RACM (pronounced rackum) is one of the new acronyms coming out the marshlands of southern Louisiana. It stands for Regulated Asbestos Containing Material and it can be deadly if not handled properly.

When asbestos containing material becomes air born or friable, it is a dangerous cancer causing agent. In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, many of the structures destroyed by flooding have asbestos on or in them. The majority of these older buildings have either transite siding, asbestos slate roofing shingles, asbestos insulation, asbestos floor tiles, asbestos popcorn ceilings, or other asbestos containing material.

When the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers receives an ROE (Right of Entry) packet to tear down a home, there are very specific and rigid guidelines to be followed. First, each building is inspected to determine if it will require a RACM demolition procedure. Only the buildings that have friable asbestos are determined to be RACM demolitions. After the assessment the RACM demolition production begins.

A RACM demolition is like a award-winning play under the auspices of an Oscar-winning producer and director. The producer is the prime contractor and the Angel providing support for the producer is the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The director is the on-site crew leader who deftly coordinates the many acts and scenes of this enthralling drama.

The cast in this extraordinary production are: specially trained and asbestos certified removal technicians; safety personnel; EPA air quality monitor; USACE Quality Assurance monitors; truck drivers; State Environmental Quality Inspectors; and even the local extras sitting and watching the demolition. Each of these roles is meticulously orchestrated to ensure the safety of all the workers and people living in proximity to the demolition site.

The first act involves the following scenes: setting up road blocks and flagmen; setting up of air monitors; the establishment of a safety perimeter around the "hot zone"; creating a clean area for decontamination; and the staging of the debris trucks.

Act 2 shows the following scenes: the all hands safety meetings; the dressing of the debris trucks in 6mil plastic; the final check off of all documentation; and the crew that will be working in the "hot zone" donning the special suit and respirator required.

Act 3 begins the real action of this play. It begins with the loud thundering roar of the track hoe reverberating around the neighborhood, the certified worker, in his alien like clothing, spraying water on the house to prevent air born asbestos particulates’, and finally the heart wrenching climax of the demolition of someone’s home.

The sound effects in this play are extraordinary. The snapping, crunching, popping of wood being crushed and the squealing, scraping, and screeching of metal being twisted assault the ears and raise goose bumps on one’s arms. The smells of this production likewise assail the senses. The scent of rotting wood, mold laden insulation, and a damp, deathlike odor of decay permeate the air.

But amidst all this ruin, the conclusion in act 4 gives us hope. The opening scene has the collapsed debris being dumped into the lined trucks and tightly sealed by the certified asbestos workers in their protective suits and hauled to an approved dump site for RACM disposals.

The final scene reveals a piece of land that is clean, level and ready for a new beginning. The future for the homeowner starts now.