With federal emergency officials in tow, Parish President Kevin Davis trekked across St. Tammany Monday, pointing to mounds of debris left by Hurricane Gustav: logs and garbage cluttering canals in Slidell and downed trees though Mandeville.

Davis’ mission was to spell out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency the need to fund hurricane debris removal. Today, he’ll find out if he was successful.

“Our paperwork and documentation is done,” said Davis. “We have to wait on FEMA’s determination now.” Although officials with FEMA declared St. Tammany a disaster area late last week, the declaration does not provide debris cleanup costs.

FEMA spokesman Manuel Broussard recently said the amount of debris in St. Tammany is “so little” parish government should “be able to handle” it without federal aid.

While waiting for FEMA’s decision, Davis is asking residents to push debris to the sides of the streets, careful not to clog drainage ditches or block fire hydrants.

He also advised residents to keep road sight lines clear and vegetative debris such as trees, limbs and more separate from construction debris like carpet and Sheetrock.

A plan for debris pick up will be announced as soon as the determination from FEMA is received.

The disaster designation, though, does pave the way for Hurricane Gustav victims to apply for aid. The designation allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to dole out $28,800 per household in rental assistance, replacement or repairs of personal property, and reimbursement for medical expenses and vehicle damage to those affected by the storm, according to the FEMA’s Web site, www.FEMA.gov. Only one allocation is allowed per household.