News Summary

Aiken County has revealed a significant decrease in cleanup costs from Hurricane Helene, reducing estimates from $25 million to $10 million. This adjustment follows an assessment indicating lower debris volumes than previously expected. County Council Chairman Gary Bunker shared these updates with the Rotary Club of Aiken, reflecting efficiencies in the cleanup process by Southeastern Disaster Recovery. All roadside debris removal is reportedly complete, with FEMA set to reimburse the county for recovery costs until February 2025, after which the state will cover remaining expenses.

Aiken County has announced a significant reduction in the cleanup costs associated with debris from Hurricane Helene, bringing the total estimate down to approximately $10 million, a substantial decrease from the original predictions of around $25 million. This cost adjustment comes after an assessment revealed that the total volume of debris collected was less than initially anticipated.

During a meeting with the Rotary Club of Aiken on July 7, County Council Chairman Gary Bunker provided this updated financial information regarding the cleanup effort. The initial estimates were derived from preliminary data and comparisons to the cleanup costs experienced during Winter Storm Pax, which were approximately $30 million.

The cleanup operation following Hurricane Helene was carried out by Southeastern Disaster Recovery, while Tetra Tech monitored the work to ensure compliance for FEMA reimbursement eligibility. Approximately 260,000 cubic yards of debris were successfully removed from the county, which equates to more than 6,600 truckloads of waste.

As of now, the county has reported that all roadside debris and stump removals are 100% complete. However, officials indicate that there may still be some isolated cases that require attention. FEMA has agreed to reimburse the entire amount of cleanup costs incurred through February 7, 2025, with 75% coverage of the expenses occurring after that date. The State of South Carolina is expected to cover the remaining 25% of costs not reimbursed by FEMA after February 2025.

In addition to financial updates, Bunker acknowledged the efforts of Dominion Energy and Aiken Electric Cooperative for their swift work in restoring damaged electrical infrastructure, which suffered damages comparable to 40 years of infrastructure lost in just four hours due to Hurricane Helene.

Local residents have demonstrated remarkable community spirit as they offered assistance to their neighbors during and after the storm, contributing to an orderly recovery process and avoiding public chaos during utility outages.

As Aiken County continues to recover, officials have issued severe thunderstorm warnings for the area, particularly on July 9 and 10. These warnings denote the potential for damaging winds and hail accumulation of up to one inch. On July 9, at 3:27 p.m., a warning predicted wind gusts reaching up to 60 mph and advised affected residents to remain indoors due to heightened risk of lightning strikes and flash flooding.

The severity of the storms has already been illustrated by a tragic event in Banks County, Georgia, where a storm resulted in one fatality due to a tree falling on a vehicle. In response to the situation, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp offered condolences and support to those affected through social media.

A FIRST ALERT remains in effect as meteorologists indicate an increase in severe weather chances in the coming days, with continued risks of damaging winds and large hail. Residents in Aiken County are encouraged to stay informed about potential weather developments as the situation evolves.

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Additional Resources

• Island Packet
• Wikipedia: Hurricane Helene
• The State
• Google Search: weather severe thunderstorm
• Myrtle Beach Online
• Google Scholar: Hurricane recovery
• WRDW
• Encyclopedia Britannica: thunderstorm
• Fox Weather
• Google News: Aiken County Hurricane Helene

Author: STAFF HERE AIKEN

The AIKEN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAiken.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Aiken, Aiken County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Aiken Horse Show, Aiken Bluegrass Festival, and polo matches at Whitney Field. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Aiken Chamber of Commerce and the Aiken County Historical Museum, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and tourism that power the local economy such as Bridgestone and the Aiken County Visitors Center. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAiken.com, HEREBeaufort.com, HEREChapin.com, HERECharleston.com, HEREClinton.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGeorgetown.com, HEREGreenwood.com, HEREGreenville.com, HEREHiltonHead.com, HEREIrmo.com, HEREMyrtleBeach.com, HERENewberry.com, HERERockHill.com, and HERESpartanburg.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.