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City reports major progress on Hurricane Helene cleanup; contractor removed nearly 94,000 cubic yards from city rights-of-way
Summary
Staff updated council on Hurricane Helene recovery: contractors removed more than 94,000 cubic yards of debris from city streets and rights-of-way, removed dozens of stumps, consolidated city dump sites to contractor sites and submitted a nearly $1 million NRSC emergency grant for creek damage. FEMA reimbursement extension remains pending.
City staff briefed the North Augusta City Council on Feb. 24 about Hurricane Helene recovery operations, reporting substantial debris removal, stump clearance and ongoing consolidation of city and contractor staging sites.
Administration said contracted crews have removed more than 94,000 cubic yards of debris from city streets and rights-of-way and expected to pass the 100,000-cubic-yard mark as consolidation continues. Jason Sykes' crews completed a second pass on city-maintained roads and SDR (the debris contractor) has removed dozens of stumps; staff reported 46 stumps identified on city roads, 34 removed and 14 remaining, five of which are attached and require additional environmental work.
Staff said SDR is consolidating debris collection by moving material from city-operated dump sites to contractor-operated sites and has begun limited backhaul operations to remove debris from the city to final disposal sites. "The contractor is operating two dump sites within the city and the city is operating four dump sites... we're not allowed to dump directly onto the contractor dump site. So there has to be a staging area for that," administration explained.
The city also submitted an NRSC emergency grant application to address creek and waterway damage near the former Weeping Rose apartment complex; staff said the grant (no local match required) could be nearly $1 million and that state personnel on site seemed "positively predisposed."
Officials said an extension request for FEMA public-assistance reimbursement (percentage reimbursement) has been filed jointly with Aiken County and surrounding municipalities; the city had not yet received a decision from FEMA. Staff emphasized continuing focus on life-safety items, mixed SCDOT/city road gaps, retention/detention pond cleanup, fence repairs and clearing utility easements to access manholes and systems.
Ending: Staff outlined a 30-day workplan including stump removal, consolidation of city dump sites, continued backhaul, retention pond cleanup and requests for proposals for fence and easement work; FEMA reimbursement and NRSC grant outcomes remain pending.
