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City reports 235,000 cubic yards of Hurricane Helene debris; FEMA presence extended
Summary
City staff told the council on Jan. 13 that crews have removed about 235,000 cubic yards of debris since Hurricane Helene and that FEMA's local operations at CC Woodson have been extended through Jan. 23 to assist residents.
City staff updated the Spartanburg City Council on Jan. 13 about ongoing Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, reporting the removal of roughly 235,000 cubic yards of storm debris and continued coordination with FEMA and state transportation agencies.
Chris (city staff) said an average of eight crews were mobilized daily for debris removal and that the city has not yet made a ‘‘final pass’’ through affected areas. Staff provided two comparisons to convey scale: spread one foot deep, the debris would cover about 150 football fields; stacked on one football field it would reach the height of a 15-story building.
Council members asked about the division of responsibility between the city and the South Carolina Department of Transportation for debris on state-maintained corridors. Staff said SCDOT crews have been working on state routes and that the wide geographic footprint of recent storms across the Southeast has constrained the availability of heavy equipment and crews.
Staff also told council that FEMA has extended its local presence and will be available at CC Woodson Community Center through Jan. 23 to assist residents seeking federal disaster support. Staff asked council to refer residents needing help to the city's recovery contacts so they can be connected with community service organizations and FEMA assistance while recovery work continues.
Why it matters: The debris volume and ongoing recovery operations indicate large-scale, continuing cleanup needs and sustained demand for coordination among city, state and federal partners and local nonprofits.
Next steps: City crews will continue debris removal and coordinate with SCDOT and FEMA; staff will monitor equipment needs and service-call systems for ongoing public inquiries.
