • Governor Beshear promises concern and a desire to "treat everyone right," but communities remain unconvinced and frustrated.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "There is big money in disaster recovery." — Jared Bennett, [00:51]
• "Debris crews stand to make a lot of money." — Don Young, [15:35]
• "You can't let people run over you. They take advantage of you." — Keith Rose, [32:57]
• "I've been told that a lot of these companies get in these big trucks, get paid by tonnage." — Don Young, [15:35]
• "God didn't drop an excavator in my yard." — Don Young, [56:36]
• "You're pitting people against people that don't need to be pitted against." — Justin Branham (Army Corps of Engineers), [40:49]
• "We want our communities to be safe. We want to rest assured if there's another flood, that we're not going to see the damages that we saw on July 28." — Jared Breeding (local contractor), [46:19]
• "It's simple math. In the places that the creeks will raise 8ft in elevation, that's 8 less feet that the water has to take up before you have a flood." — Jonathan Tucker (subcontractor), [53:42]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [02:59] — The night of the flood: eyewitness accounts and devastation.
• [07:19] — The scale of debris quantified; Churchill Downs comparison.
• [08:00] — AshBritt awarded debris removal contract.
• [11:58–13:17] — Youngs discover their home demolished.
• [16:38–19:04] — Disaster cleanup is big business and the start of discussion on systemic flaws.
• [26:42] — Details on contract changes, oversight failures, and FEMA reimbursement conditions.
• [29:16] — AshBritt’s political donations and lobbying detailed.
• [38:54] — Army Corps of Engineers’ critical insider account.
• [45:49–46:36] — Local contractors' "safety stand down" strike and the ensuing public meeting.
• [50:46–54:14] — Post-cleanup flood and public outrage at local government meeting.
• [56:29] — Don Young’s emotional response to lack of accountability.

Closing

"Dirty Business" masterfully reveals the intertwined failures of government oversight, contractor opportunism, and the ongoing vulnerability of disaster-stricken Appalachian communities. The episode underscores not just the physical wreckage of a natural disaster, but the lasting wounds of bureaucratic neglect, questionable profiteering, and unheeded warnings—even as the cycle threatens to repeat.

For further information and to share your own experiences, visit: lpm.org.