Spartanburg Faces Ongoing Cleanup Challenges a Month After Tropical Storm Helene

Spartanburg Continues to Clear Aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene

In the everyday, idyllic neighborhoods of Spartanburg, one wouldn’t usually expect to see piles of tree debris, disconnected telecommunication lines, and obstructed sidewalks. However, a month after the onslaught of Tropical Storm Helene, these scenes remain all too common, waiting for a clean sweep.

“It’s really widespread,” notes city Communications Manager, referring to the havoc wrought by the storm. As he puts it, there’s scarcely any area that escaped untouched, with debris scattered everywhere. Furthermore, unlike backstage hands swiftly cleaning up after a theatre performance, the fallout of this natural disaster isn’t going away any time soon, despite the efforts.

The Aftermath and Cleanup

An estimated 23,500 cubic yards or about 5,000 tons of debris had already been carted away by Tuesday, a month following the storm. Not just restricted to debris, the city’s cleanup operation also handled nearly 400 tree calls aftermath of the storm, as stressed in a recent City Council meeting. Nonetheless, Spartanburg’s cleanup crews still have their work cut out for them, especially in areas like Duncan Park and Converse Heights where debris piles are more abundant.

The month post-storm has seen the city focus its efforts on enabling ingress and egress in neighborhoods, collaborating with Duke Energy to restore power, getting traffic lights back up, and initiating the vast task of debris removal. And while like any Herculean task, there are always miles to go. Finishing the cleanup and taking stock of the early days of the storm are primed as the city’s immediate priorities.

Unresolved Issues and Moving Forward

For city residents, connectivity issues remain a significant pain point. Many are still without internet, cable, or home telephone service. “The issue that I am hearing now is ‘no service.’ A lot of people are concerned that their internet is not backup or their telephones or their televisions,” reports a City Councilwoman. Unfortunately, full restoration is still some days away, with a target completion date set for Friday, Oct. 25.

On the debris front, too, the city hopes to provide an estimate for the completion of the cleanup in a few weeks. In the meantime, the cleanup crews, staffed by contractors, are working diligently from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Despite the scale of the task, they intend to revisit each neighbourhood, clearing all debris, even if it cannot all be brought to the road at once.

Planning for Upcoming Events

As Halloween looms, ensuring the safety of trick-or-treating families remains a top priority. With many felled trees and blocked sidewalks, there’s a risk that children and parents may end up walking in the streets. To alleviate the concern, the city council is working with the neighborhood association to plan additional safety measures in popular trick-or-treating areas, and offering extra attention this year due to the storm debris. Some streets will be closed for the event, and families are encouraged to bring flashlights and wear or carry reflective items for increased visibility.

As the city persists in its efforts to restore normality and ensure the safety of its residents, it is clear that despite the scale of destruction, the spirit of community and resilience is shining through in Spartanburg.