Contractors see light at end of Helene-damaged tunnel
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - It’s been eight months since Hurricane Helene tore through our region leaving many residents with the task of managing the recovery.
Chainsaws are a sound that many of us have come accustomed to.
Nearly one year after Hurricane Helene carved its path through the CSRA, local contractors say there is light at the end of the tunnel.
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“We really do prioritize the hurricane cleanup over the residential,” William Treadwell, the co-owner of Treadwell Tree Surgeons, says. “We’re only allowing 1 residential job a day, but we obviously have a lot of business, but we’re trying to get all these emergencies like this you see behind us out of the way. So, it’s looking like another probably four to five, maybe six months left.
The Projection echoed with Vertex Roofing.
“There’s about 50%, it may be a little bit more,” Chris Williams, the Sales Representative Supervisor with Vertex Roofing, says. “I think most companies can see you know they can see the end of the tunnel.”
Debris cleanup update at the Augusta Canal
Officials say they are still clearing trees from the canal.
Williams says now that FEMA and insurance payouts are processing-- jobs that were left in the que are now moving forward.
“There’s so many jobs out there. They’re either waiting for insurance companies, waiting for FEMA, or just waiting to get the money,” Williams explains.
While the wait may be frustrating it’s better to leave it to the professionals and ask for help. “We actually had to stop a couple of homeowners from cutting big oaks that were dangerous that could have hurt them,” Treadwell says. “We actually were able to stop them and help them at no cost. Nothing out of their pocket.”
Southern Nature Landscaping in Aiken says they are nearly 75% complete and have a projected goal of being 100% complete by October.
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