SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, and its contractor have completed debris removal of leaners, hangers and stumps in Ben Hill County, and completed clearing special properties in Laurens County, following the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in late September.
Hurricane Helene USACE Mission Manager, Todd Turner, met with Ben Hill County Emergency Management Director, Jacob Hughes, Laurens County Emergency Management Director, Bill Laird, and a representative from the mission contractor, Dr. Ana Everet, Feb. 11, 2025, to sign paperwork signifying the completion of work in the counties.
The debris removal mission, which began in early November, successfully cleared 26,863 cubic yards of downed trees, branches, and other vegetative debris that had obstructed roadways and public spaces in Ben Hill County and cleared 60,485 in Laurens 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, 2,824,238 cubic yards have been cleared from Georgia counties receiving Direct Federal Assistance. Currently, 152 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.