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Polk County, USACE partner to help clear private property

 

POLK COUNTY—At a recent Polk County Board of Commissioners meeting, Emergency Management Director Bobby Arledge outlined the progress and details of ongoing debris removal projects conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington Office. 

The USACE is now focusing on the next phase of clearing Tropical Storm Helene debris from private property and local waterways.

The project’s first phase, removing debris left at the roadside, ended on February 20. This initiative has seen significant progress, with an estimated 84,500 cubic yards of debris collected. The debris is transported to a transitional site on Wolverine Dr., across from the middle school, where it is sorted into vegetative waste and other types of debris, such as construction refuse. The vegetative waste is then mulched and transported to Union, SC.

A new program has been implemented to assist property owners who are still facing challenges. It allows affected Polk County residents who either lack debris removal insurance or have exhausted their policy to apply for assistance. This program also includes demolishing unsafe structures. 

Interested property owners can apply for this assistance by visiting www.polknc.gov/PPDR or in person at the Polk County Disaster Recovery Center located at 1255 W. Mills Street. 

For direct inquiries, residents can call the Private Property Debris Removal call center at 833-575-8810, available every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

In addition to clearing roadside debris, the USACE is also tackling the removal of debris from the Green River Cove Waterway. This effort has involved using heavy equipment in the water to remove an estimated 52,000 cubic yards of debris, which translates to around 3,700 truckloads. 

Residents are encouraged to stay updated by following Polk County Local Government on their social media platforms on Facebook and Instagram.