Upstate Counties Continue Debris Cleanup After Tropical Storm Helene Damage
With a month and a half having passed since Tropical Storm Helene unleashed its fury on the Upstate, Greenville and Spartanburg counties have made significant progress in cleaning up the aftermath. However, while these counties are inching closer to completing the mammoth task of debris removal, continued assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is still deemed necessary for several more weeks.
As per Greenville County spokesperson Bob Mihalic, the county’s dedicated debris contractor has put in a commendable effort, hauling away over 330,000 cubic yards of tremendously scattered debris. Neighbouring Spartanburg has been equally busy, as conveyed by the county spokesperson, Scottie Kay Blackwell, who stated that a staggering 250,000 cubic yards of debris has been collected so far.
A Day’s Work and Progress
On a typical day, Spartanburg County manages to collect about 10,000 cubic yards of debris, whereas Greenville collects around 7,000 cubic yards. That’s enough to cover an American football field up to about five feet high! If the current pace of debris collection continues, both counties could see well over a million cubic yards of debris removed by the time pick-ups are all wrapped up.
In an admirable show of determination, Greenville County has committed to continuing the collection of debris using double trailer trucks, seven days a week, up until at least January. Highlighting how enormous this task truly is, the county will spend the rest of this November focusing exclusively on the clean-up of three major areas within Greenville.
Debris Drop-off Points for Residents
The county residents who wish to actively play a role in the cleanup efforts can drop off debris at the following locations: Blackberry Valley, conveniently located at 409 Blackberry Road, and Enoree, found at 311 Anderson Ridge Road. Such civic efforts are certainly appreciated by the community and the county administration.
Similarly, Spartanburg County has also pledged to continue debris collection through 2025 without a set completion date. The Spartanburg teams are hard at work seven days a week, just like their Greenville counterparts, although their pickups aren’t concentrated in specific areas.
FEMA Steps In For Extended Relief
In a delightful turn of events, FEMA announced that it will extend its disaster relief for both Greenville and Spartanburg. Originally slated to end over the weekend, operations in both counties have now been extended.
In Greenville, FEMA has established its base at the Freetown Community Center on 200 Alice Avenue and will continue operations until January 7th.
For Spartanburg County, FEMA’s relief efforts are centered at the Spartanburg Emergency Management Services building at 175 Community College Drive, with operations scheduled to go on till December 6th.
One step at a time, these arduous cleanup efforts are bringing the Upstate region back to its pre-storm state. Here’s hoping for an efficient and simple cleanup, backed by strength and solidarity within the community.
