Hurricane Helene Debris Removal
Milestone timeline:
Shortly after Tropical Storm Helene left the area, the Town began moving forward with a debris management and removal process. To ensure transparency, effectiveness, and full reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), the Town utilized pre-existing state bid contracts with two contractors - Southern Disaster Recovery, for removal, and DebrisTech for debris removal monitoring. This process began on Saturday, October 12, 2024 after the Town constructed an access road for a temporary debris removal site (TDMS).
In an effort to provide up to date information for all residents, the Town will begin posting daily reports from our debris monitoring company. These reports show the amount of debris picked up on a daily basis and the amount removed for the entirety of the project. The reports also show the numbers and diameter of trees removed deemed dangerous to the public right of way and hanging limbs (called "hangers") removed to date. These PDFs will be updated each day, Monday-Friday, until work concludes.
Additionally, the Town created a Frequently Asked Questions sheet to dispel rumors and misinformation regarding the debris removal process. This FAQ sheet also provides significant information regarding the Town's costs, amounts of debris, and how the work is being conducted.
All of these items are attached within this Project Dashboard. Please feel free to review the information and contact the Town for any additional questions.
Debris Pick Up Insight
The debris removal team is taking tons of brush away per day (literally!). Please visit the links below to view some video footage of the process. You'll be able to catch a glimpse of these important stages of debris removal.
As more videos are uploaded, they will be posted in chronological order.
Industrial Wood Chipper in Operation
Loading Processed Wood Chips into Tractor Trailer
Industrial Woodchipper at TDMS - Video 1
Industrial Woodchipper at TDMS - Video 2
Documents
Project Updates
The exceptionally large chipper that will be utilized on the Town's TDMS arrived this afternoon. This chipper will process the 350,000 cubic yards of debris brought to the site and turn the material into wood chips that will be processed and used in further applications across the world.