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In the wake of Hurricane Ian's catastrophic landfall in September 2022 as a Category 4 storm, the devastation spread from western Cuba to central Florida, generating an overwhelming volume of debris and underscoring the urgent need for robust debris management strategies. In response, our SUMMEER team, through the RAPID project, embarked on collecting comprehensive data on the hurricane's impacts, illegal dumping, and the ensuing debris management efforts in severely affected areas, including North Port, Venice, and Arcadia. Utilizing advanced technologies such as UAVs, 3-D LiDAR scanners, and multispectral and thermal cameras, the RAPID project primarily focused on quantifying uncollected and illegally dumped debris along publicly owned roadways. Conducted over three distinct periods—November 16-18, December 5-7, and January 9-11—the field assessment aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the evolving conditions in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. These specific timeframes enabled us to document not only the immediate aftermath but also the changes over time, thereby facilitating a thorough analysis of the disaster's impact and the effectiveness of the debris management efforts undertaken. This project's comprehensive approach has enabled a detailed analysis of the volume and trajectory of debris, highlighting the dynamics of debris collection and disposal processes. By creating a detailed empirical database, including aerial maps, 3D LiDAR maps, and multispectral and thermal images, this project provides essential data that supports effective cleanup and recovery operations, thereby contributing to more efficient future disaster preparedness and response strategies. 

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in major disruptions in the way municipal solid waste management systems (MSWMSs) operate due to substantial distortions in waste generation trends, along with a variety of significant operational and managerial challenges. As critical infrastructure, MSWMSs have endeavored to adapt in response to such unprecedented stresses in order to maintain their operations during the pandemic. The challenges and their relevant adaptive measures, however, have varied with the progression of the pandemic across different MSWMSs. Currently, there is a limited understanding of such time-bound and system-specific phenomena, which impedes timely and effective adaptation. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap by performing a detailed and documented investigation of the longitudinal impact of the coronavirus pandemic on different MSWMSs across the United States, along with its evolution over time, using collected qualitative and quantitative data (i.e., monthly interviews with waste management personnel, online news media, and waste tonnages). This study also develops a relational database system to facilitate the systematic recording and monitoring of the pandemic’s impact on MSWMSs, as well as guide the implementation of different adaptation strategies based on distinct systems’ characteristics. Findings of this study will help solid waste decision-makers better understand the current pandemic, along with serving as a knowledge base for future pandemic scenarios towards more resilient MSWMSs.