Spartanburg Soldiers On in Wake of Helene
Spartanburg- A sunny forecast with highs of 77F brought a ray of optimism to the city as work crews and residents continued to labor on the recovery efforts following the destruction left by storm Helene. However, even as the sun began to peep through the clouds, it remained apparent that the City of Spartanburg and its neighbors in Cherokee and Union counties, would be dealing with the aftermath of the storm for many more months.
October 28, symbolically marked the beginning of the cleanup operations with city crews out in force to remove Helene storm debris on Breeze Street and Wofford Street. But, piles of Helene storm debris remain scattered curbside across Spartanburg, despite the efforts of the local heroes squeaking under the mammoth storm aftermath.
A Race Against Time
The recovery process is a race against time for the city. A City of Spartanburg spokesman, Christopher George, put the situation into perspective: “What we are doing right now is going around and making multiple passes in the city to pick up all of this debris,” he said. “We have city teams plus contractors moving around the city. The lingering effect is that we now have some sidewalks blocked and narrow streets with debris on them.”
It’s not only the visual aspect that underscores the gravity of the clean-up operation. An already alarming count of over 7,200 tons of debris has been removed from Spartanburg. Yet, parcels of debris continue to make some neighborhood streets impassable, creating a domino effect of regular city operations falling victim to the storm’s devastating aftermath.
Costly Cleanup
As the sun set leaving misty conditions and visibilities reduced at times, City officials remained uncertain of the total cost to remove mass debris. In most cases, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimburses much of this cost. Just last week, Spartanburg County Manager, Cole Alverson, estimated that clearing debris could surpass a staggering $10 million mark.
Despite the daunting figures, Spartanburg County’s resilience shines through, with the assurance that the county is in a strong position to absorb cleanup and response costs. They’re strengthened by the fact FEMA should cover the full cost of cleanup during the initial 90 days following the storm. However, beyond this period, FEMA’s coverage drops to 75 percent of the cleanup costs, with the state picking up the rest.
The Way Forward
Helene reminds us of the power of nature and the cumulative impact such natural disasters can have on cities. While the sun sets and rises each day, and the very welcome late peeks of sunshine bring warmth to the city residents, the cleanup operation continues with determined grit and perseverance. This recovery operation is indeed a true testament to the indefatigable spirit of the residents of Spartanburg and surrounding counties.
With local crews and state contracted personnel hard at work, the voice of the community resonates in their unity and shared commitment to rebuild their beloved city. It’s a reminder to us all that it takes more than a storm to dampen the American spirit. So, as we move beyond Helene, the people of Spartanburg remain resolute. They refuse to let the debris of yesterday deter the progress of tomorrow.
