Warren County supervisors, having learned a lesson about federal regulations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, have directed that downed trees, limbs and any other storm debris scattered by Gustav’s winds be taken to approved disposal sites.

The same is true for the City of Vicksburg. Landfill space on Jeff Davis Road will be the destination for loads gathered by city crews, said Walter Bliss, street department director, noting the volume for post-Gustav is far lower than it was after Katrina in August 2005.

“We’ll pick up some big stuff, you know,” Bliss said.

A site on U.S. 80 will receive whatever scatters onto county roads, said Richard Winans, county road manager.

Both departments reported large trees being cleared following more than 50 calls to emergency dispatch since the weakened storm’s landfall Monday.

“We might have a dozen or so trees,” Winans said, adding his department was busiest Wednesday clearing a fallen tree in Lake Forest and responding to mudslides on Old Jackson, Tilton Ranch and China Grove roads.

Both city and county governments declared local emergencies this week, primarily to file for reimbursements from FEMA for overtime paid to road crews and various other emergency protective measures.

All 82 Mississippi counties might be eligible to be paid back 75 percent of the cost of such measures under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, all of which is enabled by a presidential disaster declaration. Coastal counties Hancock, Harrison and Jackson are eligible for debris removal costs. The declaration might also cover any purchases made during the response, Warren County Emergency Management Director Gwen Coleman said.

Vicksburg officials hired a private landscaping firm to handle debris removal following Katrina, which blasted Vicksburg with hurricane-force winds. Within weeks, however, the city took over the job, citing failure of the company to secure the necessary equipment to handle the task. The city applied for $575,745 in reimbursements related to debris cleanup.

Warren County cleared 11,806 cubic yards of mostly trees and limbs from roads countywide and was due more than $190,000 in payments.

Only $16,000 arrived in the first several months as state environmental and emergency management agencies took issue with how it was disposed — at four private sites instead of approved landfills, or “rubbish sites.” The remaining $174,735.83 has been held up, and word is it won’t be paid unless the county unearths the debris and takes it to an approved location.

Supervisors approved sending a formal request to FEMA for the remaining money, but have not confirmed whether the offer comes with a commitment to dig up and relocate the Katrina debris.