USACE completes debris removal in six Georgia counties

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, and its contractor have completed various types of debris removal in six Georgia counties, following the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in late September.

In Brooks County, leaners hangers and stumps as well as right-of-way debris removal has been completed. In Montgomery County, leaners hangers and stumps debris removal has been completed. In Lowndes County, leaners hangers and stumps as well as right-of-way debris removal has been completed. In Candler County, leaners hangers and stumps debris removal has been completed. In Laurens County right-of-way debris has been cleared. In McIntosh County, the temporary debris storage and reduction site has been closed out.

The Hurricane Helene Army Corps of Engineers Mission Manager, Todd Turner, and USACE Resident Engineer, Mark Foster met with Montgomery County Manager, Heather Scott; Brooks County Emergency Management Chief, Latonya Hampton; McIntosh County Emergency Management Director, Ty Poppell; Lowndes County Assistant Superintendent, Tret Witherspoon; Candler County Director, Justin Wells; Laurens County Public Works Director, Bryan Rogers; and the mission contractor representatives, Camilo Castro, David Thompson, and Clarence Jones, Feb. 24, 25 and 26, 2025, to sign paperwork signifying the completion of work in the respective counties.

The debris removal mission, which began in early November, successfully cleared 73, 114 cubic yards of downed trees, branches, and other vegetative debris that had obstructed roadways and public spaces in Brooks County, cleared 896,469 cubic yards in Montgomery County, cleared 1,183,674 cubic yards in Lowndes County, cleared 433,115 cubic yards in Candler County, cleared 227,283 cubic yards in Laurens County and cleared 23,476 cubic yards in McIntosh County.

The Corps of Engineers has awarded task orders to support debris removal, with an overall goal of clearing an estimated 3.1 million cubic yards of debris within 10 Georgia counties. To date, 2,985,282 cubic yards have been cleared from Georgia counties that received Direct Federal Assistance. Currently, 108 civilian personnel and one military member are actively deployed in support of the mission.

The district continues to work closely with state, local, and other federal agencies as part of ongoing recovery efforts, providing vital support to communities impacted by the storm. For more information, please visit Hurricane Helene Debris Mission on the Savannah District’s website.

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Learn more at www.sas.usace.army.mil