Local hazardous material clean-up company concerned about lack of Ebola preparedness by governing agencies

The head of a local hazardous material clean-up company reached out to ABC-7 about his concerns over what he sees as a lack of preparedness by governing agencies when it comes to Ebola.

James Garza owns Emergency Water Removal. He said he was contacted by numerous local, state and federal agencies earlier this month after the first case of Ebola was diagnosed in the U.S.

Garza said they all wanted to know about his company’s ability to clean up a site contaminated with Ebola.

“Our response was, ‘No.’ We don’t do that because it’s too new, too unknown,” said Garza. “I’m not gonna put our crews in jeopardy.”

His crews handle clean-ups of biohazardous material, including crime scenes.

Garza told other agencies he was prepared so he could find out about their protocols.

But he said he didn’t get the feeling there was one.

“They (said), ‘We’re going to put you on the list,’ and that was it,” Garza said. “No checking of credentials, background, nothing.

“I felt as though they didn’t follow through, (that they) just wanted to say, ‘Hey, we have somebody in case it happens,'” he added.

Garza said he checks the CDC website daily for any developments and guidelines.