News Summary

Aiken County is set to complete debris cleanup from Hurricane Helene by mid-June 2025. Over 99% of tree removal is done, with 260,000 cubic yards of debris collected. The cleanup costs around $25 million, with significant FEMA reimbursements expected. The county also faces challenges from a recent severe storm that caused additional damage and outages. Officials remain committed to restoring normalcy amidst ongoing recovery efforts.

Aiken, SC – Aiken County is on track to complete the cleanup of debris from Hurricane Helene by mid-June 2025, as announced by County Council Chairman Gary Bunker on June 6. The storm, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane last September, has been described by Bunker as “probably the largest weather event that we’ve had in living memory.”

The county has engaged two contractors for this storm recovery effort: Southern Disaster Recovery for debris removal and Tetra Tech for monitoring FEMA reimbursement processes. So far, over 99% of the work to remove downed or damaged trees, including stumps, has been completed. This operation has resulted in the collection of more than 260,000 cubic yards of debris, equivalent to approximately 6,600 truckloads.

The total estimated cost for the cleanup stands at about $25 million, with the county planning to secure most of these expenses through reimbursement from FEMA. For expenses incurred before February 7, the county expects a full 100% reimbursement from FEMA, while costs incurred thereafter are anticipated to receive 75% reimbursement. Additionally, support from the State of South Carolina is expected to cover the remaining 25% of expenses. According to reports, the fiscal impact for Aiken County will be “relatively small” due to these expected reimbursements.

In conjunction with the cleanup efforts from Hurricane Helene, Aiken County faced another challenge when a severe storm swept through the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) on June 7. This storm caused significant damage, particularly within Aiken County. Unfortunately, one fatality was reported in Banks County, GA, due to a tree falling on a vehicle.

At the storm’s peak, power outages affected approximately 4,000 Dominion Energy customers and around 2,000 Georgia Power customers in Aiken County. Certain neighborhoods, including the Rapids area in North Augusta, experienced blocked roads and downed trees as a result of the inclement weather.

Officials have issued a FIRST ALERT for potential severe weather forecasted for Sunday and Monday. The warning includes the possibility of damaging winds and large hail. The National Weather Service has indicated that Aiken County could experience severe thunderstorms with gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail.

Of particular concern is the confirmed tornado that touched down in Langley, SC, within Aiken County on June 9. This event led to the closure of several roads, including Augusta Rd., Dunbar St., New Holland Rd., and Farmfield Rd., further complicating recovery efforts in the aftermath of the storms.

As Aiken County residents continue to recover from both the hurricane and the severe storm, officials express their commitment to restoring normalcy as swiftly as possible. The combination of cleanup operations and real-time weather monitoring aims to ensure the safety and well-being of the community amid these challenging circumstances. With significant efforts underway, the county hopes to navigate through this difficult period with prudent management and community support.

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South Carolina Faces Hurricane Preparedness Challenges
Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes Batter Southeast U.S.
Aiken, SC Faces Power Outage Affecting Over 100 Residents
Verizon Business Secures Contract with South Carolina Army National Guard
Restoration Efforts Continue in the Carolinas Post-Hurricane Helene
Wildfires Rage Across the Carolinas: Efforts to Contain the Blaze
Power Outages in Aiken, SC Following Tropical Storm Helene
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Aiken County Schools Receive Over $290,000 Donation

Aiken County Progresses on Hurricane Helene Cleanup

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Author: hereaiken