Officials urge residents not to self-clear debris; asbestos testing and debris plan forming

Robert Ezell, director of management for the state, said teams that include FEMA and the Washington Department of Ecology are forming to address debris and environmental hazards. "We've got a team coming together right now between FEMA, the federal emergency, or environmental, protection agency, and the state, department of ecology to address just those things," Ezell said, adding the team will build and implement a strategy over coming days and weeks.

Mayor Brown and other officials warned homeowners not to attempt debris removal until the plan is announced and testing is completed, because ash and debris may require asbestos and hazardous-materials testing to determine where the material may be taken and how it should be handled. The city is coordinating with state and federal partners on hazardous-materials protocols and debris-removal logistics.