Mayor Johnson says Augusta has collected more than 2.7 million cubic yards of Hurricane Helene debris; commission hired EMA director

Mayor Garner L. Johnson told attendees at the 2025 State of the City address that Augusta has collected more than 2,700,000 cubic yards of debris in the wake of Hurricane Helene and that city recovery work will continue until every street has received a final pass.

The mayor said the cleanup has included removal of more than 7,000 hazardous limbs and almost 800 dangerous trees, and she stressed the city's commitment to finishing the job. “Every ounce, every pile of debris will be picked up. No debris…will be left behind,” Johnson said.

Why this matters: large volumes of vegetative and construction debris affect public safety, traffic flow and utilities; completing the final pass is necessary before neighborhoods are considered cleared and before that work can be certified as complete.

Mayor Johnson outlined partners and steps in recovery. She said Team Rubicon is assisting homeowners and cemetery cleanup and plans to remain in Augusta through June. The mayor said FEMA has an ongoing presence in the city and that FEMA staff have processed applications and registrations for affected residents; she described recent FEMA staffing increases and a long-term lease to support on-site recovery work. Johnson also said the city contracted a consultant to assist with long-term recovery planning.

Operational details the mayor disclosed include inmate crews working in Cedar Grove Cemetery with completion expected within a week, then moving to Magnolia Cemetery and Westview Cemetery. The mayor said contractor final-pass work is organized by zone and that a supervisor will certify when a final pass on a street is complete; vegetative debris collection remains the current focus and separate collection for construction debris will follow. The city’s legal department is coordinating with the utilities commission to require telecom and utility companies to remove wires from roadways.

Formal actions and near-term direction recorded in the speech: on Jan. 7 the commission voted to hire a full-time EMA director; the mayor said the role will ensure a staff member is dedicated to emergency management and future disaster preparedness. The commission on Jan. 7 also approved an audit of the parks and recreation department, the mayor said, as part of broader accountability efforts.

The address included remembrance of residents killed by the storm and a public-safety update: sheriff's deputies and city first responders were credited for rescue and response work during the storm. The mayor closed the recovery segment by reiterating that the city will “build back stronger” and that final debris passes and certification will continue until cleanup is complete.

Looking ahead: the mayor said Team Rubicon and FEMA will remain engaged through the spring and summer, and that the newly hired EMA director will focus on preparedness for future storms and coordinating long-term recovery efforts.