COLUMBUS (Oct. 29)—Following the countywide impact of Hurricane Helene, Polk County has partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to support residents with storm-related debris removal. All public or private roadways are eligible for this service.

Properties on private driveways or within gated communities would need to move their storm-related debris to within ten feet of a designated public or private roadway. This includes residents in the towns of Columbus, and Tryon or the city of Saluda.

Only debris resulting from Hurricane Helene’s damage is eligible for removal. All other debris can be brought to the Polk County Transfer Station or disposed of as you would normally.

At this time the USACE is using acres across from Polk County Middle School as a temporary sorting yard. The USACE is taking care of vegetative debris at this area while other types of debris from Helene is being sorted and removed from the area. The county received a permit from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality to do this.

Polk County has outlined specific guidelines for residents to follow to ensure an efficient and safe debris removal process.

Debris Separation

Residents are asked to sort debris into the following categories:
● Vegetative Debris: tree limbs, branches, leaves, logs, plants.
● Construction Debris: building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, plumbing, etc.
● Large Appliances: refrigerators, washer/dryers, air conditioners, stoves, water heaters, dishwashers, etc.
● Household Hazardous Waste: oil, batteries, pesticide, paint, cleaning supplies, etc.
● Electronics: computers, televisions, DVD players, phones, etc.

Placement of Debris

Debris should be placed within ten feet of the road’s edge to allow for proper collection and away from utility poles, fire hydrants, or gas meters to avoid potential hazards.

Polk County has created an online form to provide Polk County citizens with a process for notifying county officials about the location of Hurricane Helene storm debris and requesting its removal from public or private roads within Polk County.