The Greenfield, IA recovery demonstrated how specialized equipment like the Vermeer LS3600TX can help communities become more resilient in the face of cleanup challenges. The efficiency gained through the LS3600TX helped residents move forward from the devastating tornado while optimizing resources.
By Ted Dirkx
When an EF4 tornado struck Greenfield, IA, in May 2024, it left behind thousands of tons of debris across multiple counties. The cleanup effort that followed demonstrated how specialized equipment could transform disaster recovery operations, helping the community navigate its path to restoration.
The Greenfield Tornado鈥檚 Impact
The Greenfield tornado reached estimated wind speeds of 185 mph (298.0 km/hr.), carving a 42.4-mi (68.2 km) path through Page, Taylor, Adams, and Adair counties. Greenfield bore the brunt of the destruction, where dozens of homes were leveled and many more severely damaged. The powerful storm destroyed multiple structures and wind turbines, while critical infrastructure suffered major damage throughout the area.
The scope of destruction presented an enormous cleanup challenge. Debris fields stretched across farms, neighborhoods, and commercial districts. Concrete, wood, metal, household items, and vegetation were tangled into massive piles, requiring specialized handling and processing.
鈥淭he devastation we witnessed in Greenfield was extensive,鈥� said Jeremy Boka, Vice President of Business Development at EIS Holdings. 鈥淭hese types of disasters create complex cleanup scenarios where efficiency becomes crucial to helping communities recover.鈥�
Photos courtesy of Vermeer.
Rapid Mobilization and Strategic Planning
EIS Holdings coordinated with local authorities quickly after the tornado. Their ability to deploy resources stemmed from years of disaster response experience across the country. 鈥淲e reached out immediately after the tornado hit Greenfield. The team quickly developed a response plan, received authorization to mobilize and had operations running within days of the disaster,鈥� Boka explained. 鈥淩apid response is critical in these situations.鈥�
This quick mobilization illustrates how experienced disaster recovery contractors prepare for deployment. EIS Holdings maintains equipment, personnel, and protocols specifically designed for rapid response to natural disasters. Their planning process involves coordination across multiple government agencies, assessment of debris volume and composition, and development of processing strategies that maximize efficiency. 鈥淓very disaster has unique challenges,鈥� Boka noted. 鈥淚n Greenfield, we faced a mix of structural debris, personal property and vegetation spread across both urban and rural environments. Our planning had to account for all these variables.鈥�
A Coordinated Approach
The cleanup operation involved a carefully orchestrated multi-phase process. With the Vermeer LS3600TX low speed shredder serving as the centerpiece of the material processing strategy, EIS Holdings developed a comprehensive workflow to manage the massive volume of debris.
鈥淭he cleanup process starts with a lot of phone calls and coordination right after the disaster happens so that you can communicate with all the necessary folks,鈥� Boka explained. 鈥淔rom city streets to the county, public works, emergency management, state and local level鈥攊t鈥檚 all about coordination and careful planning.鈥�
In Greenfield, the operation followed five key phases:
1. Collection in the downtown area using skid loaders, rubber track excavators and loaders
2. Loading debris into dump trucks specifically chosen for navigating tight downtown spaces
3. Transportation to two processing sites: a transfer facility and a quarry
4. Material processing through the LS3600TX low speed shredder
5. Final transportation to three different landfills for disposal
The team established collection points throughout the affected areas, with special attention to downtown Greenfield, where building density created access challenges. Heavy equipment operators worked to separate materials where possible, focusing on removing hazardous components before general debris processing. 鈥淭he work that we do is important on disaster recovery because it gives people a sense of home and cleanliness,鈥� Boka emphasized. 鈥淲hen we can clean up the town and get it out of there, out of sight and out of mind is better. So, we try to process it offsite with the LS3600TX to do the dirty work where it鈥檚 not visible and try to get people back to a normal routine.鈥�
Transforming Recovery Operations
The Vermeer LS3600TX low speed shredder became the operational cornerstone of the Greenfield cleanup, delivering substantial improvements in processing capacity and transportation efficiency. 鈥淭he Vermeer LS3600TX has been a huge asset to us,鈥� said Boka. 鈥淎s we load the material into the shredder, we鈥檙e able to condense it significantly. That saves time and fuel on the road and extends the lifespan of the landfill by using space more efficiently.鈥�
The shredder鈥檚 ability to process mixed debris types鈥攊ncluding dimensional lumber, building materials, tree waste, and other components鈥攑rovided exceptional versatility in the field. Its low-speed design made it particularly suitable for the contaminated debris common in tornado recovery operations. The LS3600TX鈥檚 shredding process delivered multiple operational benefits:
鈥� Increased load capacity:聽鈥淲e were getting in the neighborhood of 7 tons to 9 tons (6.4 mt to 8.2 mt) per truck when it was bulk debris prior to shred and now we鈥檙e getting 13 tons to 15 tons (11.8 mt to 13.6 mt),鈥� reported Boka.
鈥� More efficient transportation:聽鈥淭he shredder reduced our trucking needs by a third. We could move with two trucks what used to require three trucks鈥攖hat was substantial savings in fuel, time, and resources,鈥� noted Boka.
鈥� Reduced loading time:聽According to Boka, processing with the LS3600TX reduced truck loading time from 20 minutes to seven minutes per load, dramatically improving daily throughput capacity.
鈥� Better landfill use:聽鈥淏y shredding with the LS3600TX, we achieve 40 to 50 percent better capacity and significantly reduce landfill airspace usage,鈥� explained Boka.
鈥� Landfill processing efficiency:聽鈥淲hen we pre-shred the material, it saves significant time at the landfill. They can process and compact the debris much more efficiently when it arrives already reduced in size,鈥� said Boka.
The machine鈥檚 mobility also proved valuable, allowing the team to reposition it as debris piles shifted and new material arrived. This flexibility helped maintain continuous processing operations throughout the cleanup period.
Managing Massive Debris Volumes
The sheer scale of the Greenfield recovery operation demonstrates the extensive resources required for effective disaster response. EIS Holdings deployed a substantial equipment fleet to handle the enormous debris volume. 鈥淭he assets we deployed under our scope included seven excavators running, a wheel loader, a dozer, six skid loaders, 50 semis, 10 dump trucks, plus project managers and supervisors,鈥� Boka detailed.
This equipment fleet processed approximately 15,000 tons of material from the Greenfield site, consisting of roughly 1,500 loads averaging 10 tons per load. Managing this volume required precise logistics planning, and continuous adaptation to changing field conditions.
The team established an efficient workflow with trucks lined up each morning鈥攈alf preloaded the night before heading straight to the landfill, while the other half arrived empty to be quickly loaded onsite. This staggered approach maximized equipment use and maintained consistent material flow to disposal facilities. 鈥淟ogistics become critically important when you鈥檙e moving this much material,鈥� Boka explained. 鈥淲e鈥檙e constantly tracking load counts, tonnage, and processing rates to ensure we鈥檙e operating at peak efficiency.鈥�
The Foundation of Successful Recovery
A critical success factor in the Greenfield recovery was the close coordination between multiple stakeholders across government agencies, utility providers, and waste management facilities. 鈥淲e worked directly with Iowa 国产麻豆land Security and Emergency Management on this project. Our approach involved extensive coordination with all stakeholders鈥攍ocal emergency management, streets department, county officials, and landfill facilities,鈥� explained Boka.
Daily coordination meetings became the hub of operational planning, allowing all parties to address challenges proactively and adjust plans as needed. 鈥淭his led to a highly collaborative process, with about 20 people participating in regular meetings to discuss logistics, staging, and responsibilities. We maintained daily communication, including weekends and holidays, to ensure everything was executed correctly and everybody was on the same page. It was truly a team effort.鈥�
This high level of coordination became particularly important when managing the impact on landfill facilities. The sudden influx of disaster debris could potentially overwhelm normal waste management infrastructure without careful planning and processing.
Beyond Immediate Cleanup
The need to incorporate the LS3600TX into the workflow became apparent when a regional waste authority expressed concerns about landfill capacity. 鈥淭heir three- to five-year capacity projection would be reduced to two to three years without processing the debris,鈥� explained Boka, highlighting how disaster events can strain local infrastructure.
By maximizing transportation efficiency through increased load density, the operation also reduced total fuel consumption and vehicle emissions associated with the cleanup effort. The environmental benefits extend well beyond the immediate project, with landfill space conservation representing a lasting value to the region.
Lessons for Future Disaster Response
As climate patterns change, EIS Holdings has observed increasing disaster severity across their 36-state operating region. 鈥淲hile 2021 and 2022 were relatively quiet periods in the Midwest, the company has observed increasing disaster severity, with more catastrophic damage becoming common along the gulf and Florida coast,鈥� Boka noted.
The Greenfield recovery demonstrated how specialized equipment like the Vermeer LS3600TX can help communities become more resilient in the face of these challenges. The efficiency gained through the LS3600TX helped residents move forward from the devastating event while optimizing resources.
鈥淚f we can process material with the LS3600TX on this end, that saves them time because at the landfill, they can manage it more efficiently,鈥� said Boka. 鈥淏y taking off every third semi that鈥檚 going across the road, we鈥檙e managing fuel, managing risk, and being more intelligent about what we do. This gives us a lull in trucking and gives the landfill a break. It鈥檚 as expeditious as possible, with many gains both financially for the customer and timewise.鈥�
The lessons learned from the Greenfield cleanup have applications far beyond tornado recovery. Similar approaches could benefit communities facing hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other disasters that generate significant debris. As communities develop disaster response plans, incorporating equipment like the LS3600TX low speed shredder represents a strategic investment in recovery capacity.
鈥淓very disaster is unique, but the core principles remain consistent,鈥� concluded Boka. 鈥淩apid response, efficient processing and close coordination across agencies all contribute to helping communities recover more quickly. The right equipment makes those goals achievable even in the face of catastrophic events.鈥� | WA
Ted Dirkx聽is the Sales Manager for Environmental Equipment at Vermeer. After studying composting and graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies from Central College, he joined Vermeer and for the past 11 years, has been traveling about 25 weeks a year, roaming North America and beyond, helping organizations set up compost facilities, manufacture mulch, clear land, and produce biofuels. As he interacts with operations, he is a curious learner of all things that make their operations successful. He has presented at the Compost Council of Canada Conference, Canadian Wood Waste Recycling Association, Waste Expo, and USCC Conference on topics related to operational efficiency and maintenance. Ted can be reached at聽[email protected].
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