Spartanburg Still Recovering a Month after Tropical Storm Helene
Residents of Spartanburg are likely no strangers to the sight of piled tree debris, downed telecommunications lines, and blocked sidewalks even a month after Tropical Storm Helene swept through the area. City officials have made some headway in the clean-up process with over 23,500 cubic yards (approximately 5,000 tons) of debris having been removed thus far, but there’s still more work to be done.
Christopher George, the city’s Communications Manager, noted the widespread impact of the storm, with virtually no area untouched by it. The city logged close to 400 tree-related requests post-storm, indicative of the widespread damage in public domains.
An Equal Opportunity Storm
Describing the distribution of the damage, George said, “looking at the map that we have of tree requests, the reported trees fallen in the public right of ways — which says nothing about all the debris we’re picking up — there wasn’t really any area that was not hit, or especially hit worse than the others.”
First Steps in Rebuilding and Recovery
In the month following Tropical Storm Helene, Spartanburg city took significant steps in recovery which involved clearing paths for neighborhood access, working to restore power, repairing traffic lights, and initiating the debris-clearing process. Forward focus now shifts to the completion of debris cleanup and retrospection of the storm’s initial impact, considered crucial for future planning.
One notable issue that city residents continue to face is the lack of internet, cable, and home telephone service. This has curtailed their access to news and necessary information during this challenging period.
Telecommunication Services: A Long Road to Recovery
The primary telecommunication service provider, Spectrum is currently issuing updates to its concerned customers regarding complete restoration of services. The latest estimate pegs the restoration deadline at Friday, October 25.
A Helping Hand in Debris Pickup
The city has further plans for debris pickup and completion estimates should be made available in the next few weeks. “We have contractors we’ve hired to beef up our efforts. That’s kind of the main thing we’re doing here in the city, just making sure we’ve got more crews than we could normally put out in the field,” George said. These crews are working relentlessly from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, and their efforts are being reimbursed by FEMA. The cleanup planning includes multiple passes through each neighborhood to collect all remaining debris.
Safety Measures for Halloween
In the wake of the ongoing clean-up process, the city is prioritizing safe trick-or-treat experiences for families this Halloween, particularly in neighborhoods like Converse Heights and Hampton Heights which saw many downed trees during the storm. Proactive steps are also being taken in partnership with neighborhood associations to ensure safe trick-or-treating experiences. Some streets will be closed for the event to mitigate risks. Families are advised to carry flashlights and wear reflective items to make themselves easily visible in dark areas.
So, even though the city of Spartanburg continues to grapple with overcoming the damages wrought by Tropical Storm Helene, residents can find some small comfort in their community’s unwavering sense of resilience, unity, and perseverance.
