Over 70 days later, here’s where Augusta stands with debris cleanup

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s been nearly 2½ months since Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeast, and debris is still a major concern for many people.

For many, this winter is going to look and feel different as damage is still being uncovered.

Augusta is still hard at work clearing away debris ahead of FEMA’s deadline.

City leaders say they are working to get Augusta back to a new normal and are even having meetings this month to prove it.

The first one is on Tuesday.

“I realize there’s a lot of anxiety happening now, as we get ready to enter the holiday season and some people still have piles in their yards or on their streets,” said Garnett Johnson, Augusta Mayor.

Johnson says so far they have picked up 1.8 million cubic yards of debris.

“We are still, I don’t want to say struggling but keep in mind, this storm was so large it affected not only Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas,” said Johnson. “There are only so many debris companies that are out there.”

The damage that we still see isn’t just on homes and piled up on roadways.

“It’s that time of year when many loved ones are concerned about the final rest and pace place of their loved ones, so we’re out doing an assessment of the city-owned cemeteries,” he said.

What Johnson is talking about is the fallen trees, broken headstones and damage all across the cemeteries.

He is looking to solve that problem while also seeing how else he can help out the city.

As the city works to get back to a new normal he says he understands that people are worried about their loved ones both in and outside of these gates.

“This storm recovery is going to go far beyond just cleaning up the debris,” said Johnson. “There’s so many different aspects from a long-term recovery perspective that we’re already starting to address. So we’re going to ask people to continue to be patient and continue to remind yourselves of where we were on Sept. 27 compared to where we are now.”

The city is having two meetings this month to answer questions about cleanup and where the city stands.

“We want to make sure that they’re aware of the process and the work that we’re doing,” he said. “We’re also going to have our debris contractors there, as well as many city departments that are going to educate our citizens on the process and what to expect.”

Everything is still a work in process and will have more answers at the meetings this month.

Johnson and other officials will hold two town hall meetings on recovery efforts this week and next week.

The first one is on Tuesday at the Warren Road Community Center from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The second one is Tuesday, Dec. 17 at Diamond Lakes from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

There will be a question and answer session at both meetings.

If you are unable to attend, both events will be live-streamed.

Questions can be submitted by emailing mayorforms@augustaga.gov

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.