Pace of Helene cleanup frustrates many across the CSRA

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - People have voiced their frustrations regarding the cleanup for more than two months after Helene hit our area.

Thursday is Day 70 of the recovery from Hurricane Helene, just 20 days from local officials’ deadline to get debris picked up.

Judging from the piles, they have a long way to go.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency gave officials a 90-day deadline to pick up the debris if they want to get fully reimbursed for the costs.

The latest numbers for debris are mind-boggling.

Columbia County says it has picked up more than 1.4 million cubic yards of debris, which is about 428 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Richmond County has picked up more than 1.8 million cubic yards, totaling about 567 pools.

Aiken County has picked up more than 47,000 cubic yards, which is about 14 pools.

ELSEWHERE IN THE CSRA

Lincoln County: First is complete

1. The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners said Thursday the first of debris pickup for county- and city-owned roads has been completed, although the Georgia Department of Transportation hasn’t started on state roads in the county. The second will soon begin. For updates, visit https://www.lincolncountyga.gov.

The numbers are so hard to wrap your mind around, especially since we have a long way to go until the work is done.

Privately, leaders of some CSRA communities have expressed doubt they’ll be able to meet the deadline, instead thinking April would be more realistic.

They’re likely hoping that FEMA will extend the deadline, as it did for personal assistance.

The agency may not be able to, with FEMA Director Deanne Criswell Sen. Jon Ossoff asked lawmakers to approve more money when they appeared before a Senate committee two weeks ago.

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3. ‘Humbling’: CSRA residents share their stories of Helene
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5. What FEMA can and can’t do for victims of Hurricane Helene

With cleanup crews making slow progress, residents may find it frustrating as trucks pick up debris at one house and skip one next door.

Officials say some of those decisions are made because a truck may not have the right equipment to pick up certain debris – root balls, for example.

In these cases, they say, the home is skipped by one truck so another one with the right equipment can be sent at a later date.

Depending on where you live, the status of your pickup could be very different from someone else.

When it comes to debris, there are two sides to every story.

“The trucks are non-stop here,” said Richmond County resident, Bartley Payne.

Michael Pride, a Columbia County resident, said: “Once they actually made the area worse, and then the other time they picked up one or two houses and haven’t been back since.”

Pride says safety is his main concern.

“Almost sometimes dangerous going through the neighborhoods now because it’s taking so long to clean up,” he said.

It’s why Pride is hoping he sees more progress soon.

“When they come and show up and then leave and never come back. It’s like false hope,” said Pride.

Payne says the debris pickup is happening in his area, but it’s going to take some time to get it all.

“The scope of this thing is just mind-boggling. How many trees came down, so it’s just, you know, I think most people don’t understand that. And I think if they did, they’d be a little more patient,” said Payne.

Payne still has debris in front of his home and nearly $250,000 worth of damage after the storm.

But he says he’s trying to focus on the positive.

“I had a couple of the trees chopped up into firewood, and so my chimney will get a good workout this winter,” he said.

But Pride says he just wants to understand the process.

“If you’re going to start in a neighborhood, finish the neighborhood, and then that kind of keeps the hope going, that actually stuff’s getting done,” said Pride.

But they both say they’re hoping it’s all gone soon.

Aiken, Columbia, and Richmond counties say they don’t have a schedule for debris pickup.

But debris along streets isn’t the city of Augusta’s only concern.

The Augusta Canal towpath trail remains closed because of safety concerns. The hurricane left many tree branches precariously hanging, and it took down countless other trees.

And city cemeteries are closed to visitors for the same reasons, although officials said allowances are being made for burials.

As the work continues, city leaders are planning their next updates for residents.

Johnson, Augusta Tameka Allen and department directors will offer an update and take questions at these meetings:

• Tuesday, 6-7:30 p.m., Warren Road Community Center, 300 Warren Road.
• Dec. 17, 6-7:30 p.m., Diamond Lakes Community Center, 4335 Windsor Road

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