VALDOSTA — The City of Valdosta and Lowndes County are preparing to begin removing debris from last week’s hurricane.
The City of Valdosta announced Thursday that debris removal services provided by AshBritt, Inc., along with monitoring by Thompson Consulting Services, were set to begin operations on Friday or Saturday. Crews are currently surveying the city and developing a strategic map for debris removal, the City said in a press release.
The county government announced on Friday morning that debris haulers will start picking up vegetative debris in unincorporated Lowndes County on Monday.
“We understand that many residents are still waiting on contractors or volunteers to move their debris to the curb,” county spokesperson Meghan Barwick said in an email to The Daily Times. “Please be assured that several passes will be made throughout the county in the coming weeks, giving citizens ample time to place their debris for collection.”
Barwick also noted that debris piles contaminated with construction debris or other waste will not be picked up due to Environmental Protection Division standards for storm debris removal.
She encouraged residents with questions about household or construction waste disposal to contact their solid waste management provider.
As part of the recent disaster declaration, FEMA will cover 100% of the costs for emergency and recovery operations performed by cities and counties in the 41 counties covered by the declaration. Cost coverage started Sept. 24 and will continue for expenses in a 90-day period.
“As we move forward with recovery efforts, this FEMA approval ensures we can restore our community swiftly and efficiently,” said Valdosta City Manager Richard Hardy. “I encourage all residents to follow the debris guidelines and to please remain patient as we work to address all areas of the city.”
“As we learned from previous storms, clear communication and cooperation from the community are critical to recovery,” said Assistant City Manager Catherine Ammons. “Our priority is ensuring safety and completing debris removal as quickly as possible, but we ask residents to help by adhering to guidelines and giving the contractors the space they need to operate.”
Those guidelines include:
— Keep storm debris separated. Do not mix yard debris with household goods or construction materials. Mixed piles will not be picked up.
— Push debris to the curb, but not into the street. Debris left in the roadway could obstruct traffic and operations.
— Avoid piling debris under or near power lines.
— Debris removal is limited to curbside collection. Contractors will not enter private property to remove root balls or trees.
— Keep streets clear of vehicles and equipment. This ensures safe passage for cleanup crews.
— Limit traffic during cleanup operations to allow contractors to move freely.