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Hurricane Helene: Spartanburg County shares updates on debris, landfills, emergency aid

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Hurricane Helene: Spartanburg County shares updates on debris, landfills, emergency aid

Spartanburg County is continuing cleanup efforts with the help of the South Carolina National Guard and workers from as far away as Canada, according to Office of Emergency Services Director Doug Bryson.

Bryson, County Communications Manager Scottie Kay Blackwell, Spartanburg County  Sheriff Chuck Wright, and SC National Guard Major Kyle Pileggi held a press conference at their operations base at Spartanburg Community College.

Here are the highlights:

There’s a new number to call for help

Spartanburg County has established an emergency call center. The Urgent Unmet Needs Line is for residents who can’t get out of their yards or can’t get critical medications. 

Call 864-860-1644 for help with these needs. There is a new call center set up at Spartanburg Community College.

Debris cleanup is underway, but it may take a while to finish

“As far as our cleanup efforts go, our Public Works crews and contractors are continuing their cleanup efforts, clearing roadways and then picking up storm debris,” Blackwell said. “We are asking residents to place all vegetative and woody debris to the side of the road. It doesn’t matter the weight or the size; as long as you can get to the side of the road, we will pick it up; just make sure it’s out of the way of mailboxes, utilities, and standing trees so we’re able to access it.”

Do not bag natural storm debris; the trucks can’t take it if you do.

Blackwell said that publicly maintained roadways would be serviced first, followed by privately maintained roads, but that everyone would be helped, including HOA communities. Blackwell said it may take until this year’s end to clear all the debris.

“This is the most storm debris we’ve ever seen. We’re estimating at least half a million cubic yards of debris across our county,” Blackwell said. “We have certainly never seen anything like this. It’s inevitably going to take us some time to clean up.”

Storm-related job opportunities 

Want to help with recovery and get paid? Spartanburg County will be holding a hiring event at the Spartanburg County administration building (366 N. Shore St., Spartanburg), where they will be looking for at least 100 people to hire for debris monitoring for FEMA assistance. 

The jobs will be paid, and on-the-job training will be offered. 

“As we start hauling off debris, we’ll be working with our contractor, Degree Tech, to monitor requirements for FEMA reimbursement,” Blackwell said. “There will be several debris monitoring stations throughout the county, and we will need boots on the ground as we continue to clean up debris over the upcoming months.”

Trash collection updates

The only county landfill currently open is the Wellford landfill, which will accept household waste.

“We hope to open at least a few other collection sites in the coming days,” Blackwell said. “We are simply awaiting power restoration, and in some cases, at some of our collection sites, we are still working to remove debris.”

The county asks citizens not to add to the debris at closed collection sites. 

“We’ve had several issues of people dumping trash out in front of our closed collection sites. Please do not do this. This will only slow down the process of us reopening those sites. Our crews will have to clean up that mess first,” Blackwell said. “As a reminder, leaving trash or other items at our closed collections sites or on the roadway is a crime and it can be prosecuted.”

PODS and shelters are open in Spartanburg County

PODS or distribution points are places where you can get supplies during emergencies.

Spartanburg County has two: one at Spartanburg Community College Tyger River campus in Duncan (1875 E. Main St., Duncan) and one on SC-11 in Campobello. Both offer water and MREs or ready-to-eat meals. 

The Campobello site ran out of supplies yesterday and is currently closed. They are waiting for more supplies. The Duncan site is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Two shelters are open: one at USC Upstate’s Hodge Center (365 Hodge Drive., Spartanburg) and one in the basement at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium (385 N. Church St., Spartanburg).

“(The Hodge Center) is for special medical needs, basically for minor medical equipment,” Bryson said. 

He said the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium shelter was general population.

“That one will have water, MREs, cots; restroom facilities are available.”

There is financial assistance available for small businesses

“The US Small Business Administration has financial assistance available for businesses who sustain physical damage or economic injury,” Bryson said. 

Business Physical Disaster Loans can help repair or replace damaged property, equipment and inventory, he said. Economic Injury Disaster Loans can help with financial needs that can’t be met due to an ongoing disaster. 

“If you’re looking for one-on-one advice regarding disaster assistance, please call the Disaster Help Desk at 1-888-MYBIZHELP for expert small business assistance,” Bryson said.

Disaster assistance is also available for uninsured individuals and businesses that incurred property damage. It can be applied for online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. There’s also a FEMA app for smartphones. 

There is a burn ban in place effective Oct. 1

The South Carolina Forestry Commission has issued a State Foresters’ Burning Ban for 20 counties in SC, including Spartanburg County, until further notice.

That means no outdoor burning, including yard debris, anywhere in the county unless you are using the fire to cook food or it is contained in portable outdoor fireplaces, chimneys, or permanent fire pits made of stone masonry, metal, or other non-combustible material that meets SC fire codes. 

“The burning ban is intended to ease the strain on the firefighting personnel and law enforcement officials from both the Forestry Commission and local fire departments, many of whom are sent to affected areas to assist with road clearing, damage assessment, and related cleanup,” Blackwell said. 

700 soldiers aiding the Upstate

SC National Guard Major Kyle Pileggi said over 700 soldiers have been deployed across the Upstate and Spartanburg County to assist critical operations, and he anticipates more deployments.

“They’re actively engaged, dedicated men and women working tirelessly to help clear road debris, as well as cutting up trees to assist fire departments, especially in southern Spartanburg, providing shelter assistance .. and to assist on vital tasks that are essential to the safety and wellbeing of our communities,” Pileggi said.

DMV allows lapses in license, tag renewal until Nov. 1

According to Sheriff Chuck Wright, the DMV has worked with state representatives to allow those who need driver’s licenses or tag renewals more time. 

“You can ride around with an expired license and expired tag until November 1, after that, all bets are off,” Wright said. 

He also reminds drivers that if you come to an intersection where the lights are out, to treat that intersection as a four-way stop.

“I don’t like to write tickets in this kind of thing, but some people are going to have to get them because they’re not slowing down,” Wright said. 

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