COLUMBIA, S.C. — It’s been nearly two weeks since Helene tore a path of destruction across the area, and many residents are still cleaning up debris from their properties.
While storm debris is slowly disappearing from many neighborhoods, some residents are starting wonder when their streets will be free from debris.
Robert Anderson, Public Works Director for the City of Columbia, said crews are working as hard as they can.
“We’re working six days a week, 10 hours a day. We actually have help during the week. We’re using our street division and some bigger trucks and they’re carrying some areas for us. But then on Saturday’s we’re bringing additional crew in from other divisions, so we can put a bigger fleet on the road,” Anderson said.
According to Anderson, all the cleanup is causing delays.
“We are seeing delays. Currently it’s taking us between 30 and 40 hours to pick up what generally takes us 10,” Anderson explained.
But there are things you can do to help speed up the process.
“So, if you’ve got limbs that you can cut to four-foot lengths or less, and they’re 4-inch diameter or smaller, they’ll pick those up. And you want to make sure that isn’t mixed with piles of leaves and other things, you just want to make sure that it’s clear for them to pick it up,” said Michael Maloney, Public Works Director for Richland County.
Maloney said if you have debris larger than that, you can take it to the county landfill.
“The Richland County Landfill at 1070 Caughman Road North. We will take that. We are open two extra hours this month. Monday through Friday we’ll be open until 6:30 p.m. to take storm debris,” Maloney said. The extended hours will continue through the end of October.
If you are placing your debris roadside for pickup, the SCDOT reminds you to separate the items by type, place the items away from fire hydrants, mailboxes, trees and utility poles, and make sure debris and trash are not blocking the roadway.