SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — The cleanup from Hurricane Helene is projected to cost Spartanburg County millions of dollars.
“We do expect to exceed $10 million by the time it’s all said and done,” said Doug Bryson, director of the county’s Office of Emergency Services, said.
County Council voted unanimously Monday to transfer $6.5 million from the county’s insurance fund to a disaster recovery fund, which will be used to pay for debris removal and all other costs incurred by the storm.
“We had massive damage to private properties,” said county administrator Cole Alverson. “We had public infrastructure damage. We had damage to utility infrastructure as well. Along with that, unfortunately, there was loss of life in the county.”
“We have so many different expenses from during the heat of the battle so to speak with meals, generators and renting equipment,” Bryson said.
Alverson said this will provide enough funding for the next 45 to 60 days while the county gains a better understanding of the scope of recovery efforts.
FEMA and the state are expected to reimburse the county for the majority of the money it spent in its initial response to the storm, road clearing and debris removal.
“Typically, in any natural disaster, FEMA will reimburse 75 percent,” Alverson said. “12.5 percent is borne by the state. 12.5 percent is borne by the locality, in this case our county.”
While the hurricane caused widespread damage, Bryson said the cost of recovery efforts will not be put onto taxpayers.
“It should not impact the taxpayers at all,” he said.
Crews are continuing to remove debris from homes.
According to the county, 5,000 cubic yards of debris are being removed daily. Alverson said crews are prioritizing removing large pieces of debris first for safety reasons.
Debris removal is expected to continue until the end of 2024 or into 2025.
